Les Millie put his body on the line for Sheffield Steelers in more than 200 games. His gritty performances – and those of the likes of Tommy Plommer, Tim Cranston, Scott Neil, Steve Nemeth and Ron Shudra – set a foundation for the club which helped make it the major sporting attraction it is today.
Millie, now aged 50, hung his skates up a long time ago. But his recent views on the modern game have certainly started tongues wagging.
He believes modern-day ice hockey needs more snarl to it, along with its speed and goals.
And his opinion, voiced on social media, has excited lots of debate from fans and former Steelers’ personnel.
Millie said: “What the league lacks is players who play with an edge.
Yes we love to see skilled hockey and the game has changed drastically from when I played.
Players used to have to be wary of skaters like “Ross Lambert a **** of a man to play against, but got the job done, Rick Brebant as skillful as he was as tough, Chris Kelland a graceful skater but he was another tough cookie...not to mention our greatest product in Tony Hand.
“What a player, but Tony took no prisoners if the situation arises.
One of the best British D-men I ever played with and against was Stephen Cooper, again a man you’d rather have by your side than against (he could throw them (punches) and strong as an ox.) In my opinion, you need a good mix of skill and edgy players with skill who will don the colours and go to war because I guarantee you no team will want to come into your building and play against you.
Those players do exist; it’s about finding a fine balance and seeing it through. I still feel that mix is a recipe for success.
Former Steelers agreed with his verdict, in the online chat. Paddy O’Connor noted: Absolutely on point Les, our team out here (Canada) is built on character-first, they are incredibly skilled but their will must always be greater than skill to be successful.
Marc Twaite talked about “characters and born winners” of the past. “Local lads, you cannot buy them they were genuinely cut from a different cloth”
Former import D-man Corey Beaulieu added his support for tougher hockey, too.
And Sharon Lawley, for years a key back office worker at Steelers, posted: “Completely agree Les, the present game is too sterile.”
Others on Facebook were eager to add their views:
John Beatson:
The words of a great player and just one of the best forward lines that have worn the Steelers’ shirt.
“I know it was a different era, but players in the league were all on the same level, most had other jobs except the imports and the pay wasn’t great, but they played with passion and commitment to their club. Like football, some players think all they have to do is turn up and that’s enough to earn their money.
Diane Sockett:
The play is way too soft for ice hockey, it’s not as we knew it back in the 90s. Health and safety are important but you can still have tough players. We need a few brick wall players.
Paul Shuttleworth:
There were a number of players who could change the game either with goals or mixing it up and switching momentum – they are the guys people love to watch.
Peter Bell:
I would have bought a ticket in the 90s and 00s just to watch players like those you mentioned. It seems the way the games developed that the ‘edgy’ players aren’t wanted in the game so much now.
Peter Smith:
The rules have changed too much over here, referees being too soft not letting the game flow, players with an edge definitely made the game more intense and exciting to watch.
I'm not sure it has gone too soft. Steelers have gone too soft.
Belfast have led the way as they've had a good blend of skilful, fast players but they've also won the majority of battles. Our lack of edge and inability to battle with them has left us 2nd best. Cardiff to a lesser extent but in the main over the last 3-4 seasons they've had the better of us.
A lot of it is rose-tinted specs IMO, virtually all teams sports fans view the past as "better days" more a human nature thing than anything else. The game hasn't gone soft, guys still want thrown back on the ice after losing teeth from getting hit square in the mouth from pucks, or refusing anaesthetic to get stitches after getting cut by a high stick. Certain aspects have been curtailed a bit to mitigate the chance of concussions, or other form of brain injuries. Which ultimately devastate the quality of lives for players post their playing career, sometimes even worse than that.
Too much fighting or rough and tumble for guys results in the brain getting into forceful collision contact with the skull. Much akin to how you are thrown forward with force if travelling in a car that suddenly hits the breaks for an emergency stop. I enjoyed the regular physical stuff back in the day much as anyone else, but with knowing what we do now the possible impacts to players and their health, our enjoyment is never worth that price. Heading is getting phased out of youth football to mitigate much the same sort of risk, and it's right sport evolves in turn as we make these sort of discoveries. See The Enforces documentary among others for what constant physical play has done to players later in life health.
You can still get speedy, skilful and intense hockey today, though I don't think the EIHL is quite there yet in getting in all the suitable talent required for it at this level. Will be a bit of time still before it fully filters down the leagues.
I watched an old Steelers v Panthers game on YouTube. And as much as I loved it at the time, there were things that were let go that should never have been - cross checks, blatant deliberate head shots, running guys through the numbers - all things we'd all be up in arms about as supporters today, saying it's dangerous and could end guys careers etc
Ex players opinions are one thing (although I think many looking back through rose tinted specs), but fans who've never played really have zero idea of how it feels to get run over by 200lbs of pure muscle. Try that first, then tell me if hockey's gone soft.
Disco Ray has it right. As he says, football is looking at the effects of heading on the brain. Ex-Rugby Union players are taking action about the impact of physical play. We are in the age of Health and Safety and litigation. Authorities in sport are having to face up to it and ensure that they can't be sued into oblivion and insurance companies are reaping the benefits.
Times change, we are much more aware of the dangers of repeated head impacts than we used to be and players are stronger and faster overall than they used to be. Many, if not all contact sports have or are changing to reduce this risk, there are too many ex-players who's lives have been ruined or even ended by the sport they loved due to the results of the way the game used to be played.
Footballers leading the way . Getting game stopped and medical attention as they roll around because some player brushed agsinst their shoelaces. God help us hockey never descends to this, but it might.
