Forwards
08 Ryan Tait
18 Sam Tremblay
27 Cole Shudra
61 Logan Neilson
63 Mikko Juusola
75 Robert Dowd
77 Derek Gentile
92 Mitchell Balmas
Defenders
05 Joona Huttula
06 Kevin Tansey
10 Jordon Southorn
58 Dominic Cormier
67 Reece Kelly
Netminders
01 Matt Greenfield
Two Way players
32 Alex Oldale (NM)
02 Liam Steele (D)
line up so far - how's it looking?
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ginger
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If Greenfield is back, I suspect we'll drag it out until well in to July/August, same with Balmas. They may have some time limited outs, so potentially next month we'll know. In fact if nothing confirmed on either by end of June, they'll both be back.
On back up goalie, not sure. Can't see Morrone returning without it being a starter spot, and not sure what the goalie market is like this summer. Likely we'll only know the name once announced
Looking decent so far I think. Most of the re-signings were on my keep list, so all good IMO.
Really pleased to see Tremblay return as I thought he was one of our better players towards the end of the season, even playing first line minutes in some games when Fox moved him up the lines. Tait is a wait and see for me.
Cormier is a premier defender at this level and I'm really pleased to see him return along with Tansey, who I hope manages to keep clear of injuries which did appear to affect the physical side of his game for me last season.
I guess Neilson would be the replacement for Whistle if the rumours are correct and he does indeed move on?
More signing news tomorrow is there? I'd like to see Greenfield re-sign, but as already mentioned if he does, it's likely to be dragged out until August etc.
Really pleased to see Tremblay return as I thought he was one of our better players towards the end of the season, even playing first line minutes in some games when Fox moved him up the lines. Tait is a wait and see for me.
Cormier is a premier defender at this level and I'm really pleased to see him return along with Tansey, who I hope manages to keep clear of injuries which did appear to affect the physical side of his game for me last season.
I guess Neilson would be the replacement for Whistle if the rumours are correct and he does indeed move on?
More signing news tomorrow is there? I'd like to see Greenfield re-sign, but as already mentioned if he does, it's likely to be dragged out until August etc.
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Orange Spartan
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I am not sure that we will go with an import as backup netminder this year. Alex Oldale proved a capable backup for Manchester (for a few games) and if we are serious about using the Steeldogs as a “farm team” and creating a development pathway, we need to show that the opportunity is genuine.
It would be a brave move to go without an import backup but for me it is a risk worth taking for the long term (potential) benefits.
It would be a brave move to go without an import backup but for me it is a risk worth taking for the long term (potential) benefits.
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ginger
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Can't see it happening. Oldale needs games because he's too talented to sit on the bench for 75% of the season. Plus it's too big a risk for a title challenge if Greenfield (assuming he's back) goes down.
There's still no Brit goalie a title challenger can take as a 1B/1A than Whistle or Bowns.
There's still no Brit goalie a title challenger can take as a 1B/1A than Whistle or Bowns.
I agree with ginger on this, we need a decent import back up.
Oldale has certainly got potential, but he's far from the finished article at our level.
Last season the league went down to the final period of the season. Had we not lost Greener or had a fully fit decent backup, we would have probably won the title.
It's fine margins and I don't think we can risk the most important position on the team with a relatively inexperienced Brit as back up.
Let's see how Oldale performs at the Dogs with plenty of ice time.
Regards
Doom
Oldale has certainly got potential, but he's far from the finished article at our level.
Last season the league went down to the final period of the season. Had we not lost Greener or had a fully fit decent backup, we would have probably won the title.
It's fine margins and I don't think we can risk the most important position on the team with a relatively inexperienced Brit as back up.
Let's see how Oldale performs at the Dogs with plenty of ice time.
Regards
Doom
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Keith Sheppard
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It's early days to make a final judgement, but I'm feeling optimistic with those signed so far. As has been stated by others, the netminders are crucial... In Fox we trust!
I think it's a bit early to judge, we need to see a few more pieces of the jigsaw to get a better idea.
Of those signed, I'm very happy with the defence. I think we've retained our best 3 import d, which is a very good start. Kelly is difficult to judge, because we've just not seen enough of him.
Of the forwards signed to date I'd be a little worried if we've signed more than 1 of our 1st line players.
For me I'd look at it like this:
Dowd - 2nd or 3rd line. At 37 I'd probably be leaning more towards 3rd.
Gentile - 2nd or 3rd line, but with the right players around him I suspect he has the potential to be a good 2nd line player.
Juusola - 1st or 2nd line, but I'm hoping 2nd, because that would mean we've signed some very good players. I suspect 1st though.
Neilson - 4th line, although I wonder if Fox will have his eye on how he performed when he played further up the line up with 2 imports.
Shudra - 4th line. It would be nice to see him score a few more, but he probably needs to settle into a regular line in a regular position. If we go 5 import d, that might help him because he'll probably have an import forward on his line.
Tait - 2nd or 3rd line. He'll bring great speed, but he needs to get closer to his scoring levels in his 1st season in the EIHL. Hopefully with quality on his line he'll do that.
Tremblay - 3rd or 4th line, but with his style of play I think he fits the lower lines perfectly.
No doubt Fox will be looking at lines 1a, 1b and 1c, because he loves depth, but I suspect on paper we will have one line stronger than the others.
Regards
Doom
Of those signed, I'm very happy with the defence. I think we've retained our best 3 import d, which is a very good start. Kelly is difficult to judge, because we've just not seen enough of him.
Of the forwards signed to date I'd be a little worried if we've signed more than 1 of our 1st line players.
For me I'd look at it like this:
Dowd - 2nd or 3rd line. At 37 I'd probably be leaning more towards 3rd.
Gentile - 2nd or 3rd line, but with the right players around him I suspect he has the potential to be a good 2nd line player.
Juusola - 1st or 2nd line, but I'm hoping 2nd, because that would mean we've signed some very good players. I suspect 1st though.
Neilson - 4th line, although I wonder if Fox will have his eye on how he performed when he played further up the line up with 2 imports.
Shudra - 4th line. It would be nice to see him score a few more, but he probably needs to settle into a regular line in a regular position. If we go 5 import d, that might help him because he'll probably have an import forward on his line.
Tait - 2nd or 3rd line. He'll bring great speed, but he needs to get closer to his scoring levels in his 1st season in the EIHL. Hopefully with quality on his line he'll do that.
Tremblay - 3rd or 4th line, but with his style of play I think he fits the lower lines perfectly.
No doubt Fox will be looking at lines 1a, 1b and 1c, because he loves depth, but I suspect on paper we will have one line stronger than the others.
Regards
Doom
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paul johnston
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Im pretty similar.Doom wrote: ↑Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:36 amI think it's a bit early to judge, we need to see a few more pieces of the jigsaw to get a better idea.
Of those signed, I'm very happy with the defence. I think we've retained our best 3 import d, which is a very good start. Kelly is difficult to judge, because we've just not seen enough of him.
Of the forwards signed to date I'd be a little worried if we've signed more than 1 of our 1st line players.
For me I'd look at it like this:
Dowd - 2nd or 3rd line. At 37 I'd probably be leaning more towards 3rd.
Gentile - 2nd or 3rd line, but with the right players around him I suspect he has the potential to be a good 2nd line player.
Juusola - 1st or 2nd line, but I'm hoping 2nd, because that would mean we've signed some very good players. I suspect 1st though.
Neilson - 4th line, although I wonder if Fox will have his eye on how he performed when he played further up the line up with 2 imports.
Shudra - 4th line. It would be nice to see him score a few more, but he probably needs to settle into a regular line in a regular position. If we go 5 import d, that might help him because he'll probably have an import forward on his line.
Tait - 2nd or 3rd line. He'll bring great speed, but he needs to get closer to his scoring levels in his 1st season in the EIHL. Hopefully with quality on his line he'll do that.
Tremblay - 3rd or 4th line, but with his style of play I think he fits the lower lines perfectly.
No doubt Fox will be looking at lines 1a, 1b and 1c, because he loves depth, but I suspect on paper we will have one line stronger than the others.
Regards
Doom
If we have more than 2 signed and announced of expected top 6 we could struggle. I see so far-
1st. LW. C. RW
2nd. Juus. C. Tait.
3rd. LW. Dowd. Gentile
4th. Shudra. Tremblay. Nielson.
May be that Juus makes it to 1st, and Tait and Gentile may swap. Any change to that (with more announced guys higher up the lines) and I think we could be behind Panthers. It's hard to tell. Panthers have announced high end/top line players up front whereas I think we keep our big guns until the end.