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How Did You Become A Steelers Fan?

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House_of_Steel
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My maths teacher David Gledhill top bloke and Avid Steelers fan used to organise school trips once a month. I started going in 1997 from our school in Leeds. Maths was never my strong suit but was made a lot more enjoyable talking to him before and after lessons how he thought we’d get on the next game where we’d end up for the season and the general chit chat we have on this forum. My first game marked the arrival of Ed Courtney believe we played the Basingstoke Bison that game🤔. His classroom was adorned with Ken Priestlay posters and various glory moments from the club past I was always fascinated by the goalie with the cool mask and pads looked awesome as a 14 year old impressionable teen.😂

I remember my mum not been able to afford the ticket to go one month, David kept asking me every lesson to bring in my parental permission slip and money. I was too embarrassed to respond and just avoided the topic with my head down, anyway the last maths lesson before the game he was walking around the classroom and stopped in front of my desk with my marked paper (low marks)😂 but underneath was the ticket for the game oh the joy!!!! Like Charlie finding the golden ticket! If your reading this Sir thank you for the great memories and your kind gestures to a young man who will forever be grateful.
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teeLIST
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I've been into Ice Hockey since the early 2000's. Back when the NHL would have the odd games on Channel 5 at stupid o'clock in a morning.

I genuinely never knew that ice hockey was played in the UK until I turned about 17. (2010) Been going ever since. Used to work nights too, so got a lot of my knowledge of the sport/players watching AHL/ECHL and Juniors games in the early mornings.

Fair to say it's probably my favourite sport despite playing football at Huddersfield & Rochdale academies as a youth. Just sometimes wish there was a bit more atmosphere in the arena, aside from the opening 10 and the final 5 mins! :D
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paul johnston
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So I started watching hockey about 1983. Family from, and was in Dundee at that time (mum and dads had watched hockey in the 60's) so my team was the Dundee Rockets who over 3-4 seasons were the team to beat. Had many great import players such as Roy Halpin; Chris Brinster, Mike walker, Roch Bois, Craig Homola, Rick Fera to name a few. Neil Abel, Chris Kelland, Tony hand and his brother Paul were big rivals. Kelland was hated by the Rockets fans (because he was so good!) And used to have same great fights with Chris brinster. Tony guested for us when we played in Europe when was 15 or 16 but you could see his ability then. Mark Pavelich, one of the US Miracle on Ice guys fell out with NYR and left- he joined us. Remember meeting him in the Rockets office and saw him play in a couple of pre season games where he was a wow. Unfortunately the nhl legal might won the day so he couldn't stay. Late 80's Dundee went through changes then eventually folded as no rink.
By late 80's/early 90's did my nurse training and when qualified and ready to get proper job said to myself would apply somewhere where they had a hockey team. So ended up in Sheffield spring 1993 and caught one of Steelers last games of season when they hadn't yet made it to the big time. The rest of story been a fan ever since. Missed times /games when had young family commitments etc.

Forgot to add Ronnie Wood who was a big part of Steelers early history along with his brother Ally who was a d man were equivalents of Dowd and Davey now. Top British players.
Oh and shout out to my mum. 86 years young and still has season ticket for the Stars!!
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smbmetal
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All great posts from everyone so far. Very much enjoyed reading all of them.

A lot of hockey fan experience (didn't say old :D) from a few posts so far going back to the 80's :cool:

Keep em coming! :thumb:
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BontSteeler
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Jayboy wrote:
Wed Aug 10, 2022 6:21 pm
Honestly.. I would have to say the 2001 super league grand slam team was the best team we have ever had mate... what a year! :yeah:
Best bunch of players to ever grace the Country, it was a privilege to watch them.
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smbmetal
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BontSteeler wrote:
Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:13 am
Jayboy wrote:
Wed Aug 10, 2022 6:21 pm
Honestly.. I would have to say the 2001 super league grand slam team was the best team we have ever had mate... what a year! :yeah:
Best bunch of players to ever grace the Country, it was a privilege to watch them.
That was about our 2nd season. If I’m honest we didn’t know what was going on most of the time! The bench clearance in Nottingham I found scary lol.

We also thought that was the norm for UK hockey standard. Such as shame it wasn’t sustainable for all teams. Every single game back then with my teal coloured specs on were outstanding and had some type of real competitive rilvary! London Knights were always great games. We need a team in London again I think. Has to be good for the league.
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Ron 25
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Started going in the first season, possibly 2nd or 3rd game. Free tickets courtesy of a very good friend who worked (voluntarily), for the Steelers. Started paying for tickets about halfway through the season. Those were the days of Shudra, Mackie and my favourite, Stormin' Steve Nemeth. We hammered most teams, but had issues with the Medway Bears (mainly Dean Edmiston). Travelled far and wide, Streatham, Oxford, Telford, Sunderland. Went to Blackburn to hammer them and gain promotion. Witnessed some fantastic nights, and a few major disappointments - losing to the Devils in our first play-off final - was it really 12-1? Favourite team? Just has to be 2001. Loved it when everyone hated us.
Last edited by Ron 25 on Thu Aug 11, 2022 5:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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steeler27
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Used to play field hockey and wondered what the game was like on ice. I went to the first home league game against Chelmsford Chieftains which we drew 3 Vs 3 with a late Rocket Ron goal. Must have liked it as the whole family are still avid fans.
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Sttrinian84
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Mine is slightly embarrassing. My ex boyfriend played for the steel dogs and then he bench warmed for the Steelers when Blazer was in charge. Least to say after all these years I’m still a massive fan of the sport.
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ginger
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Played the NHL computer games as a young kid (9 or 10). A friend's dad used to watch Wembley Lions when he was young and took him to a Steelers game. He told my old man that it was a good way of entertaining the kids so my dad took me to my first game late on in the 93-94 season. I loved it (as did the old man - he even gave it the highest praise he ever gave anything - "it was alright"!).

We went to about half of the games the next year, about 80% the year after, and then season tickets the 1st Superleague season. I'd started playing roller at that point and my games started getting in the way so just back to game by game after that.

Best team is easily the 2001 grand slam. Although I agree with Simmsy on one thing - favourite player is Jason Lafreniere.
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