How good was Ken Priestlay ?

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mark
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smbmetal wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:25 pm
I wasn’t lucky enough to see Priestlay play.

My question would be, how good was the league overall from a skill point of view? Wasn’t it viewed as a ‘beer league’ back then with one or two highly skilled players per team?

Whilst I’m sure he would have easily made the 2000\01 grand slam team, I’m not sure he would have put the same amount of amazing numbers?

Still, I would have liked to see him play.
Pick a modern player with a similar record, recent Stanley Cup rings, prolific goal scorer etc and then at age 28 bring him into the EIHL, there is your comparison, they are still going to be the class of the league.
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greeny
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Class act, as said cant see anybody in this day and age with his pedigree and that age still young being seen on these shores again any time soon
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as some-one who sits 'on the other side of the fence' with my hockey allegiance, the two players who I thought could turn a game in an instant against us were firstly Ivan Matulik who who scary in the 'Heineken' days, and then Priestlay.
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One of, if not the best player to wear the Steelers colours, he had it all.

As good as that Grand Slam team was, Lord Ken Priestley would've walked into that team.

Hope he gets the ovation he deserves when he comes home.
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BontSteeler wrote:
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:09 am
One of, if not the best player to wear the Steelers colours, he had it all.

As good as that Grand Slam team was, Lord Ken Priestley would've walked into that team.

Hope he gets the ovation he deserves when he comes home.
Please don't remind me of that godawful book (Lord of the Rinks), you'd have thought a book about my hockey team would have been a delight to read but the writing style is sleep inducing. For anyone who wants a decent read about hockey in that era I thoroughly recommend "A Game of Three Halves" by Liam Sluyter, based around the formation and rise of the original Manchester Storm it also covers the Steelers and other clubs, and it is bloody hilarious, an absolute joy to read.
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mark wrote:
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:48 am
BontSteeler wrote:
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:09 am
One of, if not the best player to wear the Steelers colours, he had it all.

As good as that Grand Slam team was, Lord Ken Priestley would've walked into that team.

Hope he gets the ovation he deserves when he comes home.
Please don't remind me of that godawful book (Lord of the Rinks), you'd have thought a book about my hockey team would have been a delight to read but the writing style is sleep inducing. For anyone who wants a decent read about hockey in that era I thoroughly recommend "A Game of Three Halves" by Liam Sluyter, based around the formation and rise of the original Manchester Storm it also covers the Steelers and other clubs, and it is bloody hilarious, an absolute joy to read.
To be fair bud, the book never crossed my mind! I've read it and really enjoyed it, I'll have to look up the book you recommend and give that a go!
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ginger
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Heineken era he was the best player in the league, alongside Brebant and Hand. ISL he was great but the league standards also improved significantly, so stood out less but was still a top player.

Would have loved to have seen 28 year old KP in the grand slam team - he'd have been unreal given he'd have had Brebant, peak Lobby etc to play alongside.

Glad Lafreniere got a mention because he's one of my all time favourites - also some of the best stories from that time involved him (if you know, you know)
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ginger wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:07 pm
Heineken era he was the best player in the league, alongside Brebant and Hand. ISL he was great but the league standards also improved significantly, so stood out less but was still a top player.

Would have loved to have seen 28 year old KP in the grand slam team - he'd have been unreal given he'd have had Brebant, peak Lobby etc to play alongside.

Glad Lafreniere got a mention because he's one of my all time favourites - also some of the best stories from that time involved him (if you know, you know)
He liked a touch of the recreational pop... he liked a few shandies... :slaphead:
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Jayboy wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:18 pm
ginger wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:07 pm
Heineken era he was the best player in the league, alongside Brebant and Hand. ISL he was great but the league standards also improved significantly, so stood out less but was still a top player.

Would have loved to have seen 28 year old KP in the grand slam team - he'd have been unreal given he'd have had Brebant, peak Lobby etc to play alongside.

Glad Lafreniere got a mention because he's one of my all time favourites - also some of the best stories from that time involved him (if you know, you know)
He liked a touch of the recreational pop... he liked a few shandies... :slaphead:
I remember walking around the concourse one game and some lady was complaining about him liking the brown liquid a bit too much.

I turned to my mate and said - "I couldn't care if he comes on to the ice hammered, as long as he keeps performing like he is." 😁

Regards

Doom
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Doom wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:52 pm
Jayboy wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:18 pm
ginger wrote:
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:07 pm
Heineken era he was the best player in the league, alongside Brebant and Hand. ISL he was great but the league standards also improved significantly, so stood out less but was still a top player.

Would have loved to have seen 28 year old KP in the grand slam team - he'd have been unreal given he'd have had Brebant, peak Lobby etc to play alongside.

Glad Lafreniere got a mention because he's one of my all time favourites - also some of the best stories from that time involved him (if you know, you know)
He liked a touch of the recreational pop... he liked a few shandies... :slaphead:
I remember walking around the concourse one game and some lady was complaining about him liking the brown liquid a bit too much.

I turned to my mate and said - "I couldn't care if he comes on to the ice hammered, as long as he keeps performing like he is." 😁

Regards

Doom
That goal in the playoffs final is still one of my favourites.

My old man could not get over how lazy he seemed but was always in the right position and could hold off players with ease. Probably one of his favourite players he got to watch
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