Steelers signings and departures

[Doom]

Brine was .932%, 2.04 GAA in 7 challenge cup games last season, seems more than capable to me...

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I think you'll find that in a few of those games he only played 1 period, when the game was more or less already won/lost.

Whilst those numbers look good, I think the league figures are a bigger sample and probably more a true reflection of what we can expect (maybe 90%?). The Elite League website lists his last 5 matches (90% against us, 97.73% Cardiff, 88.89% Coventry, 81.48% Coventry and 85.71% Belfast).

He did play a full game against Belfast in which he was 93.55%, which is very impressive against a top team.

I just hope supporters are going to have realistic expectations. Brine won't be a 92.70% netminder like McAdam, probably more like 90% which would be roughly a goal a game extra conceded.

He's arguably the best of the up and coming British netminders and clearly has potential, but he's far from the finished product.

As for me, I want to win the Challenge Cup and I'd like to think so do Fox and Tony Smith, which is why I'd only expect him to get 3 or 4 full games in the CC (which is what Glasgow gave him last season).

Regards

Doom

[steeler pete]

I’m inclined to agree that it’s worth sacrificing the challenge cup to develop a Brit goalie with the desire and potential. They need good coaching and proper match practice.

I see no point in bringing in a Brit goalie with the desire and potential if you’re not going to give them a chance.

[glenngiant]

To give Brine 3 or 4 games in the. Challenge cup risks not qualifying in top spot so no home final if you make it , also dependent on Belfast in the other group and how many points they accumulate.

Keefe always talks about how 2 points in October/November are just as important as in March/April, can you risk dropping points with an all Brit goalie line up if resting Greenfield or will an import back up be signed shortly after the season starts after Fox has had the opportunity to see Brine up close and in training.

[Doom]

It seems only our opponents supporters can see the risk attached to this signing.

Even more surprising is how dismissive some of our supporters are to the Challenge Cup. Failure to qualify in that could cost our club tens of thousands of pounds. In the future that could be the difference between keeping a Balmas and having to bring in a much cheaper alternative.

Ultimately the Steelers are a business and whilst developing Brits is always a nice positive, the priority is to be successful and bring the crowds in.

Let's just assume we do give Brine all the Challenge Cup games, not only does that lessen our chance of qualification, but there are other considerations:

1. He might not improve and ultimately we lose tens of thousands of pounds for no gain.

2. He might develop further and become an import quality netminder. Who is to say when he gets to that level he won't move to Belfast or abroad, meaning the cost we've put in is effectively in vain?

I don't want to get down on the chap before he's even played for us, but I like to be a realist and simply put this is a risk for the club. The right balance for me is giving him a few games against weaker teams and possibly bringing him in when a game is won or lost.

To consider giving him the full CC campaign is madness, both commercially and regarding the impact it will have on Greeners match sharpness.

Regards

Doom

[greeny]

if your no 1 goalie is fit and happy to play then he can play all the time for me,,,,,,, am sure he will personally know when he needs a shift off

[Clear The Zone]

2. He might develop further and become an import quality netminder. Who is to say when he gets to that level he won't move to Belfast or abroad, meaning the cost we've put in is effectively in vain?

Christ, I hope most clubs and coaches don't share this incredibly short-sighted attitude or the sport is knackered. This is how sport works. If you develop someone, yes, loads of them will leave. Likewise, you're free to sign players that other clubs have developed - like, say, 99.999% of Steelers players ever. I will reiterate; this is how sport works.

[KCHC]

Kelly signs for Fife.

[Doom]

2. He might develop further and become an import quality netminder. Who is to say when he gets to that level he won't move to Belfast or abroad, meaning the cost we've put in is effectively in vain?

Christ, I hope most clubs and coaches don't share this incredibly short-sighted attitude or the sport is knackered. This is how sport works. If you develop someone, yes, loads of them will leave. Likewise, you're free to sign players that other clubs have developed - like, say, 99.999% of Steelers players ever. I will reiterate; this is how sport works.

But there aren't loads of them though, because the vast majority of the players in our league are already the finished article and aren't developed by the clubs.

Netminding is the most important position in the team and I'm struggling to think of any who have been developed by the big 4 teams in recent years, because there is such a risk involved.

I just find it crazy that supporters are willing to write off the Challenge Cup to try and develop a player who may or may not be a success and could easily move on.

Is it a gamble worth taking? - In my opinion it isn't, for all the reasons I've listed.

Come the start of the season I suspect Fox will agree with me, which is why i expect Greenfield to get the majority of the CC games.

Regards

Doom

[Doom]

Kelly signs for Fife.

Not a huge surprise.

I thought he did OK for us and wish him well in the future.

I think Steele has a much higher ceiling for development though. No doubt he'll make the odd mistake, but he skates so well for a player of his size and for me has a higher skill set than Kelly.

I'm really excited to see what Steele can do this season.

Regards

Doom

[smbmetal]

It’s a great debate, especially the Brit goalies one.

For me, I don’t want an import limit at all. I’m of the school of if you’re good enough, you’ll play.

Unfortunately, that model, (financially), went to the wall very quickly under the old ISL days. We were treated to some superb hockey though under this scenario. I’d argue one of the best players in the league at the time was David Longstaff and the great Tony Hand. Both Brits, probably not very good in goal though

Fast forwarding to today, rolling a Brit goalie allows the extra outfield import skater. There is now an import rule to try and encourage Brit player development and I guess help teams financially etc.

If as fans we want to see a regular number 1 Brit goalie at the Steelers, then unfortunately, some sacrifices have to be made in terms of silverware and financially, so that they can become a regular number 1. We can’t have it all ways I’m afraid.

Of course, we want to win every single trophy available, but even rolling 1a and 1b IMPORT goalies has won us nowt the past two seasons, so why not give a Brit goalie a try, especially in the CC?

There really is no point in signing a decent Brit goalie, if we’re not going to play them and take the risk of it not working out. The benefits of it working out though are very high indeed.