Over the last few days, three of the Elite League teams have made re-signings of important members of last season's rosters for the new season ahead. Here we look at all three with my own opinion on them. Happy reading.
First up, Manchester Storm and their re-signing of Dane Byers. Byers was a huge hit for Ryan Finnerty and the Storm in his initial season at Altrincham. One of the reasons that Storm achieved second place in the overall standings; and now he's back for a second campaign.
My thoughts: When Dane Byers first arrived in Manchester, like most I had a keen interest in his statistics. The 32 year old came with the resumè of over 500 games in the AHL which is impressive by all accounts but coupled with over 1200 penalty minutes in the same. Screamed goon to me at the start. However, the guy can actually play hockey and chipped in with 27 goals and 78 points overall which put him third in the Storm's ranks behind the more established Matt Beca and Mike Hammond. Shades of Colt King to me, especially with the previous reputation. This is a smart re-signing by Finner and Storm fans are of course delighted; I would be too if I was one. I expect Dane to build on last season's impressive effort and put up some equally good numbers in 2018-19 as the Storm look to also build on last year's second placed effort.
Secondly, Nottingham Panthers and re-signing Brett Perlini. Perlini came to the Lace City with a firm hockey background, after all his younger brother plays in the NHL and his father Fred is well known in this country after spells at Nottingham and Guildford where the young Brett made his initial start.
My thoughts: Another smart re-signing by an Elite League and to tie him down with a multi-season contract is even more impressive by the Panthers. It's clear he has become their franchise player in my eyes. Their clutch player. Brett was head and shoulders the best player that the underachieving Panthers had, and it was a no-brainer that Pete Russell wanted him in the GB team and what tournament he had in Budapest with 4 goals and 6 points which led him to be named as the tournament MVP. I was, and am sure some Panthers fans will nod in agreement too, confident that the Panthers would lose him and he'd be in Europe this season. But they've kept hold of him, great decision. A massive boost for the Panthers and GB hockey as well. Can only get better in my view, and is still young at just 27.
Finally, the Steelers and their retention of defenceman Mark Matheson. A well travelled defenceman with experience of playing in various different leagues worldwide. Mark was seen to be that steadying influence on a new look Steelers blue line, but could he transfer that in his first look at hockey over here.
My thoughts: I first met Mark, like most Steelers fans, at the pre=season shirt launch event and immediately got a connection with him because we share the same nickname "Mad Dog" so much so he yelled out to Paul (Thompson) that "We got two Mad Dog's in the building!" which had the Steelers GM/HC in stitches. However, this is one articulate hockey player and you can tell he has such a great career when he speaks. To me, he was clearly the best defenceman we had last season (the fact he literally cleaned up every award he was up for at the Club's end of season function confirms this) and probably the best one in the league too. A player who goes about his business with the minimum of fuss, a bit like Darrell Hay in his time in Sheffield, but the consummate hockey pro. Steelers have made a lot of their fans happy with this. It would have been criminal if they had let him go.
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