Login

Kel · 07-03-2012, 01:02 PM

<div align="center">Steelhawks Season Preview</div>

Hamilton, ON - The Steelhawks looks better than they did last week and it's just been a week but the Steelhawks have solidified their team. There's only a few days before the first puck-drop of the season, and the Steelhawks look ready. And with their training camp over it seems like the days to season's starts are getting slower and slower but, for Daniel Carlsson it's been boring. He says he so anxious to play in the Simulation Hockey League and it's been a heck of a ride to get there.

[Image: mastercarcentre.jpg]

Steelhawks at training camp

Over the past days the Steelhawks front office has been buzzing, first they had to re-sign key players like Joe McKeil and Roberto Martucci and had success in doing so as both of them signed to over three year deals. The Steelhawks also had to sign their top prospects, they signed Daniel Carlsson to a two year, 6.5 million deal and Matthew Ekblad to the same and the Hawks defense is now set. They may be young but with veteran leadership by some players they could learn and develop easier. Like said in an article before the Steelhawks may not look like their best at the moment but in the next few seasons they will be at their best.

Here's a look at what's coming to you this season from Hamilton.

Additions:
RW - Joshua Simmons
D - Matthew Ekblad
D - Daniel Carlsson
RW - Todd Brotuzzi
RW - Draco Malfoy
RW - Michael Stich
RW - Daniel Richter
LW - Eoghan O'Donnell

[Image: jan-6-vs-thrashers.jpg]

Josh Simmons with the Toronto North Stars

Subtractions:
C - Tyler Seguin
John Falkirk
D - Oscar Hjalmarsson
D - Mike Ochocinco
RW - Mario Balotelli
D - Dominic Turcotte
RW - Yousuf Scherbluk

Prospect Report: The Steelhawks are filled with tons of prospects and they've filled up on defense with Matthew Ekblad their top prospect. Ekblad had a great season in Kelowna in the juniors and he finished with zero giveaways in his first season, it seems like Ekblad is the top notch player they need to have a great season. Draco Malfoy is another player who the Steelhawks can put in at anytime needed he fits any role, even though last season he didn't have the season many expected him to have but Malfoy didn't reach expectations made by others and maybe since he's not the main attraction here in Hamilton he may tally more points. Daniel Carlsson also fills the hole the Steelhawks had in defense, they needed a puck-moving defender and that is what Carlsson brings to the table and he hopes to help with his offense, Carlsson joined mid-season in season eight but he made a big impact right off the hop to the Kelowna Knights of the NWJHL. Todd Brotuzzi also had an okay season last season it could of been dissapointing but it was okay getting seventeen points in a league like that was great for him and don't expect nothing less than success for him here in the SHL, he'll play on the third line and he'll look to make an immediate impact too. Micheal Stich is an unknown player and he may get a chance at the SHL or go down to the NWJHL for more development but either way this guy's a stud, he goes unknown through the league but when you score eight goals in the playoffs you shouldn't. Watch for him to have a dominant season in the NWJHL, if he gets sent down.

[Image: Defense-the-strongest-position-in-NHL-dr...-large.jpg]

[Image: Defense-the-strongest-position-in-NHL-dr...-large.jpg]

Matthew Ekblad with the Kelowna Knights

Breakout Player to Watch: Roberto Martucci is the break-out player to watch for the Hamilton Steelhawks, he finished this season on a high note tallying 57 points and making it to the all-star team, he is a nominee for some awards as many of the Steelhawks fans voted for him, it looks like this season will be another beast one for Martucci, though it is not only Martucci who is my prediction for a break-out season, I think Lebacon will break-out this season he hasn't done so since he's joined the SHL but this season I think is his season, he'll finsih with high points and look good doing it too.

Marquee Match-Up: Any games against Calgary Dragons - These games against the Dragons and the Steelhawks will be a great rivarly things have heated up since Jamie, apparently disrescpeted some of the teammates on the Steelhawks and that's what supposedly got here kicked out of Hamilton, the Steelhawks flat-out hate Jamie and the Dragons and when this rivarly is brought onto the ice, it'll be great.

[Image: Hockey%20Fight.jpg]

Glimpse of a Dragons and Steelhawks rivalry.

Other Dates To Watch:

First Game of the Season - The Steelhawks will start the season on July 8th and Hamilton will be going crazy, they'll see a new Steelhawks team looking for a chance at redemption.

First Game Against Winnipeg Jets - The Steelhawks prospects, those from Kelowna havea tough rivarly with the prospects on the Jets because many of them are from the Firebirds and we all know what happend this past spring with the Firebirds elimaniting the Knights in seven and it was a tough series for the Knights and the Knights prospects look for redemption and it'll also be a great match-up to watch some of the top ten prospects going head-to-head.

[Image: dustin-byfuglien-winnipeg-jets-pre-season.jpg]

[Image: dustin-byfuglien-winnipeg-jets-pre-season.jpg]

Lebacon against Rashad Thomas

First Game Against Manhattan Rage - It will be veteran versus rookie. Heiss and Corcoran will be the talk of the game when the Manhattan Rage and the Hamilton Steelhawks face-off. Can the rookie beat-out the vet or will the vet show the rookie how it's done. It'll all be shown on the SHL Network.

Reason To Get Excited: Why shouldn't the Steelhawks fans have no reason to get excited, the team is different. Their defense is different their formation is different and not to mention the front office is different as Lindsay stepped down and O'Keefe took his place. These are just reasons the Steelhawks fans can get excited, just wait and see at opening night the fans will be screaming and yelling.

Home Hardware: The Steelhawks home hardware this season will be in net, Corcoran will have to be at his best and he will. He'll steal tons of games for the Hawks and he'll also get the help from his teammates. Corcoran is a veteran and he's going for that cup, and he hopes to bring the Steelhawks their first ever cup. Watch him steal the show this season.

[Image: varly3.jpg]

Cocoran at his prime, showing that he's the best

On The Hot Seat:] Defender Kevin Lebacon is definitely on the hot seat, if he doesn't do something then he'll get more pressure to better next season and he has to prove that he is a great defender the fans in Hamilton know that but can they believe it? Lebacon will have to bring his A game this season and I predict he will.

It's Your! Call: Can the rookie defense bring home a cup to Hamilton, can Malfoy prove he's worthy. Will Lebacon finally break-out. It's your call. GO HAWKS GO!