Cardiff Devils

Elite League Team of the Week: Round 24 – Robert Dowd headlines all-star cast

by
Luke James
18th February 2025

Robert Dowd, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Hayley Roberts)

It was yet another potentially decisive round in the Elite League, with the Sheffield Steelers reenergising the title race and the Glasgow Clan scoring a perfect, four-point weekend to create breathing space in the fight to make the playoffs.

But it wasn’t plain sailing for the Steelers, who blew a two-goal advantage in the second leg of their Challenge Cup semi-final versus the Cardiff Devils to crash out of the competition to the delight of a sold-out Vindico Arena crowd on Wednesday [12 February].

The Belfast Giants produced a dominant 3-0 win over the Nottingham Panthers in the first leg of their semi-final tie. The decider will be played in the East Midlands on 26 February.

Valentine’s Weekend yielded eye-catching results at both ends of the table – headlined by four-point weekends for the Panthers and Clan.

With that, let’s dive into the Team of the Week – with five teams represented in our most varied selection of the season so far.

Elite League Team of the Week – Sunday, 16 February

Landon Bow, Glasgow Clan (Goaltender)

Landon Bow was a standout performer as the Clan claimed back-to-back wins over the Dundee Stars and Guildford Flames, with the Canadian closing out Round 24 with a sturdy .941 save percentage despite facing a heavy workload.

Bow made 46 saves on 49 shots against Dundee on Sunday [16 February], backstopping the Clan to a hard-fought overtime win against a direct rival in the standings.

The 29-year-old’s record on the season doesn’t jump off the page (he ranks fourth-last in save percentage amongst starters) – but he came in clutch this time around and has enjoyed a purple patch of late, upholding an above-season average save percentage in four of his five most recent appearances.

Zach Sullivan, Manchester Storm (Defenceman)

Zach Sullivan scored twice in the Manchester Storm’s 4-3 loss to the Dundee Stars, finishing the night plus-one.

While the 30-year-old was held off the scoresheet by the Devils on Sunday, he played an excellent defensive game, closing out plus-two, with one block through twenty minutes of ice time.

Elite League Team of the Week: Zach Sullivan, Manchester Storm (Image: Mark Ferriss)

Evan Mosey, Cardiff Devils (Defenceman/Forward)

Evan Mosey remains a highly reliable Elite League player in his age-35 season, with 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) on the year.

Mosey’s best asset is his ability to perform in any skater position on the ice, switching between the blueline and forward troupe for the Devils whenever required.

The American-born Team Great Britain international was a standout performer versus the Fife Flyers, scoring twice and providing the secondary assist on Joey Martin’s opener. He also recorded a primary assist in Cardiff’s Challenge Cup win over the Steelers.

Reid Stefanson, Nottingham Panthers (Forward)

Reid Stefanson tormented the Coventry Blaze in Round 24, recording five points (three goals, two assists) across Nottingham’s home-and-home series against their Midlands rivals.

The 27-year-old was the difference-maker in Sunday’s clash, scoring twice and providing two even-strength assists to takedown the Blaze 6-4.

While Stefanson was an offensive force, his faceoff numbers remain a concern – he finished the weekend 7-12 in the circle.

Robert Dowd, Sheffield Steelers (Forward)

Robert Dowd, take a bow – eight points (two goals, five assists) in two appearances is outstanding production.

Elite League Team of the Week: Robert Dowd, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Hayley Roberts)

Dowd’s sensational weekend started with a three-point performance in Sheffield’s 5-2 win over Guildford, with his five-point contribution to the Steelers’ 5-2 victory against the Giants making him the league’s standout player in Round 32.

The 36-year-old remains on-pace for the sixth point-per-game season of his career – a remarkable achievement for the Elite League’s all-time leading scorer.

Mitchell Heard, Glasgow Clan (Forward)

Mitchell Heard’s case for a place in the Team of the Week is relatively straightforward – he scored a hattrick for Glasgow in their 4-3 overtime win against Dundee.

And he did so in style.

| 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗩𝗥𝗘

If this masterpiece from Mitchell Heard – his hat-trick goal from Saturday in Dundee – doesn’t cure the Monday blues, we don’t know what will

What a beauty!

Enjoy it anyway and remember, the next game day is just days… pic.twitter.com/VHgiXLtXxm

— Glasgow Clan (@ClanIHC) February 17, 2025