The Guildford Flames are the only team to have more than one player in our Team of the Week for Round 25 of the Elite League season – and fans of Paul Dixon’s team will be left wondering why netminder Eamon McAdam missed out.
The Flames were perfect last week, taking six points from three games and climbing above the Coventry Blaze in the standings.
McAdam was a crucial factor for Guildford, with a 37-save performance thwarting the Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday [19 February], a 36-stop showing frustrating the Dundee Stars on Saturday [22 February] and a 40-save masterclass denying the Sheffield Steelers on Sunday [23 February].
In any other round, the 30-year-old would probably headline our Team of the Week. But he was just pipped at the post – for reasons explained below.
Elsewhere, the Cardiff Devils produced a dismal showing and suffered a humiliating 6-0 loss to the Belfast Giants on Saturday.
The Fife Flyers snapped their 10-game losing streak on Sunday, overcoming the Glasgow Clan in a shootout to the delight of the home fans and – bizarrely – the Sheffield Steelers’ social media admin.
With that, let’s dive into the Team of the Week.
Elite League Team of the Week – Sunday, 23 February
Netminder – Jackson Whistle, Belfast Giants
In addition to Eamon McAdam, Jason Grande (who stopped 59 of the 61 shots he faced versus the Steelers), Shane Owen (who stopped 45 of the 47 shots Glasgow fired on his net) and Mat Robson (who made 36 saves on 38 shots against the Stars) each warrant sticks taps.
But Jackson Whistle still takes the net in Round 25.
The 29-year-old made a remarkable 63 saves on 64 shots as the Giants claimed back-to-back wins against Cardiff.
Whistle’s advanced analytics speak to the quality of his performances, with the Team GB netminder stopping 3.57 goals above expected, including both of the high-danger scoring chances he faced through two hours of play against the Devils.
Whistle ranks fourth for save percentage (.928) and first for goals-against average (2.02) in the Elite League this term.
Defenceman – Dominic Cormier, Sheffield Steelers
Dominic Cormier’s first season in Sheffield was solid, with 31 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 52 appearances in all competitions.
But the Canadian has taken his play to a new level this time around, a trend exemplified by his 28-minute performance versus the Panthers on Saturday.
Elite League Team of the Week: Dominic Cormier, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Hayley Roberts)
Cormier was all over the ice as he led the Steelers in ice time, scored the game-tying goal, and made two blocks in their comeback, shootout win over Nottingham.
Defenceman – Ben O’Connor, Dundee Stars
Ben O’Connor is now the all-time leader in assists amongst Elite League defencemen, recording the 400th assist of his career versus Coventry on Sunday.
“I take a lot of pride playing in this league,” O’Connor said post-game. “I love playing for my country and in the EIHL – and I don’t have that many years left, so to have my name down there passing someone like Jonathan Weaver, who I looked up to when I was coming through here in Coventry is very special.”
Legendary.
Forward – Kieran Craig, Fife Flyers
It’s been a bleak season in Fife – but the emergence of Kieran Craig as one of the Elite League’s sneakiest scoring threats certainly fits the description of a feel-good-story. The Canadian joined the Flyers in late December (having been un-signed for the first half of the season) and his offensive production has surpassed all expectations.
Elite League Team of the Week: Kieran Craig, Fife Flyers (Image: Flyers Images)
Craig, in the midst of an eight-game point-scoring streak, has 15 points (ten goals, five assists) in 18 appearances and shows no signs of slowing down.
The 23-year-old scored in each of Fife’s Round 25 fixtures, including the shootout winner to top the Clan on Sunday.
Forward – Daniel Catenacci, Guildford Flames
Following back-to-back-to-back defeats, the Flames needed a spark and Daniel Catenacci provided it in their midweek win over Nottingham.
The Flames entered the first intermission down by two, but fought back valiantly in the back half to win 4-2 at the Motorpoint Arena.
Catenacci scored Guildford’s momentum-shifting equaliser on the powerplay in the third period, before doubling down on his offensive production with three points (two goals, one assist) in a 6-2 victory over the Dundee Stars on Saturday.
The Canadian continued his fine form on Sunday, opening the scoring on the powerplay against the Steelers. Potent.
Forward – Ryan Tait, Guildford Flames
Ryan Tait was another standout figure for Guildford, with five points (one goal, three assists) versus the Flames, Stars, and Steelers. The American’s best performance came against Dundee, closing out the night plus-four through 19:22 time on ice.
Elite League Results – Round 25
Wednesday, 19 – Friday, 21 February
Sheffield Steelers 8-1 Fife Flyers
Nottingham Panthers 2-4 Guildford Flames
Glasgow Clan 4-3 Manchester Storm
Belfast Giants 4-1 Cardiff Devils
Saturday, 22 February
Manchester Storm 6-2 Fife Flyers
Glasgow Clan 3-4 Coventry Blaze (SO)
Dundee Stars 2-6 Guildford Flames
Belfast Giants 6-0 Cardiff Devils
Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Nottingham Panthers (SO)
Sunday, 23 February
Nottingham Panthers 3-1 Manchester Storm
Fife Flyers 3-2 Glasgow Clan (SO)
Coventry Blaze 2-4 Dundee Stars
Guildford Flames 3-2 Sheffield Steelers (SO)
READ MORE:
- Guildford Flames sign Zack Hoffman to bolster injury-hit blueline
- Stock Up, Stock Down – NHL: 4 Nations Face-Off Edition
- Elite League Team of the Week: Dowd leads all-star cast
- Reaction — Nottingham Panthers sign netminder Jere Huhtamaa
- Analysis — Cardiff Devils sign powerplay specialist Ben Almquist
