As the Belfast Giants, Sheffield Steelers, and (albeit with almost impossible odds) Nottingham Panthers prepare to take their title showdown into the final weekend of the Elite League season, there is no that they have been the class of the competition in 2024-25.
Adam Keefe, Aaron Fox, and Danny Stewart have each led their respective teams through periods of scintillating form – and their fair share of midseason wobbles.
But, after a season of many twists and turns, the final round of the season will determine the course of the title race.
The Giants lead the way with 76 points, with Sheffield one point back, and the Panthers behind by three further points.
The fixture list adds extra spice – the Panthers and Giants play one-another twice, while the Steelers host the fourth-placed Cardiff Devils on Saturday, before visiting the fifth-placed Coventry Blaze a day later.
With that, here are four players who could determine the fate of the Elite League’s title race.
Giants, Steelers, Panthers set for final weekend Elite League title race showdown:
Jason Grande, Nottingham Panthers –
The Panthers are all-but-mathematically out of the title race – they need to beat Belfast twice in regulation and have Sheffield lose twice in regulation to win it all. We’ll file it under ‘highly unlikely’ and move on.
Whatever the case, Jason Grande has a major role to play in determining which team will claim the trophy.
The American has played impeccably since joining the Panthers in late December, leading the Elite League in save percentage (.949) and goals-against average (1.71).
Grande has only allowed four goals in a game twice (versus Coventry and the Guildford Flames) – a remarkable feat, considering he is now 33 games into his Elite League career.
The 26-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, with his lowest save percentage in his last five starts being a crisp .936.
The Panthers are serious outsiders to win the title – but their netminder could very plausibly deny Belfast at the final hurdle.
Scott Conway, Belfast Giants –
Scott Conway leads the Giants in points (55), but his season hasn’t been faultless.
The 29-year-old has mainly scored in bunches this term (with three pointless outings in his last six appearances) and that trend should worry Belfast. In the same span, the Giants have lost twice – ultimately illustrating the fact that they are vulnerable when opposition defences find a way to lock their leading scorer away.
Clearly, that’s a glass-half-empty take on the situation – optimists would say that Conway has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last ten appearances. And they’d be right.
Elite League title race: Scott Conway, Belfast Giants (Image: William Cherry)
They’d also be skating over the fact that five of those points came in back-to-back washout victories against the struggling Fife Flyers.
Wherever you land on Conway’s form, there is no doubt about the fact that Keefe needs him to produce offence this weekend.
Chase Gresock, Coventry Blaze –
The Blaze approach the final weekend of the season with relatively little to play for – they’re nearly over the line in the battle to secure fifth place and are too far back to challenge Cardiff for a place in the top four.
But it wouldn’t be the first time that Coventry have hosted a title contender on the final day of the season and ruined their party – the Blaze did exactly that in 2018-19, beating the Devils in Game 52 and sending the trophy to Belfast in the process.
We’re also on Chase Gresock watch.
The American is tied with Manchester Storm forward Alexis D’Aoust in the goal-scoring race (31) and is in the midst of an especially prolific run.
Elite League title race: Chase Gresock, Coventry Blaze (Image: Scott Wiggins)
Gresock has five goals in his last five appearances, with his trio of assists adding an extra layer of shine to an already outstanding run.
The Blaze host Sheffield on Sunday – if Gresock pops offensively, he could determine the title race.
Dominic Cormier, Sheffield Steelers –
Everyone knows that Dominic Cormier is an exceptional offensive defenceman – he has 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) on the season, becoming a recurring character in our Team of the Week coverage.
However, the Canadian’s blueline production has slowed in recent weeks, with just one point (a secondary assist against the Flyers) in his last five appearances.
Elite League title race: Dominic Cormier, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Hayley Roberts)
Despite that, he remains one of Fox’s most important players – and therefore a pivotal figure in the title race.
Cormier consistently logs heavy minutes, is called upon in all situations by Sheffield, and is often a defensive difference-maker for his team.
If the 27-year-old plays to his standards, the Steelers are in with a real shot. But they’re in trouble if Cormier falls short of expectations.
READ MORE:
