Robert Dowd Is British League’s All-Time Scoring Leader
Dean Woolley/EIHL - Robert Dowd Is British League’s All-Time Scoring LeaderOn Saturday night, the Sheffield Steelers defeated the visiting Glasgow Clan 6-3 in EIHL action. Captain Robert Dowd scored to break a 2-2 tie early in the third period and in doing so, recorded his 740th career point – a new league record.
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“I’m glad it’s done now and we can just concentrate on hockey,” Dowd said after the game, following a description of the goal.
Dowd has played for the Steelers for almost as long as the EIHL has existed – the league began in 2003 and Dowd played his first two games in the 2005-06 season at age 18 but was held pointless. The following season he played seven games and got one assist – point number one. His best season point-wise was 2010-11 when he recorded 57 in 54 games.
“I’m glad he got it done tonight,” said Sheffield coach Adam Fox. “Now, what he adds on top of that is going to be very hard for anybody to catch. It couldn’t happen to a better guy and I’m just happy for him.”
Dowd is also the EIHL’s all-time goals leader and Fox referred to the time it took between the record-tying and record-breaking goals, and the toll it took on Dowd. This time, there wasn’t a long wait. Dowd tied the record with an assist in last Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Coventry Blaze.
The only game the Steelers played in the meantime was a Champions Hockey League tilt, in which the Steelers defeated Czech powerhouse Dynamo Pardubice in a shootout and advanced to the CHL playoffs. Dowd also recorded an assist in that game, although it didn’t count toward his domestic total. In the round of 16, Dowd and the Steelers will face Eisbären Berlin and Liam Kirk – the current face of British hockey and a former Steeler himself.
“He’s awesome,” Dowd said back in May at the IIHF World Championship in Prague. “Such a humble, hardworking lad and he deserves everything he’s got. He’s been fantastic for the national team over the last few years and his career is excelling.”
Internationally, Dowd has played regularly for the British national team since 2008 and has played in all four elite-level IIHF World Championships that the team has competed in over the last five years. Last season, he also became captain of the British national team following the retirement of Jonathan Phillips – his longtime teammate in Sheffield.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play Jon Boy him my whole career,” said Dowd. “We’ve played on the same team together and he’s been missed here but hopefully we’re doing him proud.”
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