Sheffield Universities Varsity game hoping for a big crowd

SHEFFIELD, U.K. – It’s that time of year once again where the Sheffield Motorpoint plays host to a fierce on ice contest on Saturday the 12^th of February with two teams battling it out who have developed a strong hatred for each other. You could be forgiven in thinking that it was a Steelers vs. Panthers game (that’s later that day) but this time it’s the turn of the young educated minds, as Sheffield Hallam University will take on old foes, the University of Sheffield.

 
The game is part of the annual Winter Varsity, a contest between the two universities, with four points awarded for skiing and snowboarding, and a final point being awarded for ice hockey. The five points are carried forward to the Varsity finals in April – which will play host to over 60 fixtures around the city.
 
For 364 days of the year these two teams play together on a single Sheffield Universities team, known as the Sheffield Bears. The club has teams in three divisions of the B.U.I.H.A league, making them one of the biggest university teams in the country. They are also one of the most successful, winning silverware each year since their formation.
 
The Sheffield Bears will divide and fight it out for their own university, putting friendships and camaraderie aside in the name of honour and university representation.
Sheffield Hallam University have claimed the bragging rights in the past claiming victories in the five previous ice hockey games, as well as the Winter Varsity trophy for the first time last year since the competitions inception.
 
This year is set to be even bigger and better as Sheffield Bears club President and Sheffield Hallam Captain Matt Jeffcock recently explained, “The 2011 Winter Varsity game is going to be a classic. There has been a lot of hard work put in from everyone involved with the Sheffield Bears, and others like the Sheffield Steelers and both University Unions have been very accommodating”.
 
“We are hoping for a bumper crowd this year, and ticket sales have gone very well. It makes a big difference playing in front of a large, vocal crowd. It gets the guys pumped up and really helps us on the ice,” Jeffcock added. “Once again we are carrying on our strong link with the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, with proceeds from the event going to them. They are a very deserving charity and we are happy to help out.”
   
It’s not only students who can play for the Sheffield Bears and feature in the Varsity game. This year two members of Staff from The University of Sheffield will be playing. One of them is Michael Szollosy who is a lecturer in Mental Health and at the School of English at the University of Sheffield. Szollosy shares his thoughts about the event, “I’ve been playing with the Bears for seven years, since their first full season in the BUIHA. I’ve played in every Varsity and have yet to win one. We did draw one once, but then stupidly decided to have sudden death overtime which we lost in just a few minutes” Szollosy recalled.
 
“Every year it’s got bigger and bigger, starting with just a few fans in the first year but eventually out-growing Ice Sheffield and last year moving to the Arena. It’s a great occasion, obviously, because it has all the spirit of a derby, but more like a civil war!  The rest of the year we all stand together as one team, winning and losing and putting ourselves on the line for each other, and for one day we turn on each other with as fierce and intense a rivalry as you’ll ever see,” Szollosy said.
 
The puck will be dropped at 2.45 pm with once ice warm ups and pre-game build up beginning at 2pm.
 
Tickets are available from the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, and both University box offices priced only £3 each. Students can also purchase a ticket for the Steelers vs. Panthers game that night for just £5 with a Varsity ticket stub.
 
Thanks to www.friendsandfamilyphotography.co.uk for providing the pictures.
 
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com