SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers captured the signatures of three more players from last seasons’ championship winning squad. First to re-sign was stalwart defenceman Mark Thomas, who will be returning for his fifth season with the club. Joining Thomas will be fellow Team Great Britain international Jason Hewitt, and fan favourite Jeff Legue.
Mark Thomas, a native of Stockport, England has featured in just over 200 games for the South Yorkshire side acquiring 32 points and racking up over 150 penalty minutes along the way, establishing his firm physical presence. The six-feet tall blueliner was pleased to re-sign with the double-winning champions, “When I joined the Steelers I instantly fell in love with the place, the building the team, the fans, it’s just the best place to be. I was here when the club wasn’t winning, I have been a part of the rebuilding process and now that we have turned the corner and started winning championships you are going to have to send the men in white coats to drag me out of here,” Thomas said “If Matty (Dave Matsos) had said “sorry Tomo I don’t want you back” I would have still been here on the first day of training camp with my skates on sat in my stall, your not getting rid of me, I’m here for the duration.”
Thomas has been an unsung hero on the Steelers blueline, he’s not a flashy offensive defenceman like Rod Sarich, or a powerplay specialist like Scott Basiuk, and so he has often been unnoticed. Thomas has been a strong and dependable stay at home defenceman, who has pleased Sheffield Steelers Head Coach Dave Matsos with his maturity and composure in the defensive zone. Matsos spoke of his defensive core, and the acquisition of Thomas, “We don’t worry about what combination of our five defensemen are on the ice. We have confidence in them all, that’s what makes our defence different, we have five great players and Mark is one of them. I was impressed with him all year and then was super impressed with him at the World Championships,” Matso said “You could see at that level just how much he had improved and the confidence he had. Your British defensemen is one of your most important signings and I’m thrilled he is back with us for next year.”
Joining Thomas for a fifth season also, will be Jason Hewitt or ‘The British Bulldog’ as he is affectionately known. Hewitt like Thomas arrived mid season from the Basingstoke Bison via the London Racers, after the club folded, and has never looked back since. Hewitt has featured in 181 games for the Steelers totalling 59 points and sitting out 272 penalty minutes, showing why he deserves his nickname. The ‘British Bulldog’ spoke about his return, “I’m very happy to be coming back, I have been part of this club for four seasons in which time we have come along way and I don’t see that development stopping,” Hewitt said “We have a great core group of guys and even though we expect to lose a few players from last years double winning side we have great faith that Matty will recruit equally good players to fill those vacancy’s.” “I feel like I did contribute more last season, I know I scored more goals and points but also feel I played my best hockey. I want that to continue. Scoring 10 goals shouldn’t be my pinnicle it should be a stepping-stone. Winning a Championship is nice so why not win a second one. Making the National team and winning a Bronze was fantastic so I wonder what a silver or gold would feel like, lets find out. I’m sure there is more to come from both me and this Steelers team.”
Hewitt’s great work ethic and feistiness has endeared him to the Steelers fans, he is also continuing to improve each season, catching the eye of Great Britain and Coventry Blaze Head Coach Paul Thompson, who named Hewitt in his squad for the World Championships in Poland last season. Head Coach David Matsos was more than happy for Hewitt to return, as he explained, “For years I talked about the core group of guys and Hewey is one of those guys. Look at his progression over the last few seasons. We think there is still room for more from him as well, we want him to get better and be an even bigger part of this club. Jason is a heart and soul guy, you get what you see and I like that,” Matsos said “He is an integral part of our dressing room and team. This is another important signing for us, another cog in the wheel and work continues with other members of last year’s team alongside us trying to attract some other great fresh talent to the club, there is still a long way to go this summer.”
The latest player to be announced is fan favourite Jeff Legue. The 5’10” inch speedster from Ontario has made 107 appearances for the South Yorkshire side recording 110 points (49 goals and 61 assists) along the way. Legue has also shown he is no stranger to the penalty box, racking up 125 penalty minutes in his two seasons with the team. Legue has had his fair share of bad experiences off the ice, firstly he had his car broken into and set alight early into last season, then in March he found out that his father only had a few weeks to live, and was excused from playing duty to support his terminally ill father William back home in Cornwall, Ontario. Jeff’s father sadly passed away in April.
Legue was reported to be considering several offers from European clubs, but turned them down to start his third season with the Steelers. Legue spoke about the European offers, and his reasons for re-signing in Sheffield, “I loved my time with the Steelers, have built a strong bond with so many people there and made so many friends, the fans and the club have been fantastic with me and the guys in the room are strong friends, at the end of the day I just couldn’t walk away from all of that, I was lucky and I did have the chances to move on to Europe and had some good offers but the reality is that I’m a Steeler and I’m staying put,” Legue said “I understand that this year is going to be the hardest of my three with the team, we are the club that everyone will set their sights on and try and shoot down. We have lost a couple of guys from last year’s team and will probably lose a few more. That’s a shame but it’s hockey and you have to wish those guys good luck in their new adventures around the World playing this game.”
The 28-year-old centreman earned ‘legendary’ status amongst the Steelers fans with his tireless work ethic, smooth skating, and his eye for goal. Even through his father’s illness he wanted to carry on playing for the Steelers cause and battle it out with Coventry Blaze for the league title. Matsos had nothing but good things to say about the return of Legue, “I’m very happy to get Jeff back, he is a key guy for us without a doubt. I gave him time to examine his options, which I felt was only fair, If we had pushed him he may have chosen a different route. All the time though I kept my fingers crossed that he would return. The interest from Germany was there, we know he could have goneand we are delighted he hasn’t and now Jeff has the chance to become a Steelers legend by winning it all over again,” Matsos said “I think there is only more to come from Jeff, at 28 he is in the prime time of his hockey life, his speed kills teams, his skills are as good as any player in the league and he has the heart of a lion. What more do you want from your players.”
Steelers now have a tough task of replacing last years netminder Jody Lehman who has signed in Denmark. Lehman put in some breathtaking displays between the pipes, and recording the Elite League record for the most shutouts in a season. Contact the author at Scot.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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