SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers are set for the start of the 2016/17 campaign after recently signing their last player. In this article I will discuss new additions to the team, as well as those who left for pastures new.
Steelers ready ahead of their training camp.
The first signing for Tony Smith, and arguably the most important was that of highly experienced Coach Jerry Andersson.
The 58-year-old Swede has spent the majority of his career with Troja-Ljungby where he has held various roles including General Manager, Assistant Coach and Head Coach. It was as GM of Troja where he hired Steelers Head Coach Paul Thompson in 2013.
Andersson replaces Darrel Hay, who after retiring in the summer of 2015, then followed in his father’s footsteps by going into coaching and landed the assistant coach role with the Steelers.
After just one year with the South Yorkshire side, Hay was released by the club and replaced by the vastly experienced Andersson.
An area that the Steelers struggled with last season was with their netminding. The club had initially signed Tyler Plante, who after impressing early on, sustained an ankle injury in November.
The Steelers sought cover and brought in highly experienced former Czech international Marek Pinc, who after a shaky start won over doubters who had initially expressed concerns over his ability.
The club then parted company with Plante by mutual consent in December and signed Pinc for the remainder of the season. Understudy to Pinc was Huddersfield born netminder Brad Day, who continues to improve at a rapid rate and has impressed when called upon. Day will once again be the backup netminder for the upcoming season.
Paul Thompson then brought in former Steeler Ervins Mustukovs. The 32-year-old Latvian affectionately known as ‘Moose’ led the Steelers to the EIHL league title in 2011 under former coach Ben Simon.
Since leaving the Steelers in 2011, Mustukovs has spent three seasons in Denmark, one in Sweden and a season in France with Grenoble.
The Latvian international boasted a 92.7% save percentage in 63 games with the Steelers which saw him named EIHL Netminder of the Year.
The defensive core has seen several changes with Cullen Eddy and Rod Sarich both announcing their retirements. Sarich has since agreed to help the Steelers out in the CHL by providing extra cover and depth.
Speedy defenceman Jace Coyle opted to stay in North America, meanwhile experienced blueliner Russ Moyer was released by Thompson.
Fan favourite Zack Fitzgerald remains with the team for two more seasons (Image courtesy of Dean Woolley)
Returning to the club are fan favourites Zack Fitzgerald and Ben O’Connor. Both players are polar opposites in terms of playing style, but both are extremely important members of the team. Fitzgerald was rewarded with a new 2-year contract mid-way through last year after Steelers owner Tony Smith witnessed first-hand the benefit of having ‘Fitzy’ not just on the ice but also off it.
O’Connor continues to show why he is so highly touted after amassing an impressive 51 points from 64 games last year, demonstrating his outstanding offensive capabilities.
The first new face to put pen to paper on the blueline was that of 28-year-old Hull-born defenceman David Phillips.
With over 400 EIHL appearances to his name, Phillips adds experience as well as size and strength at the back end. Phillips joins the Steelers from rivals the Manchester Storm where he posted 19 points (8+11) in 41 games along with 106 penalty minutes.
Phillips will link up with Paul Thompson once again after previously playing for him in Coventry during the 2011/12 season.
The next new face to sign was 27-year-old American Anders Franzon. The 6 feet 3 inch blueliner spent the last two years with ECHL outfit Indy Fuel.
Thompson was initially attracted to Franzon’s size and mobility, as well as being a right-handed shot. Although this will be Franzon’s first season professionally in Europe, he previously played a year of junior hockey with Västerås in Sweden.
Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Mike Ratchuk was the next player to sign on the dotted line for Paul Thompson. The 28-year-old American has 147 AHL and 228 ECHL games to his name as well as a season with Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana.
Ratchuk has a great offensive upside whilst bringing good transitional play from the back end.
Completing the defensive core in early June was 28-year-old Swede Christoffer Björklund. With over 200 Allsvenskan games to his name, Björklund is regarded as a solid two-way defenceman with a strong shot from the blueline.
A big gap was left to fill over the summer after the announcement that Jeff Legue and Jason Hewitt were both to retire. Hewitt holds the record for the all-time appearances for the club with 680. The popular Mancunian had a relentless work ethic and was one of the best agitators during the EIHL era.
Legue will return to his hometown of Cornwall, Ontario where he has recently signed for LNAH side the Cornwall River Kings. Legue leaves after setting records himself with him being the Steelers Elite League leading goals (266) and points (608) record holder.
Jeff Legue and Jason Hewitt with a lap of honour in their final game before retirement (Image courtesy of Dean Woolley)
Swede Conny Strömberg was also deemed surplus to requirements by Thompson and he was released after signing mid-season to cover for injuries. The 40-year-old chipped in with 16 points (5+11) in 25 games and has since signed back in the Allsvenskan with Västerviks IK.
Fellow Swede Fredrik Vestberg opted to stay in his native Sweden due to family reasons. Vestberg was arguably the Steelers most consistent player last year which saw him land the Coaches Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at the end of season awards evening.
The Steelers retained an impressive core of forwards including Captain Jonathan Phillips, Levi Nelson, Mathieu Roy, Guillaume Desbiens, Colton Fretter, Rob Dowd, Luke Ferrara and last year’s top scorer Tyler Mosienko.
The Steelers announced the addition of outstanding young forwards Liam Kirk, and Cole Shudra both on 3-year apprenticeship deals. The latter, is the eldest son of Steelers legend Ron Shudra and will be hoping to emulate his father’s success at the ‘House of Steel’. Both players have represented Great Britain at U16, U18, and U20 level and have very promising futures ahead of them.
The shrewd addition of Shudra and Kirk, will create competition for places on the fourth line with Luke Ferrara.
The first new face amongst the forward ranks to sign was 25-year-old centreman Markus Nilsson. This will be the versatile forwards first season outside of his native Sweden after spending the majority of his career with hometown club Troja-Ljungby, where he played under Paul Thompson during the 2013/14 season.
Nilsson has been described by Thompson as ‘highly skilled’ and a ‘mini Vestberg.’ If Nilsson turns out to be half as good as Vestberg, they will have one hell of a player.
Speedy 33-year-old winger Jesse Schultz was next to sign on the dotted line in mid-May where he joins the club from DEL2 side SC Riessersee where he recorded 45 points (22+23) in 52 appearances. With over 400 AHL games under his belt, Schultz brings a wealth of experience and will more than likely feature on a line with former AHL teammates Tyler Mosienko and Gui Desbiens.
Thompson will be relying on Schultz’s point’s production as well as his excellent skating ability.
Towering 6 feet 3 inch centreman John Armstrong then inked a two-year deal with the South Yorkshire side. A 3rd round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2006, Armstrong has 177 AHL and 140 ECHL games to his name despite being only 28-years-old.
The Ontario native has spent the last two seasons in Scandinavia with Lillehammer in Norway and more recently Odense in Denmark. In just 31 games last year, Armstrong recorded a staggering 50 points (15+35) for the Danish side.
The final piece of the jigsaw was the signing of 31-year-old Swede Andreas Valdix. The Washington Capitals draft pick can play at centre or the wing, adding some versatility to Paul Thompson’s side.
With 390 Allsvenskan and 117 SHL games to his name, Valdix brings an abundance of experience which will pay dividends for the Steelers. Standing at 6-feet tall, Valdix has a great skating and passing ability and a good two-way game.
Andreas Valdix completes the Steelers squad for the 2016/17 campaign (Image courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
With the squad complete early ahead of their Champions Hockey League fixtures, Paul Thompson has assembled an impressive balanced team, with an abundance of speed, skill, tenacity and experience.
Added to that, the off-ice team with the addition of Jerry Andersson, and the previous year with Strength and Conditioning Coach Danny Mawer, the club are striving for success on and off the ice.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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