1999

MAY:

Fan Darren Brown saved the Steelers and promises a return to trophy days of old. Brown a director of Uniform Print has a 65 per cent holding while Friends of the Steelers own 33 per cent of the new company. Businessman David Cox and fan David Brown complete the new board. The Friends of the Steelers will be represented by directors Brian Whitfield and Brian Yates.

JUNE: Steelers legend Tony Hand was offered one of the biggest contracts in Steelers history to stay in Sheffield. But the best-ever British-born ice hockey player walked away from a deal worth a whopping £140,000 over three years to return to his native Scotland.

Steelers succeeded in capturing flying winger Jason Weaver from Nottingham Panthers, Shayne McCosh from Bracknell Bees. Kip Noble from Cardiff Devils and Dan Ceman.

OCTOBER:

The next night Steelers regained their self respect and gave themselves an outside chance of European glory with a plucky display against a skilled Norwegian side Storhamar, which finished 3-3.

In the final game of the tournament Steelers recorded a famous victory and got sweat revenge against Avangard Omsk the team that beat Sheffield in their own rink last year were well beaten this time 4-2.

Coach McKee is fired only 12 games into the new season. McKee pays the price for a big defeat at the hands of Bracknell Bees last Sunday and inconsistency throughout the season so far. It is a bold decision by Steelers with no replacement in sight.

NOVEMBER: Mike Blaisdell breezed into Sheffield Steelers dressing room with a warning to his new players "Work hard, play hard or find another club." The firebrand coach, aged 39, ended a week of dispute with his old Nottingham Panthers employers to sign for the club that has been his arch-rival for years.

He wanted defence and toughness, something he did not see in the team he inherited from Mckee.

DECEMBER: Steelers in Hull buy-out. Steelers owner Darren Brown pulled off a deal to buy ailing British National League ice hockey team Hull Thunder. He agreed a package to refloat Ron Shudra's (who had not been retained by Sheffield) cash starved club. The potential of commercial benefits in pairing Sheffield and Hull persuaded Brown to buy out the players contracts, the club's name and all other assets.

Scott Allison makes a dramatic return to the Steelers. Team manager Dave Simms persistent efforts to persuade the powerhouse winger to come back.

2000 

FEBRUARY:  Steelers will compete with London Knights for the signature of winger Andy Bezeau at the end of the season. The 'Pocket battleship' is top of coach Mike Blaisdell wish list after the player led his side to a comprehensive victory at the Sheffield Arena.

At the end of the month they took on the Nottingham Panthers in the 'Alamo' Challenge Cup Final. 4,000 fans from Sheffield packed into the London Arena to watch Steelers beat an injury ravaged Panthers side by 2-1. Unfortunately the game will be remembered for over-zealous refereeing by Andy Carson and the fact that play was halted 3.1 seconds from the end after he blew for an offside, which wasn't heard, and tickertape celebrating the win cascaded to the ice.

Steelers had a chance to crown of the season with a play off win but were thwarted by lowly Newcastle and in particular Jimmy Hibbert.

For eight years the name Ron Shudra was inextricably linked with Sheffield Steelers The unthinkable finally happened last summer when the defenceman was released, and he moved to Hull Thunder. But next week the Rocket is back at Sheffield Arena in a testimonial match to toast his Steelers career.

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