2008

JULY:

Ron Shudra was today confirmed as Sheffield Scimitars new player-coach , and immediately signalled that the end of his days on the ice are just one season away. "Rocket" takes over the helm from Neil Abel at the English Premier League outfit.

Dave Matsos will eventually be head-hunted away from Sheffield Steelers, owner Bob Phillips believes. The club proprietor fears that in "two or three years" Matsos will be made an offer he cannot refuse, either in Europe or back home in his native north America.

AUGUST

Matsos was determined to go for continuity and there were only four new faces in the squad: Ian Manzano on defence, Dan Green as back up netminder, Andrew Sharp and - most controversially - Nathan Gillies as replacement for Dan Tessier.

OCTOBER

Gillies suffered a long term injury and Brad Cruickshank was brought in and he proved to be the final piece in the jigsaw.

DECEMBER:

Ron Shudra was today confirmed as Sheffield Scimitars new player-coach, and immediately signalled that the end of his days on the ice are just one season away. "Rocket" takes over the helm from Neil Abel at the English Premier League outfit.

Andrew Sharp could have played his last game for Sheffield Steelers. The Elite League is to review the player's conduct after he got involved in an on ice riot at Cardiff Devils and struck a linesman with his stick. The enforcer was immediately handed two match penalties and three games for leaving the bench, spearing, physical abuse of the official and fighting. The league automatically reviews match penalties and will be aware that Devils coach Gerad Adams is calling for a 20 game ban.

Steelers tough guy Andrew Sharp has been banned for 20 games, as feared for his violent conduct at the end of the recent Cardiff Devils v Steelers game. Sharp's future at the club could now be in the balance.

2009

 JANUARY:

Steelers are going to make an early contract offer to try and persuade Dave Matsos to remain as head coach at Sheffield. The Arena senior managers desperately want to keep the Canadian, whether or not his team wins the Elite League before he is inevitably poached by a north American team.

FEBRUARY:

Steelers players will light the blue touchpaper and stand well back on Sunday. For their fast-fisted forward Andrew Sharp returns to the ice after a 20 game ban following a spearing incident in which a linesman was hurt at Cardiff Devils last December.

MARCH:

The title was confirmed after Steelers won in Newcastle and Coventry lost in Hull

Dave Matsos is well aware that the playing machine that could deliver him the British championship this coming weekend will almost certainly lose some of its key components next season. But the unflappable Sheffield Steelers coach says" Easy come easy go, if stars quit, we'll just sign new one's".

Steelers will spare a thought for missing teammate Jeff Legue tomorrow night. Jeff will be missing from their triumphant league win homecoming against Cardiff Devils as he spends time with his terminally ill father in Canada. The fact Legue remained in Sheffield until the title was won, before going back across the Atlantic. has not been lost on teammates. Forward Ryan Finnerty said "Everybody on the team was happy that we finished the league early so Jeff could go home".

APRIL:

At the N.I.C. the Steelers defeated Cardiff Devils in the semi final 5-2 in the semi final

before going on to add the British Championship to their earlier league triumph, as they defeated Nottingham 2-0.

AND ON TO NEXT ONE