1991

When the student games were held in Sheffield a large 8,000 seater arena was built. At that time David Gardiner-Brown saw an opportunity to build on the sporting success of the two football clubs in the city. He recruited Ronnie Wood (from Solihull Barons) as his co marketing director and the Sheffield Steelers were born. They secured Dave Simms (a supporters club committee member from Solihull) and it was he that came up with the idea of giving players nicknames to help fans associate with them.

They originally applied to replace Solihull Barons in the top league but when the governing body turned down that request they found themselves playing in the third tier of British hockey.

AUGUST

They began their season made up of players largely from the Sheffield Sabres with the cream of the cash-strapped Solihull Barons' defence; as well as former Edmonton Oiler Ron Shudra at the young age of 23yrs and 9 month, Phil Lee(25) and Paul Thompson(23).

They also recuited canadian-born Mark Mackie from Chelmsford Chieftans as well as netminder Terry Bagley.

And, of course, not forgetting Wood himself a former GB international who became the teams top scoring British player.

The first game in English Div 1 was away at Sunderland Chiefs which they won 13-2. Steelers first league match at the Arena was the following night against Chelmsford Chieftains which they draw 3-3 in a very exciting match in front of 1000 spectators. By the end of the month Steelers were top of the League, Tickets at the Arena were £4.50 for Adults, £3.50 for Children. Car parking was free, those were the days.

1992

JANUARY

Steelers lose for the first time on own ice in front of a capacity crowd 8300 at the Arena against Medway Bears 7-9

MARCH

An extra 1,175 seats have been installed for the two matches this weekend against Sunderland Chiefs and Solent Viking.

Steelers confirmed that an overall sponsorship package was nearing the £100,000 figure.

Sheffield Steelers Director David Gardner-Brown confirmed his two import, player-coach Ron Shudra and hot shot Steve Nemeth had signed up for next season.

Sheffield Steelers have revealed plans to build an Olympic-standard ice rink in the city. Sheffield general manager Ronnie Wood confirmed today that the club wants to create a practice rink with seats for 800 spectators.

APRIL

Sheffield Steelers may miss out on promotion, after claims that they fielded a suspended player in two crucial matches, If the allegations against defenceman Phil Lee are proved the club could face losing the two matches 5-0 and finish bottom of the playoff group. Having suspended key defenceman Phil Lee for the Livingston match, it now seems certain that the dispute prompted by the sports administrators failure to tell the Steelers about rule changes which should have resulted in the suspension earlier in the playoffs will now be resolved without Steelers losing points and a place in the Heineken First Division is secured.

Steelers ended the season by creating new records for the play offs when they installed new seating at the Arena to cater for a 10,200+ crowd. Steelermania grew so much that the Sheffield football clubs laid on special coaches from away games so that fans could get back to see ice hockey at night.

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