1994

SEASON REVIEW

MAY

A Medical specialist has told Selmar Odelein to quit, this back complaint will not clear up. Tony Hand is tempted on a move to Steelers.

JUNE

Steve Nemeth will not be returning to the team next season, he is expected to return to the German team Krefeld which he left when he joined the Steelers.

JULY

Sheffield Steelers have reluctantly coughed up a fine of £5,000 ice hockey bosses ordered them to pay for alleged wage cap busting. We had reached the stage where it was not worth the cost of going back through the courts. "No one has ever proved we broke the wage cap level and the owner George Dodds is furious that justice has not been done."

 Sheffield Steelers have signed defenceman Mike O'Connor. Steelers have hit a stumbling block at their bid reach a deal with Scott Neil. They have lost out in the race to sign "wonderkid" Ashley Tait from Nottingham Panthers. Rob Wilson signed for the Steelers.

AUGUST

Sheffield Steelers have re-signed Scot Neil. Sheffield Steelers announced the biggest sponsorship deal with McEwans in the history of British club ice hockey.

SEPTEMBER

Sheffield Steelers £250,000 deal with new sponsors hit an embarrassing snag just two hours before last night's cup tie. The club's landlords, Sheffield Arena, ordered them to take down a 30ft McEwan's Lager banner proudly erected at the curtain end of the rink.

OCTOBER

Steve Nemeth is brought back to the Steelers, after Paul Jackson was sacked by the club.

DECEMBER

'The Messiah' (as he became known) Ken Priestlay signed for Sheffield after talks with Jose Carbonneau broke down.

Priestlay arrived just before Christmas and decided to spend it with his new coach. His first game was against Peterborough and Piestlay remembers

"I took the opening draw against Randy Smith who I played with on the Canadian national team and we looked at each other and said “What are you doing here” to each other and talked about our careers before the puck had even been dropped!

I’m pretty sure it was sold out, it was loud and the introductions were incredible. I’ve never been on a team that had player introductions like that before. We got two or three quick goals and at that time I knew nothing about Peterborough, so didn’t know what they were capable of. I had a number of chances to score before I actually did I think I scored the ninth goal. I remember the goal and the assists for Steve and just the whole experience.

I remember phoning my parents after the game and telling them what it was like. I explained to them that it was a very loud building and we were successful that night."

1995

JANUARY 

Sheffield Steelers suffered catastrophic losses of £234,008 in the first two financial years, and was teetering on the brink of collapse. Now the family friendly sports club has declared a modest, but significant profit of £44,247 for last year, and expect to double that in the current period.

David Gardiner-Brown was told he was no longer part of the management structure, as owner George Dodds attempted to get the club back on an even financial keel.

The first of their big wins over near neighbours Nottingham came at the Arena when a thrilling encounter involving 17 goals saw Sheffield come out on top.

FEBRUARY

Selmar Odelein was back home in Canada today heartbroken that medical advice had forbidden a return to Sheffield Steelers

MARCH

Wage- Cap spies have run the rule over Sheffield Steelers again. Finance Chief Steve Crowther said "Everything is above board at this club as it always has been."

The highlight of the season came on the 25th in Nottingham. Needing just one point to secure their first title Sheffield Steelers travelled to Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham. Notts were 5-2 ahead and cruising when up stepped Ken Priestlay.

His five goals, aided by two from Steve Nemeth and the vital go ahead goal from Les Millie, were instrumental in securing a hard fought victory. On that night he brought his tally to 55 goals for the season.

APRIL

The play offs mirrored the season: an indifferent start but a dynamic burst at the end.

Steelers entered the play off semi only to find a resolute Cardiff Devils. In an exciting encounter, worthy of the final Steelers gained revenge for the drubbing of last season with a 5-4 penalty shoot out win.  In the shootout Priestlay, Nemeth and Millie scored.

The final itself was less memorable as Steelers put seven goals past Moray Hanson to beat Edinburgh 7-2.     

Steelers ace Ken Priestlay could quit Britain before he is BLINDED by high sticking opponents. The input marksman has been sticked in the face four times in the last two matches, cuts requiring around 15 stitches.

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