WASPISH winger/centre Ryan Finnerty will be a Sheffield Steeler for a third season after the club re-signed him today.
The 27-year-old's on-ice aggression sealed another term - and that has delighted captain Jonathan Phillips.
"Finner is a man for the big games" said Phillips.
"And next year every game will be a big game as we make a run for the title.
"Finner showed in the Play Offs last year that he steps up to the table when it really matters, I thought against Manchester, Cardiff and especially Coventry he was at a different level, he had that look in eyes that just said we were not getting beaten" said the skipper.
"I love playing with him, he makes things happen out there, he creates opportunities for his line mates. He is unselfish and if you find holes he will find you.
"The only problem playing on his unit is that he winds everyone on the opposition team up so much that they all want to kill him, we have to keep jumping in there to pull him out!
"Matty (coach Dave Matsos) said he wanted the core of the Championship team back... in Finnerty he brought back the absolute core."
Matsos added: "Finner was one of the main reasons we lifted the Play Off cup. He brings energy to our line up and dressing room, he plays with an edge and an intensity that I love.
"Finner is a winner and a bad loser. He plays with his heart and I think that's why the fans took to him in Sheffield.
"He can score on a big line or he can check and just shut down other teams on a different kind of line."
Finnerty commented: "I loved it in Sheffield and returning to the Steelers was always my number one aim."
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MOREStars come out for Star and Green'UN Football Awards: PICTURE SLIDESHOW Football headlines.More Blades.More Owls.More Spireites.More Rovers.More Reds.More Millers.More Ice Hockey.More rugby.More boxing.Sports columnists.All sport categories. The full article contains 377 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
