SHEFFIELD Steelers winger Nathan Gillies is confident he can notch 30 goals in his debut season.
The Canadian forward may have missed a clear break-away in his second pre-season match, against German team Bietigheim.
But he insists that will not be a representation of his finishing when he gets match-fit.
He said: "The puck got away from m
e but I was pretty tired. I'd just had 20 hours of travel and then 20 minutes to get dressed and get on the ice and play. But I should still have had a better handle on it."
Gillies says he intends to contribute "a little of everything" to the team.
"I am a worker but I can score goals. I have been known to score 30 in a season so that's what I'm planning on doing first and foremost. Hitting? I like to bang!"
The 27-year-old right-hander describes his new team as "good, close-knit, fun happy-go-lucky, hard-working'.
"We have all got a lot of skill but we're a little rusty right now, myself included.
"We've got a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks here but when we start the regular season we will be raring to go."
Coach Dave Matsos was impressed by the way Gillies played, given his late appearance at iceSheffield.
"He was so competitive, he didn't miss a chance to go into a corner first and made some nice plays.
"He is an old-school type player, he skates hard and never misses a chance to finish a hit, we also know that he can back it up as well, he won't be found asking if someone wish to dance with him."
Matsos thinks Gillies will be a key contributor in the smaller Elite League rinks.
"The contact he will get in the likes of Coventry and Cardiff, the physical play won't effect him at all.
"He also has some wheels as well, so the Arenas won't frighten him either."
Matsos said he was also delighted with Scott Basiuk's debut weekend: "He hits like a train; we have certainly upgraded his position."The new guys have certainly improved our team."
*Tomorrow: don't miss exclusive star-website video footage of Jason Hewitt's giant hit on a German opponent last Saturay - a check that cost his opponent two teeth.
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