RIVAL Elite League clubs claim Sheffield Steelers will be "soft" next year - and ripe for a physical beating.
The Play Off champions have veered away from signing an enforcer - learning, perhaps, from their mistakes of the previous two seasons when they released Brett Clouthier and Jeremy Cornish.
However, other clubs are pitching in with heavyweights.
Cardiff have Brad Voth, Manchester Clouthier, Newcastle Vipers Andre Payette, Hull Stingrays Jonathan Bernier and Nottingham Panthers Rumun Ndur.
But today Steelers coach David Matsos has laughed off suggestions that his side will be a soft touch.
"I keep hearing this" says Matsos.
"Every time I make a call I keep hearing that other coaches are saying that we are soft, that their teams will beat us up. It really does make me laugh.
"Firstly they are not showing my team any respect and secondly they forget how well we played last year, how we didn't get bullied, how we stood up to the tough teams let them take penalties and then beat on the scoreboard.
"I looked at signing some out and out toughness this summer then I just thought that this was exactly what we had done in the previous two years when we signed Clouthier and Cornish. We ended up releasing them and signing Ryan Finnerty and Dan Tessier, those guys went on to help us win.
"We are anything but soft, we have team toughness in every single player and I would rather have that any day of the week.
"We won't back down from anyone. Maybe the likes of Steve Munn, Nathan Gillies and Finnerty will have to drop the gloves a little more. If that's needed, I am fine with that.
"This summer we have added more grit in Gillies and Scott Basiuk. We have just geared up, made the team better, stronger and tougher as a team.
"I'm trying to win the league title not the WWE. If we go into the likes of Hull and Coventry and they want to run around, then fine. Take the penalties, we will score the power play goals and put the points on the board. I would love their guys to come after us and take penalties in those games because if they do we will win those games"
"I have my squad, its taken all summer to get the team I want and I'm happy with it, I wouldn't change one of them."
*Tomorrow: Why Bob Phillips couldn't warm to his own Steelers players.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 462 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
