JODY LEHMAN isn't a goalie for friendly games.
He'd like to win tonight's 'Charity Shield' encounter with Coventry Blaze, ofcourse, but it won't break his heart if Sheffield Steelers fail.
And, as for the last weekend's Yorkshire Cup victory over Hull Stingrays, the Canadian netminder was typically forthright, when interviewed on audio, for thestar.co.uk
"I don't care about the Yorkshire Cup to tell you the truth" he said.
"I didn't even want to touch it. We want the real thing this year. And that's the league."
Click on the green icon above to hear Jody's interview in full.Lehman said friendlies were useful to "get back into the swing of things."
But he didn't think tonight's trip to the Midlands would trigger high emotions.
"I don't think it will be that serious. It's not a time to get injured, I'm sure both teams will be competitive but I don't think there will be too many body checks.
"It's a charity game to raise money, you've got to play hard but be kind of cautious what you do out there."
The league programme, which starts on Saturday (Arena, v Edinburgh, 7pm) was a different matter, he said.
"Every game has to be serious. The first 20 games are as important as the last 20.
"We can't be messing up with points early in the season.
"Coventry - when they have won over the last years - have had great starts and that's what we have got to do. We have to be rolling right from the bat."
Lehman said he thought the blend of the current Steelers' team showed there was no priority of first, second or third line.
"You can't tell which is which. There is not a weak spot. It looks good right now and I think it will continue because everybody is a good skater."
Robert Dowd "was a talented young kid, going to make mistakes, he's got to learn from them, you can learn from Ashley Tait, and (Jeff) Legue" said Lehman.
He considers Dowd as having the most potential of any British youngster he has seen.
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