Behave yourselves on foreign ice, Steelers!

Goalie Ervins Mustukovs hopes Steelers won't fall into a familiar trap this weekend in three Continental Cup matches on foreign ice.
Press Eye - Belfast -  Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2017 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Belfast Giants' Jim Vandermeer with Sheffield Steelers' Zack Fitzgerald during Saturday nights Elite Ice Hockey League game at the SSE Arena, Belfast.   Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Zack Fitzgerald & Scott AarssenPress Eye - Belfast -  Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2017 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Belfast Giants' Jim Vandermeer with Sheffield Steelers' Zack Fitzgerald during Saturday nights Elite Ice Hockey League game at the SSE Arena, Belfast.   Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Zack Fitzgerald & Scott Aarssen
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2017 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye Belfast Giants' Jim Vandermeer with Sheffield Steelers' Zack Fitzgerald during Saturday nights Elite Ice Hockey League game at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye Zack Fitzgerald & Scott Aarssen

Sheffield’s robust Elite League style has often led to punishing refereeing rulings when they have played in European tournaments - penalty minutes have largely been responsible for their downfall in some matches, overseas.

That cannot happen tonight and over the weekend, according to Mustokovs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Latvian said: “If we want to win, we have to be very disciplined, because there will be different refereeing.

“I hope we won’t play short-handed for 30 minutes every game. We have to be smart.”

Sheffield’s penalty killing has been highly efficiently lately in domestic play - but they won’t want to put that to the test too much today in Denmark, where they face the unknown quantity of HC Yunost-Minsk, a Belarusian team who are seven-times champion of their nation..

“I never played in Continental Cup but I just love to play in general” said the ‘Moose.’

Down you go. Zack Fitzgerald drops an opponentDown you go. Zack Fitzgerald drops an opponent
Down you go. Zack Fitzgerald drops an opponent
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Sometimes it’s good to play against other leagues and country’s teams.”

Asked if he felt he will be under pressure to perform, he replied: “I don’t think there is extra pressure. We have league where 56 games are pressure.”

Coach Paul Thompson expects a lively night against Minsk today.

“They and the others are good skating teams” he said. “Minsk’s style is typical from that part of the world, they are fluid, have size and skill and it is going to be a tough challenge, but one we are ready for.”

The hunt for a new defenceman had been put on the back boiler, but Steelers hope to make a signing soon after the weekend.