For Petes sake - Former Sheffield Steelers' prospect and NHL draftee Liam will be at home at his new club in Canada

Liam Kirk is 'home from home' after joining major junior side Peterborough Petes in Canada.
Liam Kirk, in action for Sheffield Steelers against Cardiff Devils in 2017-18. Picture: Dean Woolley.Liam Kirk, in action for Sheffield Steelers against Cardiff Devils in 2017-18. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Liam Kirk, in action for Sheffield Steelers against Cardiff Devils in 2017-18. Picture: Dean Woolley.

The Sheffield Steelers’ protégé was drafted by NHL side Arizona Coyotes recently and then, as expected, was made available to clubs in the underlying structures of the sport.

As predicted by The Star on June 5, the lightning winger was eventually snapped in the Canadian Hockey League draft by Petes, who have strong links with Steelers.

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Head coach is Rob Wilson, a former Sheffield captain. Assisting him is Mike Duco, Development Coach at the Ontario Hockey League club, who played as a forward for Sheffield in 2015-16 and Andrew Verner, associate coach and former goalie, who was on Steelers 2009-10.

On top of that Derrick Walser is another associate coach at the club - Steelers tried to sign him this time this year when he left Belfast Giants.

A Steelers spokesman said: “It’s great that Liam will have a familiar face and voice in Rob at his new club, there is a lot to take in for a young man at this stage in his career.

“Everybody will remember Rob as very pro British - but there won’t be any special treatment for Liam, probably the opposite!

Andrew VernerAndrew Verner
Andrew Verner
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“But with such an experienced coach and his assistants, we know our boy will get a tremendous start to his hockey career over the Pond.”

Meanwhile, back in Sheffield, there might not be the appetite some fans expected in terms of a potential return for John Armstrong. The centreman finished the season strongly after recovering from a hand injury.

But the club have Evan McGrath, who could be a second line centre and Josh Pitt who could be on the third unit - which begs the question whether the club see Armstrong as first line centre.

Given the amount of changes made, that would perhaps seems unlikely.