Finnerty set to fire up Steelers

The firebrand Sheffield Steelers forward was as quick to make his point in the dressing room last season as he was at putting points on the board.

And the 26-year-old Canadian was never shy of criticising his team-mates if he thought they were slacking, says team boss Dave Matsos, who would be happy to see the same from him next year, if merited.

"Finnerty is a very emotional person, and that is quite a bonus for me," said the team boss.

"He wouldn't mind at all if someone was to miss an open goal. But if he feels somebody is not working as hard as he should do or normally do, then he won't be slow to say something.

"He is a gritty sort of guy, on the ice he enjoys mixing it up and has the occasional fight.

"In the dressing- room he can be intense, and the other guys respect that."

That could make for a potentially volatile dressing-room next year, if results do not go in Sheffield's favour.

Jody Lehman, the third year goaltender, is similarly unwilling to allow poor performances to go without icy comment.

Last season, he confronted winger Brett Clouthier over his contribution. It ended in a bitter stand-off and neither men are on each other's Christmas card list.

A couple of the new imports are said to be vocal, too.

Finnerty, meanwhile, is tipped to become a bigger success in the Sheffield kit than he was last year, when he scored a creditable 21 points in 23 games.

Matsos believes his familiarity with the club and the league will help him improve further.

Coach Matsos may have been thousands of miles away in his native Canada when the floods hit Sheffield...but he is still counting the cost.

He has been trying to find rented accommodation for the players, only to find their old stamping ground of Catcliffe is not ready to receive guests. Matsos is switching his attention to the Gleadless area.