Churchfield prays for chance in Sheffield Steelers' goal

The netminder was initially signed last Summer by Sheffield but his hopes of playing for the team were put on ice by the pandemic.

There was no guarantee that coach Aaron Fox would be able to pick him in the EIHL draft for the tournament, either.

But Churchfield was Sheffield's number five pick which meant he will be competing with import goalie John Muse for the starting spot against Nottingham Panthers on April 3.

"It was a great feeling being picked by the Steelers" said the 25-year-old who lived at Green Park, Bawtry and Hooton Levitt, Rotherham, and developed his goaltending skills at iceSheffield from 2010 to 2014.

"It's really exciting after the past year to now have a competition and a start date we can all set our minds to.

"For Coach Fox to be sure to get me in the draft was really encouraging; he and the Steelers continued to show their commitment to me as a player, which I will be forever grateful for."

Churchfield used to watch the likes of Robert Dowd, Jonathan Phillips and Jason Hewitt from the stands so he can't wait to be on the same training pad at iceSheffield.

"It's going to be exciting to go to the rink. I'll be doing my best impression of a sponge" he said.

Churchfield is keeping his fingers crossed he'll get amongst the action at Nottingham Arena.

"In a condensed series it's going to be extremely difficult for a team to have one goalie playing for five weeks" he said.

"It's going to be a great opportunity for me to show what I can do for the team but more importantly at three games a week, to me it's about welcoming in another goalie and building the best tandem we can for our team."

Steelers' first opponents are Nottingham Panthers, on Saturday, 7pm, and that means they will be up against GB first choice Ben Bowns, from Swinton.

"Ben is a great friend of mine, he's a dominant goaltender and I'm looking forward to seeing him again" said the former Mount St. Mary's College, Spinkhill pupil.

"I hope I get the chance to compete with him, I wish him nothing but the best for the series as always."

Churchfield should not be too rink-rusty, when he gets his chance in goal.

During lockdown, he has trained in Maine, USA, three or four times a week, with a group including goalie coach Hannu Toivonen.

"One positive thing for me with the AHL and ECHL starting late, I've been able to train with some really talented skaters.

"I believe that has helped in my transition to the professional game.

"I think the series is going to start with a lot of energy, it seems many guys are well rested and you have plenty of players who have been playing this year who will be pushing the pace at the front end."