Former Sheffield Steelers player Marc Lefebvre keeping close eye on plans for tournament

Marc Lefebvre is keeping a close eye on the EIHL and its hopes of staging a 'behind-closed-doors' tournament in February or more likely March.
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The former Sheffield Steelers' player and assistant coach is currently holding the reins at Odense Bulldogs in Denmark, where play is continuing, albeit with the odd coronavirus pause and postponement.

There, empty-rink matches are streamed over the internet for the fans, but without any charge being imposed.

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The EIHL is designing a similar programme, but will be making a small charge for fans to watch the games, which will be staged if a Covid 19 safety agreement can be cemented with the UK Government.

Lefebvre's team is struggling at the wrong end of the Danish Metal League - they have the smallest budget and fewest imports - but at least they have played almost 40 games, so far.

"Yes our league is playing but with no fans," he said. "We've been in lockdown pretty much since November. Before then you were allowed 375 people in the rinks.

"Plenty of games have been postponed and they don’t reschedule them. They just give both teams 1.5 points each."

Marc LefebvreMarc Lefebvre
Marc Lefebvre
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Generally, he said: "We have covid testing every week and pretty much everything remains on lockdown.

"All youth sport is cancelled," said the former Steeler, now 38.

"The only things that are open are grocery stores and takeaways and it is mandatory to wear masks inside all public spaces."

But the league continues to play due to sponsorship and government assistance, a model the EIHL will be interested in replicating in some form.

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"Basically we get Covid relief for a percentage of potential lost revenue," said Lefebvre.

"They do streams but for free..the league and teams don’t charge anything."

The former Coventry Blaze and Dundee Stars man is hopeful the Elite League will be able to re-start soon.

"I have been keeping tabs on the EIHL. Hopefully something can be arranged."

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