How Sacha Baron Cohen helped with Sheffield Steelers' team bonding session

Yet it seems that it doesn't matter where you are from - north America or the Czech Republic - everybody likes a good laugh. And that's how it proved when Sheffield Steelers' coach Aaron Fox transported his side to Grimsby last week.

On the bus, they played the 2016 Brothers Grimsby, the film where a smooth MI6 assassin (Mark Strong) tries to save the world with his idiot brother (Sacha Baron Cohen). The movie, which paints a less-than-flattering depiction of the Lincolnshire town, kept the team in raptures as they made their way to Grimsby Ice Rink, where they trained before last weekend's win over Glasgow Clan. Then they were off to Cleethorpes for a slap-up seaside dinner.

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Fox explained Steelers did not have access to ice in Sheffield on Thursday or Friday, so decided on the fun trip.

"It was a great team build," said the coach. "We put on Brothers Grimsby on the way, a lot of the north American boys had never seen that and it set the tone for going to Grimsby ice arena, where we had a blast. It was different!"

The players had a three-on-three tournament before heading off for fish and chips (but, scandalously, no mushy peas) and then on to the slot-machine arcade. It was a new experience for many of the import players, including Matt Petgrave, who was man of the match in last Saturday's 6-2 victory. He described the day trip as "pretty special."

The team spirit will be needed this weekend when Sheffield host back-to-back games against Belfast Giants.

Fox said Giants' first line was statistically the best in the league and he had words of praise for their "replenished" defensive corps, Gabe Bast in particular.

Belfast, the reigning champions, have had a mixed few weeks. They have put nine past Cardiff Devils and seven past Dundee Stars and Coventry Blaze. But they have lost home and away to Guildford Flames and, with a short bench, were outgunned last weekend at Nottingham Panthers.

Fox said he would be studying video of their last game to see if anything could be learned. Sheffield are currently second in the EIHL table four points behind Guildford, but with two games in hand. Both teams have 10 regulation wins. Giants are mid-table but such is the nature of the competition, if they manage a clean sweep in Sheffield they will overtake Sheffield.

They won't find that easy though, Steelers have won six of their last seven home games.

Meanwhile, Sheffield will play Cardiff in the Challenge Cup quarter finals. The draw: Giants v Panthers, Steelers v Cardiff, Coventry v Guildford and Fife Flyers v Dundee.