'I am sad...' - Teammate's disappointment as Adam Raska leaves Sheffield Steelers

Fellow Czech Adam Raska has left Sheffield and returned back home.

After being a healthy scratch at Steelers, he is undergoing a one-month trial with Extraliga side HC Kometa Brno, for whom he has played before.

The move was a disappointment for Latal, whose family had formed a bond with Raska and his wife.

"I am sad, I like him a lot," said Latal.

"We have become very good friends, very close, our wives as well. I feel bad for him.

"I feel bad too because I helped him to get here - it sucks."

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Latal said it had been a tough period for Raska, who had to move around to play for a number of different teams over the last three years.

"He loved it here but now he is going home to try out for a big team in Czech so we wish him good luck.

"I am not worried- he will bounce back."

Raska said: "Kometa gave me my first big chance in adult hockey, I would like to give it back. I've had good years here, I remember the second place in the 2013-2014 season best.

"Brno means a lot to me, I spent many years here and all my hockey beginnings.

"I am very happy for the chance, I will want to show myself in the best light, and to fight for a place at least until the end of the season."

His pal Latal scored two goals in the 5-1 win at Nottingham Panthers on Tuesday; he is the second highest point scorer in a Sheffield team that has won its last nine games.

With Guildford Flames being beaten away and home by Manchester Storm (5-6 and 1-8) Sheffield have closed the gap on the top of the table Surrey side to one point.

And with Guildford having to take on Cardiff Devils next, another slip-up from them would mean Sheffield overtaking Flames, should they achieve maximum points against Storm on New Year's Eve (4pm.)

Latal says Manchester reminded him of Nottingham in the sense that they were two difficult teams to beat.

He said Sheffield would have to be better than they were at the Arena on Boxing Day which he described as "one of the worst games we've played this season."

Whatever happens over New Year, the forward thinks it will be a difficult run-in.

Last season there were only two or three teams vying for the top spot but Coventry Blaze and Guildford had shown they could be contenders, said the winger.

Guildford's sudden drop in form confounded a lot of observers.

Steelers' owner Tony Smith said he thought at the start of the season that they may fall away over the Christmas period, but then changed his mind after he watched them.

He still thinks they could push for the title. But closer to home things are looking good. Steelers have scored more and conceded less than any other EIHL outfit.

Meanwhile, Ex Steeler Liam Kirk, 22, is being loaned to Jukurit of the Finnish League after 15 games with American team Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL. Arizona Coyotes, of the NHL, still own the Maltby winger's rights.