Ice hockey is back in Sheffield

Ice hockey is back in Sheffield - and Alex Graham is as happy as anybody in the city about that.
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The 17-year-old was Sheffield Steeldogs' Man of the Match in their historic home game against Swindon Wildcats on Sunday.

Graham managed to tip home an effort from former Steelers' teammate Ben O’Connor to set the iceSheffield NIHL side on the way to an emphatic 5-1 win.

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The Dronfield ice hockey starlet added to his burgeoning reputation with a second strike, too.

Six weeks ago, Steelers' coach Aaron Fox described Graham as "the best 17 year old in the country and no one is close, in my opinion."

Fox had tried to get the forward recruited to an Under 20 league in the Czech Republic.

After two weeks practicing on Czech ice - with no game - he had to swallow his disappointment and return.

Ice hockey is back - pic by Cerys MolloyIce hockey is back - pic by Cerys Molloy
Ice hockey is back - pic by Cerys Molloy
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But Graham certainly showed his appetite for the sport has not diminished in the weekend win over Wildcats.

Graham apart, the major plus of the evening was the fact that the "Streaming Series" was underway in Sheffield - ice hockey had returned despite the continuing ravages of coronavirus.

It was the first time Steeldogs had played in eight months.

The players had just four practice sessions together before taking on Swindon.

While there were no fans allowed in the east end rink, some 1,200 people accessed the action via the web, paying £12 a head to watch players like O'Connor, ex Steeler Jason Hewitt and Ben Lake, formerly of Belfast Giants and Coventry Blaze.

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Roger Williams, co-owner of the Steeldogs, said: "It was a definite success with 1,200 tuned in.

"Benny (O'Connor) made some great plays and Lake's goal was fantastic - he has great hands and once he gets warmed up, he can be lethal."

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