Matt Greenfield's message to Sheffield Steelers newcomers: You have to hit the ground running
Matt Greenfield is having a growing influence on the Sheffield Steelers locker room
Sheffield Steelers goaltender Matt Greenfield has revealed how he is taking on a greater leadership role in his fifth season with the club, helping new arrivals understand the demands and expectations of playing for one of British ice hockey's most successful teams.
Greenfield has become one of the most established figures in the Steelers dressing room, but the American netminder insists he isn't somebody who feels the need to constantly make his voice heard.
Instead, he believes leadership is about setting standards, delivering on the ice and knowing when to speak up.
"I've always been a big believer that if you're going to say something, one, you better back it up on the ice, and two, you better be right," explained Greenfield.
"So I try not to say too much, but I also think it's really important that guys know, because sometimes guys just don't know or don't maybe understand."
For Greenfield, one of the biggest challenges is helping players arriving from North America or other European leagues understand that British ice hockey demands a different approach.
In some competitions, teams can afford to build gradually towards the playoffs, but Greenfield believes that mentality simply doesn't work for a club with Sheffield's ambitions.
"You come from North America, you come from these other leagues where it's like, okay, we're just trying to get ready for the playoffs, we're just trying to feel our way through.
"That's not really the case here. We've got to hit the ground running.
"These points are just as important as the points in January against Belfast."
Greenfield believes that winning the Elite League championship requires an extraordinary level of consistency, leaving very little room for error over the course of a demanding season.
"Some places you might win three out of four, maybe go three, one and one on a weekend and say we're doing really good.
"Well, here, if you want to win the league, historically you need between nine and eleven losses on the season. That's it.
"So you don't get very many of them, and it gets tough down the stretch to win those games."
It is a message the experienced goaltender is keen to communicate to players who are experiencing British hockey for the first time.
And that responsibility extends beyond league points to preparing new teammates for the intensity of the Steelers' biggest rivalry games.
"I always get juiced up for rivalry games," he admitted.
"It's important to communicate to guys that don't know that this is a big game, it's a rivalry, and these are important.
"And also, just so you know, when you step on the ice it's going to be sold out, it's going to be rocking in there."
Greenfield still vividly remembers his own introduction to the fierce rivalry between Sheffield and Nottingham Panthers, even though his first experience came in a pre-season fixture.
"I remember my first game against Nottingham was a pre-season game," he recalled.
"I remember stepping onto the ice and being like, 'Oh my goodness, I was not expecting this.'
"So it's important to give the new guys a heads-up on that, so we're ready to go when it's game time."