Michael Davies praises Sheffield Steelers for getting players home amid coronavirus crisis

Speaking from a self-imposed quarantine at home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he said he is still getting his head around how swiftly action was taken to get Americans and other nationalities home once the extent of the coronavirus situation became fully known at the ice hockey club.

Davies and his team-mates had been working at practice when owner Tony Smith suddenly arrived.

"He called us off the ice, ran us through the situation quickly and efficiently - he understood everything, our feelings and our needs to get home before borders got closed or flights were cancelled. He was awesome.

"The cancellation of the season was something he and the league had to do for everyone's safety. It made sense.

"I didn't want to get stuck in Sheffield with family commitments in America and my wife was already planning to get back home with our daughter, she has a job there and needed to be home for a certain date for health insurance reasons. I was also considering my position.

"Nobody could have any idea how long this (pandemic) would last.

"Family is the most important thing and I went back to the apartment and started packing up as many things as I could."

At the same time Tony's son Shaun was trying to book flights for all players and their wives and children.

"He must have worked for hours and hours non-stop. There was so much organising to do," said Davies.

"Shaun laid on a shuttle taxi service to the airport and we threw in eight suitcases, two hockey bags, a stroller and a car seat!

"Within a few hours of being pulled off the ice, we were on a flight to Manchester to Orlando and from there to Minneapolis. We'd got out of there in 18 hours."

Davies said it had been a "crazy" situation.

"But the players had seen it coming and while it was very unfortunate to stop the season after winning the Challenge Cup - which was incredible - health and safety had to come first. The players' jobs had to go on the back burner."

Davies said the early end to the 2019-20 campaign should not diminish the appreciation supporters should have.

"Fans should be proud of what we accomplished and the direction which the organisation is going in.

"The owners had our backs. Sometimes people in the background get overlooked.

"We are the ones who score the goals and make the big plays that fans love but behind closed doors these people are doing everything they can to make players happy."

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