Reasons to be cheerful for Sheffield Steelers ace

With the Elite League currently in full shutdown, the exciting Sheffield Steelers' forward has yet to nail down a new job either in Europe or this side of the Atlantic.

But the 25-year-old winger is trying to avoid feeling the pressure of unemployment.

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"My agent is currently still looking for a good spot for the upcoming season," the French Canadian told The Star.

"At the moment I am trying to stay active as much as I can through our lockdown with training and any sports I could possibly be doing without the facilities.

"At the same time I am soaking in time with family as it’s rare that I’m home for this long.

"We have to start seeing positives where we can get them," said DeLuca.

"But my main goal is to get back on the ice as soon as possible.

"I’m in Montreal right now and we are currently in lockdown."

Tight restrictions in the Quebec region were this week extended until November 23.

DeLuca said his goal was "to get back to European hockey as soon as I can."

But he added: "With everything going on right now it is a waiting game for a lot of us."

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*Meanwhile Ben O'Connor says the heavy reliance on South Yorkshire players at Sheffield Steeldogs is refreshing as the NIHL prepares for an experimental, behind-closed-doors ‘Streaming Series’ of games along with Milton Keynes Lightning and Swindon Wildcats, next month.

The second flight team, whom O'Connor, 31, signed for recently, has half a dozen players on their books who were born in the county.

The former Steeler was born in Durham, but he said: "I started with the Sheffield Samurai, the Under 10s, first, playing at Queens Road.

"It is great to be back and training with these guys, there is a nice local feel to it.

"I have known Morgs (player coach Ben Morgan) since we were kids, and Woody (Greg Wood) who is helping out coaching. I know many of the guys from either playing with or against them, when we were growing up. It is good to be a part of."

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