Sheffield Steelers back in five-week series

Weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Steelers' owner/EIHL chairman Tony Smith and Government representatives ended with a deal to provide hockey in as covid-secure an environment as humanly possible.

Sheffield Steeldogs are currently in a Sport England endorsed 'Spring Cup' which ends on March 28.

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The following weekend will see Aaron Fox's EIHL team take up the cudgels for Sheffield ice hockey in a league also featuring Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers and Coventry Blaze.

The teams will include 'draft picked' members of the Great Britain's national side roster, who have been playing for non English EHIL teams.

They will be hungry for action before the World Championships on May 22, when GB face the might of Russia, the world number two seeds.

The five week EIHL series clubs will play each other twice, all games being staged in a bubble at the Nottingham Arena, home of the EIHL play offs.

The EIHL says the tournament will be "culminating in a best-of-three Playoff Final series."

In normal times, Steelers' fans might be upset that another hockey tournament has evaded Sheffield Arena, but as no fans are to be permitted entry, it is not an issue.

After a 391-day break, supporters would be happy to watch them skate over a frozen Graves Park boating lake if necessary, as long as they see players back playing for the orange jersey.

Exactly how many of last year's Challenge Cup side will be in the mix is not possible to say at this stage.

Fans will hope to see NHL draft Liam Kirk back at Steelers, after playing for Steeldogs during the Canadian OHL lockdown.

And the finances of the Government deal are under wraps - it is not even known whether the clubs involved will even break even, let alone make a profit.

"A lot of people have worked very hard in many different organisations to get us to this point, and we are extremely grateful for their time and effort over the past few months," explained Smith.

"We cannot wait to get back out on the ice again.

"Our number one priority in the Elite Series is to make sure that most of the Great Britain national team players are included.

"We have already been working with GB coach Pete Russell to ensure that as many of the players that he has in mind for the World Championships in May, as possible, will be included, if they’re not already playing abroad."In addition to this, we are hoping to provide roster spots for as many other elite British players as want to play in this series, regardless of which teams they played for last season, plus a fine contingent of import players that will ensure compulsive viewing for all hockey fans in the UK and beyond.

"All of this combined means we can promise our fans that these games will stay true to the Elite League product they know and enjoy. Everyone is raring to go and, although it will be behind closed doors, I hope the 2021 Elite Series gives our fans back some of what they’ve been missing since September."

Russell added: "It’s superb news that the Elite League are going to be active this season in this mini-series. Firstly, it’s great for ice hockey in the UK; and secondly, it's great for the British players to be able to get back to some normality and get active before the up-and-coming World Championships.

"Many of the potential players in the squad will now get competitive ice time ahead of May’s tournament in Latvia. Some of them haven't played in a long time and others have had interrupted seasons, so it was vital they have some competitive matches ahead of a massive tournament where we will, once again, play the best teams in the world.

"Great credit must go to everyone involved for getting this sorted and off the ground in such a short space of time."

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