Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox feeling the pressure as team gears up for huge weekend of league and cup action

They say it is mentally harder to cope when your team is struggling at the bottom end of the table rather than riding high at the top.
By Bob Westerdale
Published 3rd Mar 2020, 12:32 BST
Updated 6th Mar 2020, 10:09 BST
Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron FoxSheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox
Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox

But try telling that to the coaches of the top pairing in the UK Ice Hockey Elite League.

Both Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils' team bosses admit they have weathered considerable stress as the season heads to its conclusion.

And that will only increase this weekend.

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On Friday, (7.30pm) the EIHL League title will go a long way towards being settled when the two lock horns in Wales.

On Sunday, (4pm) they meet again at the same venue to decide who wins the Challenge Cup.

A few days ago, Devils' head coach Andrew Lord admitted it had been a "dramatic and stressful" campaign.

Lord said: "If you look at our scorelines they are all close games, down to the last couple minutes or overtime or shootouts.

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"It has made it very dramatic and stressful at times, lots of ups and downs, but the parity has never been so high in our league."

Asked if he felt that same level of anxiety, Steelers' coach Aaron Fox acknowledged it had been "extremely" stressful - more so than when he had been employed at teams in countries where the shorter play off series was considered more important than the long haul league.

"The situation here in Sheffield is that we have great fans, great ownership, we are expected to win," said Fox.

"When the regular season is the important one, there is no off-nights. Games in early October mean as much as they do in March.

Andrew Lord, Cardiff bossAndrew Lord, Cardiff boss
Andrew Lord, Cardiff boss

"That grinds on you mentally.

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"I am literally coaching most games as play off games and shortening the bench because those games in October/November might have cost me the title if you are not careful.

"So for me that is the grind of a 54-game season starting early September and going into April with not being able to take your foot of the gas at all."

Steelers' all important weekend is at least going to be relatively comfortable off the ice.

The team will travel to Wales on Thursday and will stay at a hotel location until after Sunday's Cup final.

It means both teams will have recovery time on the Saturday.

*Sunday's Challenge Cup Final match between Cardiff and Sheffield will be aired live on Premier Sports TV.

Related topics:Aaron FoxSheffield SteelersWalesSheffield