Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox still working on finding places for younger players at club

Many of them have benefited from the recruitment guidance of coach Aaron Fox, who wants to see his men earning money, staying fit and keeping mentally sharp.

While the veterans have, largely speaking, found work in leagues that are still operating despite the pandemic, the younger members of the Sheffield roster have not always been as fortunate.

Fox intrigued to see how Steelers duo fare in Germany

The names of new recruits Ben Churchfield, aged 24, and Sam Jones, 22, have yet to pop up on any other team register.

Fox said: "I am still working on a couple of things for those guys but nothing has panned out, so far.

"It is harder, without the resume.

"Ben is coming out of college (University of New England) and Sam, despite having that good year last year (at Fife Flyers) is still a pretty young guy.

"It is not easy to take up import spots, it is frustrating for them, but we are still having conversations."

Canadian Tanner Eberle - the top plus-minus player on Steelers' roster last season - has been the target for a number of clubs, but the 26-year-old is staying put in his home province.

"There has been plenty of interest from all kinds of teams," he told The Star.

"I have been skating a lot in Regina but unfortunately I cannot really go anywhere to play because my fiance is unable to travel.

"So I am just going to play senior hockey in Saskatchewan.

"We play just all the small towns around my home area but it is a pretty good league - just lots of retired guys!"

Veteran Steeler Hewitt heading back to Sheffield ice

Eberle, 26, says he will be starting an off ice job to support himself over the winter.

*Sheffield Steeldogs are putting the finishing touches to plans for their home games against Swindon Wildcats on Sunday and Milton Keynes Lightning on November 29.

The principal idea of the 'Streaming Series' of games is to gather information to feed into planning for a competitive season launch in early 2021.

All normal covid protocols will be in place at iceSheffield, for media and officials, including a temperature check table.

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