Sheffield Steelers coach wishes his Great Britain stars well ahead of Russia test at World Championships

Aaron Fox allowed himself a wry smile when he visualised the next on-ice task awaiting Sheffield Steelers' Great Britain skaters.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Robert Dowd, Brendan Connolly, Jonathan Phillips, Sam Jones, Davey Phillips, Brendan Connolly, Liam Kirk, as well as recent draftee Matthew Myers who played for them in the EIHL mini series, are steeling themselves for one of their greatest challenges of their playing careers.

Along with Sheffield Steeldogs' Ben O'Connor, the South Yorkshire contingent are part of a GB squad taking on Russia in their opening game of the World Championships on May 22 in Riga, Latvia.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fox said his Steelers' participants would quickly shake off the negative thoughts of losing the EIHL play off final to Nottingham Panthers.

He said: "They are professionals, they are going to show up to camp, get ready to work, this series was great amp up for them but what they are going to see there is completely another level!"

While fitness, conditioning and match sharpness have been aided by recent games, the prospect of facing the mighty Russians is something you cannot completely prepare for.

Russia are the world's number two seed, behind only Canada.

They have astonishing depth, strength, creativity and speed.

Aaron Fox with his Steelers team Pic Dean WoolleyAaron Fox with his Steelers team Pic Dean Woolley
Aaron Fox with his Steelers team Pic Dean Woolley
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Great Britain are 19th, with countries like South Korea and Kazakhstan ahead of them.

It will be an achievement if GB managed to keep the score down to reasonable levels - although you probably won't hear many in the organisation say that in the run-up.

The GB Steelers go with Fox's best wishes as does the rest of the team as they embark on a summer break before the training camp and the next season comes round.

Fox ensured he shook every player's hand after the loss to Nottingham last Sunday.

Matthew Myers - huge task for GB ahead. Picture: Mark Ferriss.Matthew Myers - huge task for GB ahead. Picture: Mark Ferriss.
Matthew Myers - huge task for GB ahead. Picture: Mark Ferriss.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I told them I appreciated the effort that they gave over five weeks and thanked them for their level of professionalism."

He said it had been a "great group and everybody fitted in perfectly."

The coach said that, even in hindsight, there was nothing he would have done differently, off the ice, for the EIHL series.

The Covid-secured team returned to their Sheffield accommodation after each game and Fox said: "Staying in Nottingham would have been an absolute 'No' for me, I loved our set-up in Sheffield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Our organisation did an unbelievable job, Tony (Smith) and the other owners, for getting us up and running in the first place.

"There was so much behind the scenes going on, you really needed four teams to get along and take care of each other."