Sheffield Steelers: Hopes remain that defenceman will make Scottish double-header

The Sheffield Steelers Canadian defenceman is nursing an upper body injury and missed the two wins over Nottingham Panthers.

The skater is bursting to get back, but the club will be careful not to exacerbate his problem.

This week, Brocklehurst has been skating with the squad and his condition will be closely monitored by the medical staff.

Coach Aaron Fox said he was a determined player that would take to the ice when others wouldn't - and had been taking some strong painkillers to enable him to get out on to the ice.

"He needed a reboot, but has looked pretty good in practice, he'll play through out when other guys wouldn't," said the coach.

"We will see how he goes on but we certainly miss him on defence and the affect overall on the team - he skates well, defends well, adds depth because when he's back in there we can move Eric Meland up front, which is a double-edged advantage as we then have four full lines.

"Meland is such a responsible player than when he plays he helps our offence and guys alongside him defend better.

"But we don't know for sure, yet who will play at Fife (Flyers; Saturday) and Dundee (Stars; Sunday.)"

It will be Steelers' first contest with Fife, this season and Fox expects a hard, physical battle on a smaller rink.

One of the hopes this weekend is to see a return to the points' column for Brendan Connolly.

Steelers' top penalty-taker hasn't scored a goal or an assist in five games and has only hit the net, so far, only against Coventry Blaze and Guildford Flames.

In total over 12 games, Connolly, who has been playing on a line with Robert Dowd and Marc-Olivier Vallerand, has three goals and four assists, the same points tally as Nikolai Lemtyugov.

"Obviously he hasn't been on the score-sheet a ton" said Fox. "He knows that and we have been working on things to get him going."

Sheffield have won three out of their last four away games and Fox said he'd been pleased with that, but added: "This weekend is going to be a big test, for sure."

Meanwhile, Telford Tigers have signed 20-year-old former Steelers forward Brandon Whistle, 20.

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