Smiling Steeler Vallerand happy to be on the ice in Europe

Sheffield Steelers' goal-hungry forward's 'loan' period in European ice hockey had been delayed as officials worked on his visa.

The Canadian was on a flight to Italy as soon as everything was rubber-stamped - quite a relief for a man who had felt the mentally-fatiguing pressures of unemployment due to the coronavirus lockdown in the UK.

Vallerand had barely overcome jet lag before scoring a powerplay goal and an assist for his new team Eppan Pirates, in a 5-2 win over Verese.

The winger, who took just 12 minutes to open his account, said: "I am just so happy to be here!

"The scenery here is a 360 degree postcard. It’s beautiful even more than I remembered," the player told The Star, referring to his time at Eppan in the 2014-15 season.

"The last few weeks have been tough, with everything so slow to process."

Asked to characterise his new team, he replied: "I’ve only played one game so it’s tough to say but the hockey sense of the players is not the best due to their young age."

However, he pointed out: "They all skate really well and relentlessly. 20.7 is the average age. But it’s a great group that wants to learn so much."

The game was Vallerand's first since scoring against Cardiff Devils in the victorious Challenge Cup final in March.

He'd finished off the EIHL campaign on a high with seven points in his last nine games.

On Saturday, his Italian side play Hockey Club Como - with Sheffield/Eppan team-mate Robert Dowd a doubt after a rib injury.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Steeldogs are pressing ahead with plans for the so-called 'Streaming Series' tournament, a pilot session involving games against Swindon Wildcats and Milton Keynes Lightning.

The EIHA stated: "The rinks are able to accommodate the training and games for these fixtures due to the Elite level status.

"This is very positive news for our sport - we appreciate the efforts which everyone has put in to achieve this.

"We’re now asking for your support as fans. Please get behind the series, share it, create that word of mouth to encourage people to buy the streams via https://www.nihl-national.co.uk/tickets/.”Steeldogs' first game will be at home against Swindon on November 15, (17:30.)