Steelers ready to end the wait

THREE years and four coaches have come and gone since Steelers last won the league.

Mike Blaisdell was the last coach to lift British ice hockey's premium silverware, at Sheffield Arena.

Since then Rob Stewart, Paul Heavey, Dennis Maxwell and Dave Whistle have all failed.

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Dave Matsos was handed the job last season and, after being allowed a settling-in period, is now expected to come up with the goods.

The pressure is now on though, as Steelers face off their league season on Saturday against Cardiff Devils (Arena, 7pm.)

For the first time in those three years - where the club has won just one Knockout Cup Cup - there seems tangible anticipation that the good times are returning. Not before time, too.

Steelers claim to have a winning tradition over their 15 seasons.

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In that time they have five league championships, five Play-off wins and are the only club to have won two Grand Slams (1996 and 2001).

To climb back to the summit, Matsos has made seven additions to his roster. The latest recruit, Randy Dagenais, is now in training with the squad.

General Manager Mike O'Connor, a playing member of the Steelers 1996 Grand Slam side, admits the team has gone through a barren spell.

"Dave Matsos will bring success back here," O'Connor says. "He had a tough first year coming in so late last summer, now he's had a year to build a team that will excite and win.

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"It was important we had off-ice stability so we could attract the better players - we are now seen as the club most imports want to come and play for.

"Chemistry is so important, the teams I played on had guys who would go through the wall for one another.

"That hasn't been the case here for the past few years.

"The Steelers team has winners in it no. Take Steve Munn, he has leader written all over him, two championships in the American and East Coast Leagues.

"Ashley Tait, in the last three years as captain of Coventry, won five trophies including two league titles and a Grand Slam,

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"There's Joe Talbot, four years in Alaska, a real leader and another with a championship under his belt.

"Jody Lehman has won championships in South Carolina and a Grand Slam in Coventry,. I know he has another championship inside him."

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