The Sheffield Steelers are a professional ice hockey team located in Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Utilita Arena. They are currently a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League.
History
Ice hockey was played in amateur form in Sheffield, but the sport began its return to an era of arenas and stadium size crowds with the opening of the Sheffield Arena in 1991 and the creation of the Sheffield Steelers — the ice hockey team that was to occupy the new arena. The Sheffield Arena was built as part of the city's facilities for the staging of the World Student Games, and is a sizeable stadium originally seating 8,500 and located close to the city centre. Ronnie Wood and David Gardener-Brown were at the helm as the Marketing Director at the club and set about promoting ice hockey to a city with two long established football clubs, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. Wood had a specific target, seeking to attract children and families to the city's new sporting Arena. They also began taking players to local football matches and together with mascots in an attempt to attract football fans. The Steelers' announcer David Simms gave certain players nicknames in the 1991–92 season to help the crowd associate with the players such as 'Rocket' Ron Shudra, 'Stormin' Steve Nemeth and 'Magic' Mark Mackie. This tradition has continued with more modern players like 'the Golden child' Robert Dowd.
The Steelers were named in honour of Sheffield's industrial past, much like the American football team of the same name based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the sharing of nicknames is merely a coincidence. The American football team predates Sheffield's team by 58 years. Sheffield and Pittsburgh are considered sister cities.
The Steelers have continued to fill the capacity of the Arena nearly every season since, including over 9,000 vs Nottingham on Boxing Day 2021 and then over 9,500 the same day four years later, following the introduction of premium "Sky's Edge" seating . Sheffield began breaking several British ice hockey attendance records, and in March 1996 added an extra 1,200 seats to the Arena to meet the growing demand. The Manchester v Sheffield game in 1997 had a UK record 17,245.
On Sunday 3 December 2006, the Steelers played in their 1000th ever game. The game was against the Basingstoke Bison at the Hallam FM Arena, for which special orange jerseys had been made for the match. The Steelers lost the game 3–2 and the jerseys were all auctioned off at the game.
2000–present In the 2000–01 campaign the Steelers completed a Grand Slam, becoming only the second club to win the Autumn Cup, League, Challenge Cup and Playoff Titles in the same season. They retained the Play-off title the following season, the first team to achieve this in the Superleague era, beating Manchester Storm on penalties in the Play-Off final, held at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham in front of a full house.
David Matsos was appointed as coach for the 2006–07 season. He led the Steelers to a fourth-place finish in the league and a place in the Challenge Cup Finals.
In 2007 team Owner Bob Phillips and his wife sold their other Elite League club, the Cardiff Devils, in order to concentrate on building the Steelers. The club won that season's Elite League Playoff Championship after beating the Coventry Blaze 2–0 in the final with goals from Jonathan Phillips and Dan Tessier. The Steelers were knocked out of the following season's Knockout Cup and Challenge Cup early, but finished first in a league campaign that saw them lose just three times in regulation. They made this a double by beating Nottingham Panthers 2–0 in the Play-Off final. The Steelers season ended in the Quarter Finals of the Play-offs after being knocked out by the Cardiff Devils.
The 2010–11 season was preceded by a "walk-out" of Steelers management and office staff, after a vote of no confidence in Owner Bob Phillips. Phillips put the club up for sale, and in December 2010 Paul Ragan, the CEO and owner of the Cardiff Devils, finalised acquiring the rights to the Sheffield Steelers. The Steelers were at the top of the league for the majority of the season, battling it out with the Cardiff Devils, and won the league after back-to-back victories against the Braehead Clan. The Steelers were tied on points with Cardiff but won the league having more regulation time wins. After several rounds of negotiations, Simon decided not to renew his contract, and Ryan Finnerty was installed as player/coach after. During that season Sheffield Steelers became the first EIHL team to win a medal in Europe after their appearance in the Continental Cup superfinal.
Tony Smith took over as sole owner in August 2011 after buying out Paul Ragan. The Steelers won the 2013–14 Play-Off final 3–2 against Belfast Giants.
From 2014 onwards, any time that the Sheffield Steelers win a home game the player dubbed Man of the Match does a fast lap around the ice with a pre-planned celebration at the end of their fast lap. This tradition was then called "the Eddy" named after the player who originated this tradition Cullen Eddy. Some sources say that this was originally a prank devised by players at the time Mark Thomas and Jason Hewitt who skated over to Eddy and told him that it was a 20 year tradition at the club to do a fast lap around the perimeter of the ice. The prank paid off and after that the Steelers incorporated this in their match night celebrations
At the end of season 2014–15 they beat the Cardiff Devils to clinch the Elite League title with 74 points. On 20 April 2015, they parted company with coach Gerad Adams. They soon brought in Paul Thompson, former GB coach, as head coach and general manager. At the end of season 2015–16 they became only the second club in the history of ice hockey to become back to back champions when they defeated the Fife Flyers on the final day of the season to take the title.
Paul Thompson left the Sheffield Steelers on 1 October 2018, citing personal reasons. He was replaced as head coach by Tom Barrasso. On 16 April 2019 the club announced that Aaron Fox had been appointed as head coach and general manager of the club. On 8 March 2020, the Steelers won the 2019–20 Challenge Cup beating Cardiff Devils 4–3 – their first Challenge Cup title for 17 years.
On 28 October 2023, during a game against the Sheffield Steelers at Utilita Arena, Adam Johnson of the Nottingham Panthers sustained a fatal injury. The injury occurred when Johnson's neck came into contact with the skate of Steelers player Matt Petgrave. The game was halted immediately, and medical personnel from both teams, as well as medically trained spectators, rushed to assist. Players from both teams gathered around Johnson during the emergency response efforts. South Yorkshire Police conducted an investigation into the incident . On 29 April 2025 the Crown Prosecution Service announced that there was no reasonable chance of a conviction, so no criminal charges would be brought in relation to Johnson's death and the case closed.
On 13 March 2024, the Sheffield Steelers brought an end to their four year trophy drought by winning the Challenge Cup at home against the Guildford Flames 3–1, their second Challenge Cup title in the Elite League era. On 24 March 2024, the Sheffield Steelers would clinch the Elite League title for the first time since the 2015–16 EIHL season qualifying them for the 2024–25 Champions Hockey League season. They would go on to secure the Grand Slam the next month, winning all the available trophies in the 2023–24 EIHL, winning the Playoff title at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham, in a 3–1 victory over the Belfast Giants.
Head coach and captain history Captains NameTenureBernard Serafinski1991–92Ron Shudra1992–96Rob Wilson1996–00Dennis Vial2000–01Paul Kruse2001–02Marc Laniel2002–03Dion Darling2003–05Mark Dutiaume2005–06Shawn Maltby2006–07Jonathan Phillips2007–13Steven Goertzen2013–14Jonathan Phillips2014–23Robert Dowd2023–Present
Head coaches NameTenureRonnie Wood1991–92Alex Dampier1992–98Don McKee1998–99Mike Blaisdell1999–04Rob Stewart2004–05Paul Heavey2005Dennis Maxwell2005–06Dave Whistle2006David Matsos2006–10Ben Simon2010–11Ryan Finnerty2011–13Doug Christiansen2013–14Gerad Adams2014–15Paul Thompson2015–18Tom Barrasso2018–19Aaron Fox2019–Present
Current squad Squad for 2026–27 Elite League seasonhttps://www.eliteprospects.com/team/210/sheffield-steelers Sheffield Steelers at eliteprospects.com * Denotes two-way deal with Sheffield Steeldogs of the NIHL ** Denotes two-way deal with the Deeside Dragons of the NIHL 1 + Netminders No.Nat.PlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of BirthJoined fromPress Release 1 Matt GreenfieldL2022 Parkland, US Kansas City Mavericks, ECHL 32 Alex Oldale*L2025Sheffield, EnglandManchester Storm, EIHL 34 Curtis Warburton**R2024 Rotherham, England Solway Sharks, NIHL 44 Lucas BrineL2026Chertsey, EnglandGlasgow Clan, EIHL + DefencemenNo.Nat.PlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of BirthJoined fromPress Release 2 Robbie StuckerR2026Saint Paul, USUtah Grizzlies, ECHL3 Liam SteeleR2025Cobham, EnglandCornell Big Red, NCAA Division I57 Logan RoeL2026Cape Coral, USSteinbach Black Wings Linz, ICEHL58 Dominic CormierL2023Moncton, CanadaStjernen Hockey, Eliteserien59 Macoy Erkamps AR2026Delta, CanadaIserlohn Roosters, DEL65 Brien DiffleyL2023Burlington, USOdense Bulldogs, Metal Ligaen77 Aatu AarnioL2026Naantali, FinlandVaasan Sport, Liiga + ForwardsNo.Nat.PlayerPositionAcquiredPlace of BirthJoined fromPress Release8 Ryan TaitRW/C2025Santa Clarita, USGuildford Flames, EIHL10 Jordan O’Brien*F2026Blackburn, EnglandPeterborough Petes U18 AAA, OMHA25 Tim GettingerLW/C2026Cleveland, USSchwenninger Wild Wings, DEL62 Evan Jasper AC/LW2025Whitby, CanadaVienna Capitals, ICEHL63 Mikko JuusolaLW/RW2023Kuusamo, FinlandHC Energie Karlovy Vary, Czech Extraliga71 Leevi TeissalaRW2026Turku, FinlandSödertälje SK, HockeyAllsvenskan72 Ivan Björkly NordströmRW2024Edinburgh, ScotlandPeterborough Phantoms, NIHL74 Brandon WhistleC2026Kelowna, CanadaBelfast Giants, EIHL75 Robert Dowd CLW/C2021Billingham, EnglandHC Eppan Pirates, Italy281 Sean Collins AC/LW2026Saskatoon, CanadaBlack Wings Linz, ICEHL88 Bailey Yates*C2025Lanarkshire, ScotlandUtah Outliers, USPHL91 Adam RockwoodC2026Coquitlam, CanadaBIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan92 Mitchell Balmas ALW/C2023Sydney, CanadaIowa Wild, AHL93 Olivier ArchambaultLW/RW2026Le Gardeur, CanadaDucs d'Angers, Ligue Magnus + Team StaffNo.Nat.NamePositionPlace of BirthJoined fromPress ReleaseN/A Aaron FoxHead coachHastings, USKHL Medveščak Zagreb, EBELN/A Carter Beston-WillAssistant coachCalgary, CanadaKHL Medveščak Zagreb, EBELN/A Andrew AkersEquipment ManagerSheffield, EnglandNo Team
+ Recent departuresNo.Nat.PlayerPositionAcquiredPlace of BirthLeaving ForPress Release 5 Joona Huttula AD2024Tampere, FinlandGKS Katowice, Polska Hokej Liga6 Kevin Tansey AD2023Hammond, CanadaMadawaska Valley Wolves, Northern Premier Hockey League10 Jordon SouthornD2025Montreal, CanadaRetired13 Mitchell HeardC2025Bowmanville, CanadaTrenton Ironhawks, ECHL14 Patrick WatlingC2025Sault Ste. Marie, CanadaRetired15 Stephen HarperLW/C/D2025Hamilton, CanadaMaine Mariners, ECHL17 Joe LynchC/LW2025Kirkcaldy, ScotlandSolway IHC, NIHL18 Samuel TremblayC2025 Saint-Basile-le-Grand, CanadaAtlanta Gladiators, ECHL23 Brett RitchieRW2026Orangeville, CanadaVlci Žilina, Slovak Extraliga27 Cole ShudraF/D2021Rotherham, EnglandBelfast Giants, EIHL37 Eamon McAdamG2025Perkasie, USTBC55 Jack Dougherty D2025 Saint Paul, US Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL67 Reece KellyD2025Fife, ScotlandFife Flyers, EIHL73 Kyle WatsonF2025Wakefield, EnglandFife Flyers, EIHL
Honoured members