Monday 5th December 2011


The Steelers have moved quickly for defensive cover following the season ending injury to Rod Sarich by signing 28 year old Francis Trudel.



Trudel (pictured above) has played the last two seasons in Norway and Italy and will fly into Britain on Tuesday and be in the line up for Friday's top of the table encounter with Belfast Giants, the first of 3 games in 3 nights.

"We are lucky to have signed Trudel" said Head Coach Ryan Finnerty, "We had several options and Trudel became available at the eleventh hour. Once I had taken references, Iwas in no doubt that this was the player for us.

"All the reports I have received suggest he is a highly skilled player who knows his own end of the rink and will help us defensively.

"Of course his signing will give me a headache as I will now have 11 imports when we are fit and well - and that means that one import will sit out every night. That's going to be a test for me and a test for the players who now know they must play hard for their spots on the team.

"With all the games we have coming up though, I think injuries, knocks, bumps and bruises will make those decisions for me most nights.

"This weekend we have 3 huge games, 2 league games at home (Friday v Belfast and Sunday v Braehead) with a road cup game in Coventry (Challenge Cup on Saturday) so he will be thrown into a baptism of fire come friday, I'm sure he will play in that game."

Steelers next home game: Friday 10th December

Steelers Vs. Belfast Giants
Face Off 7.30pm
Doors Open 6.30pm

RECENT STORIES

NO COMPLACENCY FOR FINNERTY'S STEELERS -
Steeler's Boss Ryan Finnerty today warned his team of against thinking ahead to Sundays top of the table clash with Belfast. More...

STEELERS MAKE IT 7 STRAIGHT WINS -
Steelers make it 10 OT wins this season with player coach Ryan Finnerty leading the way with 2 goals. More...

STEELERS SEE OFF STARS AND SIGN NEW D-MAN DUFF -
Luke Fulghum scored twice for the Steelers on the way to a 3-1 victory over the Dundee Stars and also confirmed the signing of new D Man Nick Duff. More...

6 POINT WEEKEND FOR THE STEELERS -
3 Wins in 3 Nights for the Sheffield Steelers, after road wins in Coventry, Fife and Edinburgh on Friday, Saturday and Sunday More...

FULGHUM BRACE BEATS THE BLAZE -
Luke Fulghum was the Steelers hero on New Years Day scoring twice against his former side in a 6-3 victory in front of 4500 home fans More...

STEELERS FAIL THE PANTHERS TEST -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers suffered a reality check with back to back defeats in their festive games against arch rivals Nottingham More...

COACH HAILS 'CHARACTER WIN' -
Sheffield Steelers came back in dramatic fashion in Fife to claim two of the most unlikely points of the season. More...

RAMSAY STINGS THE STINGRAYS WITH OVERTIME WINNER -
Mike Ramsay scored the overtime winner 24 seconds into the extra period for the Steelers in Hull on Sunday to complete a 4 point weekend for Ryan Finnerty's men. More...

DISAPPOINTING END TO STEELERS' EUROPEAN JOURNEY -
Steelers ended their Continental Cup experience with a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Hungarian champions Dunaujveros Bull's. More...

"FRUSTRATED, DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET" FINNERTY -
Head coach Ryan Finnerty said he was frustrated, disappointed and upset after the Steelers 3-0 loss to Herning on Saturday evening. More...

STEELERS AWAIT CLARIFICATION ON ROD SARICH -
Rod Sarich spent time in hospital following the Steelers 3-2 victory against the Nottingham Panthers on Sunday night. More...

BRAEHEAD CLAN 2, SHEFFIELD STEELERS 4. MATCH REPORT -
A 2nd period burst from the Steelers that saw them score 3 within the first 7 minutes cemented this win. More...

A SPLIT WEEKEND BUT STEELERS STILL IN CHALLENGE CUP -
The Sheffield Steelers' Challenge Cup hopes remained in place after a 2-1 home victory over the Hull Stingrays on Sunday evening. More...

DOUBLE WIN KEEPS DOUBLE ALIVE -
The Sheffield Steelers recorded two more wins over the weekend that kept their hopes of both league and challenge cup success. More...

STEELERS SHUT OUT THE BLAZE TO IN A 4 POINT WEEKEND -
The UNISON Sheffield Steelers moved into 2nd place in the league standings after a 4 point weekend with victories over Dundee and at Coventry More...

STEELERS 'BOUNCEBACKABILITY' KEEPS THEM IN THE CHALLENGE CUP -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers bounced back from a 3-0 defeat in Nottingham on Saturday to beat the Cardiff Devils 5-3 More...

STEELERS 2, PANTHERS 4. MATCH REPORT -
Sheffield Steelers disappointed a crowd of over 6,500 with a lacklustre performance against the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup. More...

HUGE WIN FOR THE SHEFFIELD STEELERS IN CARDIFF -
After coming from behind to tie the Blaze 2-2 in the Challenge Cup game on Saturday, Ryan Finnerty's beat Cardiff on Sunday extending their winning streak to 5 games. More...

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE WON THE CHALLENGE CUP - STEELER'S BULL DOG HEWITT -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers commence their Challenge Cup campaign this weekend with a home game against Coventry Blaze, Saturday More...

STEELERS 6 - COVENTRY BLAZE 4. MATCH REPORT -
A big second period set up an outstanding 6-4 victory for the Steelers against the Coventry Blaze on Saturday night. More...

STEELERS CAPTAIN JONO UNDERGOES SURGERY -
Sheffield Steelers Captain Jonathan Phillips has undergone surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments. More...

NOW IT'S 3 OUT OF 3 FOR THE STEELERS! -
Steelers forward Neil Clark bagged another 2 goals as the Sheffield Steelers made it 3 wins out of 3 with a gutsy performance in Hull on Sunday evening. More...

2 OUT OF 2 FOR THE STEELERS -
The Steelers made it two wins out of two with a 4-1 home opening victory against the Dundee Stars on Saturday evening at the Motorpoint Arena. More...

CLARK GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR HOME OPENER -
Power forward Neil Clark is expected back in the Steelers line up for Saturdays home opener against Dundee Stars More...

A WINNING START FOR THE CHAMPIONS -
A very tight low scoring encounter to open the season in Belfast with the visiting Steelers taking the extra point thanks to a shootout win More...