Despite shock of losing star forward Sheffield Steelers '˜move on' with two big wins

Steelers coach Paul Thompson is signing a player he hopes will be an upgraded replacement for Tyler Mosienko, who parted company with the club last week.
Paul Thompson and Jerry AndersonPaul Thompson and Jerry Anderson
Paul Thompson and Jerry Anderson

But there doesn’t seem that much of a rush.

Steelers comfortably beat Coventry Blaze 9-5 at home on Saturday before obliterating them away 6-1, 24 hours later.

Thommo refused to criticise the centreman, who had been secretly seeking employment elsewhere while contracted to Sheffield. Despite being a forward down, Mosienko is expected to go to Denmark, Steelers comprehensively put their Midlands rivals to the sword.

In a League game in Coventry, having beaten them in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, centreman John Armstrong was the star, scoring his first Steeler hat-trick. Steelers, were 4-0 up after six minutes. Blaze didn’t know what hit them.

On form Christoffer Bjorklund got them on the scoreboard at 2;43. He was followed by Amstrong, twice, Markus Nilsson, and Mathieu Roy in the first 19 minutes.

Coventry’s Robin Bergman caught Sheffield cold straight after the re-start, but Armstrong’s hat-trick put Blaze 6-1 down. Thompson, happy after nine wins from 10 games, will replace Moskieno tomorrow. Of the Canadian’s departure, he said: “It was a shock. He said he’d had an offer of a two-year contract. We told him we didn’t want him to go.

Paul Thompson and Jerry AndersonPaul Thompson and Jerry Anderson
Paul Thompson and Jerry Anderson

“He was a big part of our plans. We did everything to try and keep him. He was a massive reason we won last year. But there’s no emotion with me any more, the moment you want to move on, move on.

“I don’t want you around any more, not from a personal point of view but from a professional one.

“Mosey’s game wasn’t at the level we know it can be, but we’d have got him back there. He feels his career can be lengthened with the League he is going to and feels that’s right for him and his family.”

Thompson said there’d been no hint that Mosienko was unsettled but said: “If you don’t want to play here, we have people that do.”

Tyler MosienkoTyler Mosienko
Tyler Mosienko

He suggested hockey players often “tout themselves around. He hasn’t done anything wrong, he has gone by what he is allowed to do in his contract. We move on.”

Thompson insisted there was nobody else in the squad with itchy feet.

*On Saturday, nearly 6,000 Sheffield Arena fans watched a 14-goal romp as Steelers finished top of their Challenge Cup group, courtesy of a 9-5 win over Blaze. Maltby’s Liam Kirk electrified the crowd with his first Steeler goal at the age of 16.

Colton Fretter netted twice, with Mathieu Roy, Levi Nelson, Mike Ratchuk, Luke Ferrara, Jesse Schultz and John Armstrong also scoring.

Paul Thompson and Jerry AndersonPaul Thompson and Jerry Anderson
Paul Thompson and Jerry Anderson

Thompson said it was “great to see the reaction of the veterans” in applauding Kirk’s goal.

“He is going to be a talent” he added.

Sunday 30th October

Elite League

Braehead Clan 5 Nottingham Panthers 2

Cardiff Devils 5 Belfast Giants 2

Coventry Blaze 1 Sheffield Steelers 6

Dundee Stars 4 Fife Flyers 7

Edinburgh Capitals 1 Manchester Storm 4