Sheffield Steelers' goalie's title dream

And right now he is playing a pivotal role in that aspiration.

Mark Pinc suffered a shoulder injury and while it is not as bad as first feared, Day may well get the nod this weekend in back to back games against Coventry Blaze.

Day is ready for the challenge.

It would be massive achievement to retain the Elite League title, he said “especially growing up from Sheffield, watching the Steelers. “To win it with ‘my team’ would be great.”

That will be music to Steelers fans ears - they love a genuinely local hero and there haven’t been many of those over the years.

Day said it had been exciting to come on against Cardiff Devils last Saturday. After helping them win tht game, he then backstopped Sheffield to a win on Sunday at Dundee Stars.

Generally, he would be delighted to be granted more ice time. “I was a back-up at Steeldogs for the last few years, they had an import there as well” says the 21-year-old former England U18 goaltender.

“My ice time was very limited, so I came over with the opportunity and seem to think I have done very well.

“I feel a lot better in myself, everybody agrees with me, the team thinks I have done better since the beginning of the year, so hopefully I will just keep improving.

“You do get nervous but as soon as you get one save behind you, then you just settle down and get used to it and enjoy it.

“We want to try and get a few wins for the team, obviously we are in the title race.

“If they don’t bring an import in I’ll step in and do my best.”

Day said he was not sure if defences played tighter when a British back-up was in goal.

n Braehead Clan host Nottingham Panthers tonight in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final second leg - the aggregate winner gets a money-spinning semi-final with Sheffield. Clan start 5-4 down.