Simmsey column; Tyler who? Sheffield Steelers only want players who love the club

It’s the place championships can be won and lost and where this weekend the Steelers head looking for points against in-form Edinburgh and trying-to-find form Dundee.

If you look through the record books at the teams finishing second in recent years Scotland will be determining factor. Cardiff had horrible times up north.

Nottingham have already dropped four points north of the border. Steelers have four from two road games in Braehead and Fife. Come back with another four on Sunday then happy days!

Steelers travel to Edinburgh on Saturday with Yared Hagos on the bus. What a pedigree this new signing has.

He’s the first Swedish player to have played for the men’s senior national team as well after all the junior teams. Hagos has been around. First the American League where he spent two years in Iowa with the Stars. Two good years as well with good points. The NHL didn’t come knocking so back to the top tier of Swedish Hockey, the SHL and spells in Mora IK, HV71, Södertälje SK, Skellefteå AIK and Timra before then heading to the German DEL with Kölner Haie before Krefeld, where he played last year.

This is a proper two-way centre who will do the job Paul Thompson has always wanted, that of being strong defensively, a player able to shut down the first line of opposing teams. It might take Hagos a week or two to get in the swing. He may have been skating and training but nothing beats real games. By the time Panthers come to Sheffield on November 12 we will be see the quality we have signed.

A few people took offence at my post-Tyler Mosienko tweet that if a player didn’t want to be in Sheffield then he should let me know and I’d run him to the airport. I stand by it. It’s a position I have had for 20 odd years. If you want to be a part of what we have here than I will give you 100% support. The moment you don’t fancy it anymore, then go. Pack your bags, here’s a handshake, thanks very much, what time’s your flight?

I’m 51 years old, I’ve lost too much money, too much sleep and picked up a horrible nervous twitch over the years mithering about players.

I liked Tyler, never had an issue with him. In fact I was the one at his time of signing who pushed for us to have him when others worried about his past. If he makes us better we take him was my view. I wish him well but frankly I’ve forgotten him as quickly as he will forget us – we all move on.

What a moment for Liam Kirk, the young 16 year old who scored his first goal for Steelers last weekend. Liam, like Cole Shudra is a super kid. The team love him, you could tell that moments after the goal. The veterans were as delighted, if not more so, than Liam himself.

Kirky’s parents were year 1 Steeler fans. They followed us up and down the land until the time that Liam’s hockey took over and their attention was, as with many parents, driving him around. How proud must they have been seeing their boy score for their team!

The reaction in the stands was amazing. A lad from Maltby wearing the Steelers shirt and scoring for your club. It’s been a while since a goal was celebrated more genuinely and passionately that one. How classy too of Colton Fretter. On his man of the match lap he took Kirky by the arm to show him off to the fans. Enjoy it kid!