Sheffield Steelers suffer blow as Guillaume Desbiens calls time on career

Just over a month ago, Guillaume Desbiens delighted the Sheffield Steelers’ fans after announcing he would be sticking around for a further two years.

In his 18 months in South Yorkshire, the 32-year-old Canadian winger had helped deliver a Elite League championship and a play-off title.

But Steelers fans and staff will wake up this morning ito learn that Desbiens will now not be coming back, having opted instead to retire from the game due to an opportunity outside of the sport coming his way back home in Canada that was too good to turn down.

It leaves the Steelers with a sizeable hole to fill ahead of a 2017-18 campaign in which they are desperate to regain the league title they lost to Cardiff Devils in March.

Steelers’ head coach, Paul Thompson, while understandably disappointed to be losing a player he described as a “leader” and the “ultimate professional”, has been around the game long enough to realise this kind of situation develops on a regular basis.

“It was the last call I wanted to receive” said Thompson. “I don’t think it it was a call that Desi ever expected to make either.

“The reality is that while he has been back home since the end of the season he has received an opportunity that he can’t turn down – one that benefits him and his family. We are bitterly disappointed, but we fully respect his decision.

“I can’t thank him enough for everything he did for us in his two seasons here. We have big boots to fill. We now have to move on and find the best replacement we can.”

In a heartfelt statement, Desbiens paid tribute to the many people who had helped him during his career, saving a special thank you for his time at the Steelers.

“Sheffield, you were the last stop in my journey but not the least, he said. “Wearing a Steelers jersey was an honor. I will forever cherish my time in South Yorkshire.”