Cruikshank axed as Matsos adds more steel

Dave Matsos's side suffered 5-2 defeats at the hands of Nottingham Panthers and bottom club Hull Stingrays at the weekend in what is becoming a nightmare defence of their 2009 Elite League championship and play-off titles.

Head coach Matsos was clearly irritated by the effort from a number of his players – particularly on Sunday against Hull – and has threatened more changes. Cruikshank was first to be shown the exit door but has already been snapped up by Coventry Blaze.

On Monday, the pressure on Matsos and his team increased when owner Bob Phillips issued a statement in which he apologised to Steelers fans for watching the club slide to, what he considers, its most "embarrassing position" in its 18-year history.

With transfer deadline day approaching at the end of the month, the arrival of 6ft 5ins 'power' forward Sgroi, from the ECHL's Elmira Jackals, could be one of a number of changes Matsos makes.

While Matsos admitted releasing Cruikshank was not an easy decision - he was an instrumental part of last season's double-winning team - he said the strongarm tactics of Nottingham's Dominic D'Amour at the National Ice Centre, along with the ability of Hull's young British players to regularly finish their hits on Sunday, meant it was time for a change.

"Its never easy letting a player go, " said Matsos.

"Brad cared about the Steelers, he loves this club and was very upset about leaving. But a situation however came up where a super-tough guy became available - a player who can score, fight, entertain and give the club an adrenalin boost. A larger than life, intimidating character, we felt this was a chance we couldn't pass on."

"I'm sick of going into other teams arenas and having some of the so- called bigger players taking liberties against us," added Matsos.

"This came to a head on Saturday in Nottingham when Dominic D'Amour started playing the role late in the game. At that moment I thought "no more" we will sign Sgroi and then see how tough D'Amour and similar players are for the rest of the year."

"I'm under no illusion that things have to change here in Sheffield and change quickly. I'm speaking to more agents and players at the moment and, if we can make more changes, changes that will benefit this hockey team before the transfer deadline date then we will."

Cruikshank, who posted 16 goals and eight assists in 38 games for the Steelers, admitted he had been in a slump but was quickly snapped up by title hopefuls Coventry after they learned that captain Adam Calder would be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining medial knee ligament damage during Sunday's Skydome clash with the Nottingham Panthers.

"Would I like to have ended things differently? Well of course I would. I have been in a slump and that's something that hasn't happened to me before," he said.

"I have had a wonderful time here" he said "I have nothing but good things to say about this organisation."

Coventry head, Paul Thompson, said he was delighted to land somebody of Cruikshank's calibre at this stage of the season.

He added: "When Dave Matsos re-signed Brad for this season, I remember him saying at the time that guys like Brad are hard to find and that when you have one you don't let them go.

"Well, he has now decided to let him go and I'm delighted that we've been able to get him here."