Familiar faces return to stand guard for Sheffield Steelers

PAUL THOMPSON may have recently been on a fact-finding mission to the USA, but it hasn't hindered him from continuing to build his Sheffield Steelers roster for the 2016-17 campaign.
Ervins Mustukovs - back with Sheffield Steelers for the 2016-17 Elite League campaign.Ervins Mustukovs - back with Sheffield Steelers for the 2016-17 Elite League campaign.
Ervins Mustukovs - back with Sheffield Steelers for the 2016-17 Elite League campaign.

Thompson admitted several times during the title-winning 2015-16 season that goaltending was an issue, with both Tyler Plante and then his replacement Marek Pinc having their ups and downs.

Pinc - helped by able British back-up Brad Day - helped Steelers to a fifth Elite League regular season title, but was quickly moved on.

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That has created the space for a previous Steelers’ Championship-winning goalie to make his return to South Yorkshire.

Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.
Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.

Latvian international Ervins Mustukovs back-stopped the Steelers to the 2010-11 title under the leadership of one-season player-coach Ben Simon.

Both coach and netminder moved on after that campaign, Simon now an assistant coach at Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, while 32-year-old Mustukovs has moved around Europe, playing in Denmark - where he previously worked with Thompson - as well as Sweden and France.

For Thompson, it shows that patience is a virtue after failing in his bid to bring the ‘Moose’ to Sheffield last summer.

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“I think it’s well known that I tried to bring ‘Moose’ here last year,” said Thompson, following a recent visit to Chicago where he spent time with former Basingstoke head coach, Mark Bernard, who is general manager of Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Marek Pinc helped Steelers to the 2015-16 Elite League regular season title.Marek Pinc helped Steelers to the 2015-16 Elite League regular season title.
Marek Pinc helped Steelers to the 2015-16 Elite League regular season title.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to the deal then but we are delighted to have landed him this summer,” said Thompson.

“Moose is such a competitor. He stops the puck and he will bring a level of consistency to our goaltending that we need if we are to challenge and retain our league title.

“It helps that he knows Sheffield and enjoyed his previous spell here. It helps me that I know him.

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“Moose was excellent for me in Aalborg. He came to play every night and in my opinion was the best goalie in the league that year.”

Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.
Brad Day will operate as Steelers' No 2 netminder once again.

Thompson also confirmed that Mustukovs will be partnered alongside the returning Day next season.

“Brad had an excellent first year for us,” said Thompson, who is expected to announce two more signings in the coming days.

“He played valuable minutes and won us important points that helped secure us the title. In fact I said after we lifted the trophy last year that he was the reason we a had the success we did. He delivered for us and will only get better.”