Goalscorer Ramsay snared by Steelers

SHEFFIELD Steelers’ player-coach Ryan Finnerty believes he has landed the ‘best available’ goalscorer after signing forward Mike Ramsay for the 2011-12 Elite League season.

The 27-year-old Canadian has spent the past three seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes in the Central Hockey League in North America.

During that time he has averaged almost a point a game, posting 213 points, including 88 goals, in 213 regular and post-season appearances.

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Many fans will see the Ontario native as a direct replacement for now-retired Steelers’ marksman Joey Talbot, who scored more than 130 goals for the South Yorkshire club in four seasons.

“We all knew this was going to be a big signing for us,” said rookie coach Finnerty.

“You can call it ‘the Talbot replacement’ if you like, but to me it was about finding the best goal scorer we possibly could.

“This is a signing we have just kept plugging away at. I made contact with his agent some two months ago and we kept sowing the seed so I’m delighted that, after setting our sights on him, we have managed to sign him.”

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Ramsay, who has also had two brief stints in Finland, added: “This is a great opportunity for me to play in a new league after six years in the States.

“I’m a high energy player and I like to use my speed a lot. I take a lot of shots, I shoot whenever I can and I will score.”