Hewitt sticks with Steelers

The South Yorkshire club put up a rather limp defence of their Elite League championship and play-off titles from the previous campaign, finishing fifth in the regular season before being dumped from the post-season at the first hurdle at the hands of Cardiff Devils.

Hewitt, who registered 12 goals and 17 assists in 65 games last season for his most impressive season's tally to date, will line-up in Steelers' colours for a sixth successive season in September.

Steelers have already parted company with two of their younger British-trained players with Robert Farmer and Ben Morgan dropping down to the English Premier League with Manchester Phoenix and were particularly keen to kepp hold of the tenacious Hewitt.

"We have had so much success and good times here recently, then last year came along and brought us all down to earth with a bump," said Hewitt.

"Matty (head coach Dave Matsos) is building another powerhouse squad in my mind, a team that will bring back all the good things about this club and this team which will play with heart and passion and right the wrongs of last season I am sure."

FORMER Steelers forward Paul Sample has ended his self-imposed one-year exile from the game by returning to the ice with Newcastler Vipers.

The 27-year-old, from Newcastle, played for Steelers for two season between 2004-06 before switching to Cardiff Devils and then returning to Belfast Giants where he had enjoyed a successful 2003-04 campaign.

After taking a year out to establish his business interests outside of the game, Sample has been snapped up by new Vipers player-coach, Danny Stewart, a key member of Coventry Blaze's Elite League title-winning roster from the 2009-10 campaign.

IN the EPL, Sheffield Scimitars have further strenghtened their roster for the 2010-11 campaign after defenceman Lee Haywood sealed a deal to remain at the club.

It comes a week or so after his brother Matt was revealed as one of Elite League newcomers Braehead Clan's new signings.

Scimitars' coach Jon Rowbotham said: "I have worked with Lee throughout his career and he keeps on developing well beyond my expectation and going from strength to strength."