Lascek makes instant impact at Steeldogs

Lascek proved a massive hit at Ice Sheffield last season when scoring 68 points, including 27 goals, in player-coach Greg Wood’s first season in charge.

But a summer switch to English Premier League rivals Hull Pirates followed, where the 31-year-old Slovakian winger again proved an instant success, contributing 57 points in 33 appearances, including 17 goals.

However, Lascek was fired by the Pirates last week for gross misconduct, with the Steeldogs only too happy to take him back.

His addition to an injury-hit Sheffield line-up proved timely against a ravaged Phoenix side who have struggled to compete all season and who, after last night’s defeat, now find themselves 12 points adrift of the play-off spots. Twice Lascek assisted Arnoldas Bosas on goals, and he also played a part in a 22nd-minute effort from Liam Kirk.

Steeldogs were 4-0 up inside 25 minutes through Adrian Palak and Bosas’s second, with further efforts coming from Cole Shudra, Cameron Brownley and Lewis Bell.

Sheffield head to Guildford tonight, while Hull – looking to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat at Ice Sheffield last Sunday – travel 
to fourth-placed Basingstoke Bison.

Hull last night announced that former centre Sam Towner had returned to the club from Peterborough Phantoms, six days after scoring two goals and an assist against his hometown club, who suffered a 13-1 defeat in Cambridgeshire last Saturday.

Towner will make his competitive return for Hull when they host leaders Telford Tigers on Wednesday night.