Return to Europe will prove another tough assignment for Sheffield Steelers - Jerry Andersson

Last season’s debut in the European competition proved a tough introduction for the Steelers, who lost all of their group games against Frolunda Gothenburg and Finland’s JYP Jyvaskyla.

Tuesday saw Paul Thompson’s team paired with HV71, from Sweden, and Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg in this year’s competition.

And it will be hoped Steelers new assistant coach Jerry Andersson - brought in from Sweden by Thompson – can provide the inside track on HV, although he was quick to warn his new charges of the challenges they will face come late August.

Watch HV71 beat rivals Örebro in the SHL play-offs at Kinnarpa Arena last season by clicking the video link

“HV71 are a young side – very skilled and very quick,” said Andersson, who lives just an hour away from the HV71 rink in Sweden and has plenty of information on Steelers’ future opponents.

“When you go to the Kinnarps Arena you have to be very prepared because they will be. Their team has lots of speed and skill, very fast breakouts.”

“They have some fabulous players Mattias Tedenby and Martin Tornberg are both forwards with national team games under their belts.”

Steelers will head into the competition once again as underdogs, with no British club yet to progress beyond the group stage.

They will be met by at least one familiar face when they take on HV71 in late August and early Septemer after Frolunda defenceman Christffer Persson switched to HV71 in the close season.

“They have recently signed Christffer who will have played against the Steelers in both games last season,” added Andersson.”

“He is a very strong player with five years experience in the SHL (238 games) - there’s lots of quality.”

Tickets are on sale for the clubs two home exhibition games at ICE Sheffield on the 13th and 14th August against Danish Elite league side Aalborg Pirates. Bookings online can be made from the Sheffield Arena Box Office.