Sheffield Steeldogs out to continue exceeding expectations at NIHL play-off finals

The Northern Moralee Conference winners go head-to-head with Southern Britton Conference winners Basingstoke Bison in today’s semi-finals at Coventry’s SkyDome Arena, with a place in Sunday’s final against either Telford Tigers or Peterborough Phantoms up for grabs.

Morgan said that following the upheaval caused by the collapse last Spring of the English Premier League, leading to the realigning of the NIHL, the Steeldogs organisation set themselves three main targets for the 2017-18 campaign – all of which have been exceeded.

“Our first aim was to finish in the top three in the league which we ended up winning, while we also wanted to reach at least one cup semi-final – something we’ve obviously managed to surpass.

“The last thing we set out to do was to continue bringing through the next crop of British players and give them genuine ice time which we’ve done all season.”

On today’s encounter with Doug Sheppard’s Bison team, Morgan says the bigger ice at Coventry will suit his team’s playing style.

“Coventry will suit our style of play and, in my opinion, we’ve got the fastest players in the Northern league by a country mile,” said Morgan. “We pride ouurselves in getting in behind defenders and causing trouble.

“Basingstoke have got great speed too and have an edge about them and it will all be about who is able to take their chances on the night.”