Video - Sheffield Steelers strive to send off club legends with double celebration

The forwards have decided to call time on their careers, not just with the South Yorkshire club but the sport altogether as they look to move on in life outside hockey.

Hewitt, 32 and affectionately known by fans as ‘The British Bulldog’ has called it quits while holding the club’s all-time appearance record of 680, surpassing Ron Shudra’s tally earlier this season.

His team-mate Legue, 34, has spent eight and a half seasons with the club - interrupted by a brief spell with neighbouring Sheffield Steeldogs – and is the Steelers’ all-time Elite League, goal and points record holder with a mammoth 266 goals and 608 points to his name.

Legue will be returning to his home town of Cornwall in Ontario with his family and admitted he would find it difficult to replace the many friendships he has built up during his time in Sheffield.

“It’s never one of those things that you ever want to look forward to, but there comes a time when you have to call it quits,” said Legue.

“It is a sad time but I’m excited for my family. If there’s one way to go out it is on top and that’s the way I wanted to finish my career and we managed to do that at the weekend in Fife in the last game of the regular season.

“It would be nice to go out as double winners, though, and there isn’t any reason why we can’t do that.

“I think the thing I’m going to miss the most will be the time in the room with the guys and having the banter. The stuff that goes on here that nobody really sees and the friendships that you make.

Hewitt has called it quits after being offered an opportunity to pursue a career off the ice which he couldn’t afford to turn down. He admitted his decision was the among the hardest he’d ever had to make.

“It’s not necessarily a decision I had planned for the near future but an opportunity has come up and, selfishly, I’ve got to take it for me and my family and for our future,” he said.

“It’s sad and I’m devastated but it’s something I have to do.

“I think the memories I’ll take with me will be the time spent with the boys here. We’ve had so many great players and people come to this club during my time here.”

When asked to pick the best player to have played alongside him during his 11 years at the club, Hewitt - who enjoyed a testimonial season with the club this year, picked out his fellow retiree, Legue.

He added: “I was asked this just before my testimonial and I have to say it’s Leggy.

“He’s done it time and time again for this team over the last eight or so years and he’s just a standout player. Him and Roddy (Sarich) - particularly seeing them leading the powerplay for us for however many years.

“There’s been many, many great players to come here during my time, but those two stand out.

“The club have been marvellous to me during my time and allowing me to have a testimonial is something I never thought would happen to me. I can’t thank them enough.”

Steelers head coach, Paul Thompson, who guided the club to a fifth Elite League Championship at the weekend, admitted that the pair would be “sorely missed” by everyone connected with the club for their contributions both on and off the ice.

“We will go on, we will be successful moving forward but, make no mistake, these two players are a major part of our core group and will be sorely missed by everyone at the club,” said Thompson.

“For years, I watched Jeff Legue hurt Coventry Blaze when I was coach there, but this year I was able to watch it knowing he was doing the same kind of thing to other clubs, only this time while playing for me.

“Jason Hewitt is the kind of player every coach should want on their team. He makes you and the players around him better and drives everyone on around him.

“I knew Hewey from before with GB but it has meant a hell of a lot to coach both of them at club level.”

Steelers play the first leg of their first-round play-off match against Coventry Blaze on Saturday at the Skydome Arena. The return leg starts at 5pm at Sheffield Arena on Sunday.