Life away from the game is no simple task for Munn

Sport is no different. Ice hockey is no different. For former Sheffield Steelers’ defenceman Steve Munn it was indeed a far from easy decision - something borne out by the fact that some 12 months after he hung up his skates, the itch to strap them back on again and play competitively still remains.

In one way, the 33-year-old, who spent three successful years in South Yorkshire, ended his career in the best possible way, helping the Steelers to a third Elite League championship under rookie player-coach Ben Simon.

Losing 4-3 in overtime in the subsequent play-off semi-final to arch-rivals Nottingham Panthers at the NIC may have taken some of the sheen off his final professional game but, as everyone knows, the hard work had already been done in securing the one prize coveted above all others in top-flight UK ice hockey.

Munn now lives and works in Augusta, Georgia, the hometown of his wife Casey. Not surprisingly, his new life working for an industrial maintenance supply company is a far cry from his previous career and it has been, at times, a difficult period of adjustment.

“I think the hardest part of settling into ‘normal’ life is that I haven’t really ever been sure what ‘normal’ is supposed to be like,” said Munn.

“I got paid to play a kids game which I loved, hang out with my friends, have three-five hour work days and my summers off. That’s not normal.

“Also, I didn’t appreciate I was paid to essentially stay in shape and be as healthy as I possibly can until I got out of shape.

“One of the hardest things for me has been the time away from my kids as I have been used to being able to walk them to school and be there to pick them up when they’re finished.

“They must have asked me a hundred times why I have to go to work all the time and they don’t think I’m nearly as cool as I used to be when I used to play hockey. They’re probably right.”

Spending more than six months in one place is also something which took Munn and his wife some getting used to, along with six-year-old son Keelor and daughter Josslyn, 5.

“It has been kind of strange for us as a family but especially strange for me,” he added. “I haven’t lived a calendar year in one city since I was 16 and I haven’t spent a full year in one country since I was 19. I’m pretty used to picking up and moving at seasons’ beginning and end.

“My wife is working three different jobs right now and my job is a 70-80 hour a week gig so we pass each other in the hall occasionally.

“We’re hoping to get her down to one job soon so she gets to see me more as she really misses me .. she’s only human!

“It was the middle of July last summer over here – 110 degrees - and my son asked when it was going to snow. That was difficult to explain to the little guy that where we are living now, it isn’t going to snow. He is still holding that against us.”

And while the atmosphere and camaraderie of the dressing room will be something Munn may always yearn for, he is content in the knowledge that he did make the right decision at the right time - particularly after suffering another concussion during his last season with Steelers.

“It was a combination of things that brought me to that decision to retire, but what probably really drew a line under my decision was the concussion I had last year,” he explained.

“I had some very important wires crossed at times and had difficulties making sense of simple things. At times, I had trouble figuring out my kids puzzles and remembering simple things which had just occurred. Some might argue the puzzle problem was par for the course with me, but I swear it was concussion-induced.

“So, between the concussion and a few knee and shoulder injuries over the years, I figured it was a good idea to start a new career.”

His ‘first’ career started back in 2002 with the intriguingly-named Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (now the Stockton Thunder) in the ECHL. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Haviland, the man Munn cites along with his father as his biggest hockey influence, success came in his first full year as a pro, lifting the Kelly Cup with a 4-1 win over Columbia Inferno.

After another season in Atlantic City and his first few games in the AHL, Munn teamed up with Haviland once again in 2004-05, this time at Trenton Titans. A trade deadline switch proved timely for Munn as he went on to lift the Kelly Cup once again – beating the Bullies in the first round of the post-season on the way to a 4-2 final win over Florida Everblades.

The influential Haviland persuaded Munn to follow him to the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL and it was from there – after two seasons – that Munn was enticed to the UK for the first time and the Steelers, by then head coach Dave Matsos.

A second-place regular season finish was combined with a play-off win over Coventry Blaze. But even better was to come when Munn played a key role in the Steelers doing the double the following April, even scoring a memorable game-winning goal in the play-off final against Nottingham.

The opportunity to experience life in the Far East saw Munn and his family move to Tohoku Free Blades in Japan before a swift return to South Yorkshire and another league title before retirement beckoned.

Some Steelers’ fans would argue one of the main reasons behind their failure to secure any silverware last season was because they were not able to replace the tough, stay-at-home defenceman that Munn so clearly was. He admitted he found it hard to justify his decision to some friends and team-mates.

“I miss it terribly,” said. “Lots of my friends begged me to avoid getting one of those ‘big-boy jobs’. I have a couple buddies back home that almost took it personally that I’d quit before my body completely gave out. Some days I wish I had listened.

“It was definitely a tough decision and I’ve had the itch on several occasions, but what’s done is done.

“I am so grateful for the career I had. I won championships five out of nine years, lived in great places and met so many good friends. I can’t say I don’t miss it as it was what defined me for a long time.

“It just feels like I’m stuck in an off-season that just isn’t ending because I think I’m mostly still a hockey player. It is kind of strange, but I think I’m getting used to it.”

Despite working long hours in his ‘normal’ life, Munn does still have a bit of time to maintain links with the game he loves so much, coaching his six year-old son Keelor’s ice hockey group, along with an adult skills clinic once a week.

Apart from selling the odd hockey stick, most of Munn’s equipment remains, gathering dust in his garage, unlike his championship medals which are a constant source of pride, in particular to his son.

“Any and all of the championships we won are very special to me,” said Munn. “I think the fact that my son still talks about when I scored the winning goal to win the play-off final against Nottingham in 2009 and it is so special to him, it can’t help to be the most special to me.

“We still act it out together when we play in the driveway or in the living room and he loves it. He throws his gloves and helmet off, jumps around cheering, pretends to dump the gatorade on ‘Fifi’s Daddy’ (aka, Dave Matsos), sprays ‘juice’ on his team-mates (me, his sister or whoever else is around), he lifts up the trophy (usually a pillow or toy) and kisses it, poses for pictures and the works.

“It is pretty awesome and special for me to see him do all this because he saw his daddy and the Steelers do it.

“It’s great I get to relive those times with him every week and thankfully his memory is a lot better than mine so he remembers all the details his old man forgets.”

[email protected]

Twitter: PHarrisonYP