New coach Payette happy with Steeldogs' response

The 34-year-old Canadian was installed as the successor to Matt Darlow who left the club earlier in the week with the club sitting one place outside the play-off places.

Payette, who arrived in November to add a much-needed on-ice physical presence to Darlow's young team saw his side follow-up Saturday night's 3-0 home win over Telford Tigers with a 3-2 overtime win at Peterborough Phantoms 24 hours later.

Goals from Janis Ozolins, Edgars Bebris, and Chris Sykes did for Telford, a result which could prove crucial if Sheffield are to pip their Shropshire rivals for the eighth and final play-off spot at the end of the regular season.

It was Latvian forward Ozolins who hit the overtime in Peterborough after his side had twice surrendered a lead to the home side.

The 21-year-old former Lativan Under-20 regular opened the scoring for Sheffield with his 12th goal of the season before Darius Lelenas levelled for the Phantoms with only nine minutes of the third remaining.

Sykes quickly put the visitors ahead again before Lelenas struck his second to tie it up at 2-2, all three goals coming in the space of less than 90 seconds of frantic activity.

After Ozolins had struck the winner, a delighted player-coach Payette said: "I am very happy with the way the players have responded to the change-over.

"They worked hard to achieve the four points in these two games,

especially after only one training session with the team since my appointment."

Forward Kristaps Pete left the Steeldogs organisation on Tuesday due to his increasing work commitments.

The 25-year-old Latvian contributed four goals and two assists in the 24 games he featured. His departure comes three days after 18-year-old Andrew Hirst exited the club.

The Doncaster-born forward - who posted two goals and eight assists in 35 games - stepped up to the Elite League with Hull Stingrays, who he played for in their weekend defeats to the Dundee Stars and the Sheffield Steelers.

After his first full weekend of top-flight action, Hirst said: "I really enjoyed it. It was just awesome to play my first game at this level

"I felt I did OK and it was a good experience for me. I just want to build on this now and keep improving."