Jordan Griffin free to explore options as Sheffield Steelers exit is confirmed

Having completed his two-year apprenticeship at the club which began under the reign of former head coach Paul Thompson, the 18-year-old has been told he can explore other options for 2020-21.

Griffin, a product of the Bradford Bulldogs junior system like fellow former Steelers apprentice Kieran Brown - whose departure was confirmed earlier on Thursday morning by the club - played in a handful of pre-season games last year, but never featured during the regular season.

Instead he spent the entire campaign on a two-way deal with neighbouring Sheffield Steeldogs playing in the NIHL National, where he more than held his own.

But he is unlikely to be heading back there next season – whenever that does get underway – with the Steelers confirming today that Cole Shudra and Alex Graham will be on two-way deals with Ben Morgan’s team next time out.

The arrival of 22-year-old British defenceman Sam Jones - announced on Thursday lunchtime by the Steelers - also placed another obstacle in Griffin’s path in terms of realising his Elite League ambitions in South Yorkshire.

It was all part of a hectic day for the Steelers who confirmed a further 11 names for their roster, all joining captain Jonathan Phillips who was announced last month.

“I had a conversation with Jordan at the end of the season when his contract was up,” said Fox. “It was just one of those things where we didn’t feel like it was necessary to extend his time here.

“A lot of these things are about cost and if I saw something where I thought he would be a player for us next year and could be used, then there’s a way forward.

“But he didn’t dress at all for us last season. He played some pre-season games and played okay there but I felt that with us having Sam Jones coming in and Cole Shudra signing the two-way with the Steeldogs predominantly as a defenceman, I had those two pinned higher than Griff and I just didn’t see the need to bring him back.

“He is free to look around, explore the market and see what is best for him and I wish him all the best.”

With uncertainty surrounding when next season will actually start, Griffin will be exploring his options over the coming weeks.

While naturally disappointed not to be heading back to the Steelers, he believed he his game had developed substantially during his time there.

“I really enjoyed my two years, I’d loved to have stayed but there was nothing offered,” said Griffin.

“It was great to be training alongside the likes of Aaron Johnson and Davey Phillips on a regular basis, they are the kind of players you can learn a lot from and I felt that I did that and that my game improved overall.

“With the Steeldogs, I felt I had a better year than the year before (at Sutton Sting). It was a new, higher-quality league and a good standard throughout.

“It was better than I first thought it would be, but I felt I improved the longer it went on.”

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