'Just play your game' - How Ryan Tait became an integral part of Sheffield Steelers
WHEN Ryan Tait made the move north to Sheffield Steelers in the summer of 2025, he knew he would be facing the kind of greater expectations that come with being part of one of the Elite League’s most storied teams.
Across three seasons with Guildford Flames, the California-born winger had been prolific, scoring 195 points - including 79 goals - from just 204 appearances.
He was a key part of the Flames team that reached their second Challenge Cup Final in five years - leading the scoring with nine goals and five assists - only to be denied by his future employers in a 3-1 defeat at the Utilita Arena in March 2024.
But those expectations that are part and parcel of every season for the Steelers was one of the reasons for the 30-year-old making the switch in the first place.
He admits to going through a period of adjustment after three years in Guildford but finished his first season in South Yorkshire strongly, making it a simple decision for Steelers’ head coach Aaron Fox to sign him back for a second year.
He has picked up this season where he left off last, his two goals in Wednesday’s 5-2 Challenge Cup win taking his points tally to 12, nine of them goals - flipping the balance struck in his first season which saw him find the net 14 times along with 36 assists for a 50-point haul in 70 appearances.
“The goal here is to win trophies,” said Tait. “When you put that jersey on, you have that expectation of winning trophies. And so, yeah, there is pressure that comes with that, but you also have to realise that sometimes the harder you grip the stick, the worse it gets.
“So it's just trying to understand those expectations, but also realising - ‘hey, just go out, play your game, you're here for a reason - just work as a team and get the best results possible.’”
Tait’s first season in Sheffield failed to match the expectations for silverware that come from a demanding fanbase, the Steelers denied success with their last throw of the dice when beaten by Cardiff Devils in the play-off final.
It prompted a bigger overhaul of players than usual by Fox, but Tait was one player he made no secret about wanting to bring back.
“Ryan is such a pace-driven guy and I’m really happy to see him getting rewarded,” said Fox, following Tait’s double against Storm which included a stunning coast-to-coast highlight reel goal to give the Steelers a 3-0 lead in only the eighth minute.
“When you can skate like that, you are always going to be effective. Even when he isn’t producing, he does a lot in different areas of the ice, but his expected goals and shot creation last year were right up there.
“We felt he would find the back of the net more this year and he has definitely done that. He is playing with confidence.”
Having the backing and confidence of a coach is understandably something always welcomed by players and Tait is no different.
“I really enjoy playing here in Sheffield - and for Aaron,” added Tait. “Both having his belief in me and me believing in his system and the culture that he wants to bring here.
“I believe that represents who I am as a hockey player and as a person - and all the guys that are the core here, I think represent that, too.
“That's why I'm grateful to be back for another year - I'm really enjoying it.”
While all the praise centred around Tait’s second goal on Wednesday, the player himself took just as much satisfaction from his first strike that put the Steelers ahead after less than five minutes, a close-range finish set up by line-mate Evan Jasper from below the goal-line.
Together with centre Adam Rockwood, Tait and Jasper have formed an effective line, one that has proved highly productive in recent outings.
“That second goal felt really nice - probably one of my favourites,” admitted Tait. “But I love the first one too because it was a great face-off win, well-executed and then, Evan, he can fly and he burned his guy, drew a second guy and made an amazing play to me.
“When you're playing with guys like Jazzy and Rock, they're gonna find you.
“So, I've been working on finding open space and bearing down on my opportunities and that was one of them.
“With Rock - I'm very lucky I get to play with him. We've been forming really good chemistry. We create a lot. He draws so much attention with his vision and his skating.
“And then Jazzy and me we're similar players, so we can just hunt pucks, be relentless, use our speed, use our skill and create.
“Yeah, it makes for it to be a lot of fun playing with those guys.”