Sheffield Steeldogs showing no let-up as they look to maintain high standards in NIHL National

A four-point opening weekend offered much promise for the Steeldogs under new head coach Slava Koulikov only for them to then go on and lose five of the next seven games.

But since a 3-2 home defeat to Leeds Knights on October 17 - a game the Steeldogs feel they should have won given their domination in possession, chances and territory - there has been no looking back.

An eight-game winning streak starting off with a 9-6 home win over Romford Raiders has included some notable triumphs, including road wins at Leeds, Milton Keynes Lightning and, just last Sunday, Hull Seahawks.

The run has seen Koulikov’s team plunder 51 goals, while conceding just 22, form which has lifted them above defending champions Leeds into second spot and just a point off leaders Swindon Wildcats.

Former GB international Phillips admits it is a fun group to be a part of ahead of Saturday's trip to take on a Basingstoke Bison team buoyed by their first four-point weekend of the campaign which included a 3-2 overtime win in Leeds.

“Whenever you get results and you manage to put a stretch of wins together, guys get a little bit looser and start enjoying things more,” said Phillips.

“But the good thing about this group which I have noticed over these first few weeks we’ve been going is that the work ethic doesn’t seem to stop - everyone is pushing each other - and that is what we need - to keep pushing and not just accepting that we’ve found our game, because we haven’t.

“Every single time you’re on the ice, you have to improve. And that’s our aim, to keep on improving every time we hit the ice and be as good as we can be and know we can be.”

The work ethic Phillips has epitomised throughout his entire career and is proud of at Ice Sheffield – which will see the Steeldogs host Telford Tigers on Sunday – is something that has been instilled, in part, by Koulkiov, who is beginning to have the desired effect on the team having made the move from Peterborough Phantoms in the close season.

“I think it does come from Slava, in one way,” added Phillips. “But there are also some very proud people within that dressing room, the kind who thrive on being pushed and being pushed to their limits.

“Slava has definitely got a standard that he wants to keep us to and the work that he’s been doing with the Steelers, I think he’s taken a lot of things on board from there, too.

“But there is also his experience within this league and the trophies that he’s won - he is one of the most successful coaches at this level.”