Sheffield Steelers: Aaron Fox on Logan Neilson exit and threat posed by Elite League rivals
COVENTRY BLAZE may arrive at the Utilita Arena desperate to snap a six-game Elite League losing streak, but Sheffield Steelers’ head coach Aaron Fox knows better than to take anything for granted.
Not least because the previous encounter between the two teams in South Yorkshire ended in a 2-0 defeat for the hosts, albeit in the Challenge Cup.
Both teams qualified automatically for the semi-final stages from Group A, but it is in the league where the Blaze have subsequently struggled, their last win coming at home to Fife Flyers on November 9.
By contrast, the Steelers head into Saturday night’s regular season league clash having lost just once in regulation in 15 games and locked in a nip and tuck battle for top spot with Nottingham Panthers, who last night travelled to Glasgow Clan.
Last Sunday, the Steelers – who on Friday night agreed the transfer of British forward Logan Neilson to rivals Fife Flyers – won 5-1 in Coventry, their third win by four or more goals at the Skydome Arena this season, although Fox felt the scoreline was misleading.
“I felt like the game we played there last Sunday wasn’t a 5-1 game and the scoreline flattered us somewhat,” admitted Fox.
“They outshot us on the night and they are a good team. They had a really good Cup run earlier in the year and maybe haven’t quite found the same form in league play so far.
“But it is one of them where we’ve just got to make sure we’re focused on our own game and play with a high compete level and manage the game the right way.
“When we do that - as we have done a lot recently - I feel like we are at our best and are a hard team for anybody to deal with.”
On Neilson’s departure, Fox – who said earlier in the week on BBC Sheffield that he was looking for a solution to suit all parties – said he had hoped the forward would remain with the organisation.
Fox said last Sunday that Neilson had decided withdrawn himself from training over his frustration at his ice time during games.
His move to Fife is expected to see him gain the ice time he feels he deserves in the UK top tier.
“At the end of the day, Logan wasn’t happy and left our group, so we decided as an organisation that we would allow the move to Fife,” Fox said on Friday night.
“I wish he would have stuck it out to fight and earn more ice time at our level or would have dropped to the Steeldogs to play some big minutes as we have seen how that has helped others.
"He made it clear he had no interest in that which is too bad. We ultimately decided that it was more important to accept his request to move to Fife, even though we didn’t need to and not hold him back.
“In this league where the league is the big trophy, ice-time decisions are made solely based on results and needs to be earned.
"The development aspect of our situation doesn’t solely lie at time on ice played at our level.”
After Saturday night’s visit from the Blaze, the Steelers face a quick turnaround with an 8am coach departure on Sunday to take on Dundee Stars.
It is far from ideal preparation for a game, admits Fox, but nothing different to what all the other teams in the league have to contend with.
“It’s never an easy place to go and play, they’ve brought a core group of guys back, their top line does a lot of their damage,” added Fox.
“It’s a super-quick turnaround for us, we’ll be leaving around 8am and it’s a long trip up there.
“It’s a tough Sunday game for sure. It’s just not great preparation - but everyone in the league has the same issue in terms of travel.”