Sheffield Steelers and Elite League set to adopt Premier League and EFL Covid protocols

League chairman Tony Smith says there are still many details needing to be ironed out with Sport England in terms of the £4m offer of funding announced two weeks ago by the Departure of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport .

The availability of the bailout, which is believed to be in the form of a grant and only covers the five English-based teams in the league, is wholly dependent on the EIHL producing some form of competitive hockey.

This they are now working to do at some speed, while also supporting moves by the five teams outside of England – Cardiff Devils, Belfast Giants, Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers and Glasgow Clan – to secure similar funding from their respective devolved administrations.

Smith, who is also owner of Sheffield Steelers, one of the teams set to benefit from the DCMS financial support, said plans had been drawn up between team owners – who met via an online Zoom conference call on Tuesday – over what kind of season may be possible.

There is an expectation that at least six teams will take part, playing in a three-month campaign that will culminate with a final four play-off weekend in Nottingham in late March - opening up the possibility that some fans may be able to attend, depending on what the situation is at that time regarding Tiers and the anticipated mass coronavirus vaccination programme which is die to begin rolling out across the country in the coming days.

And Smith revealed there was an intention to make the competition Covid-secure by employing the same methods seen in the top echelons of English football which had, by and large, proved successful.

“At the moment we’re looking at the Premier League and EFL, their protocols seem to work very well and so they are the protocols we’ll be looking to adapt into the Elite League, their testing methods, for example,” said Smith, who added that the Steelers’ club doctor, Dr Gaw Davies, had agreed to oversee the EIHL’s Covid protocols if and when any season was confirmed, calling on the experience he has gained through working with Sheffield Wednesday during the pandemic.

“To be quite honest, if it is good enough for the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, then it is good enough for the Steelers,” added Smith.

“Gaw has accepted the role to head up the Elite League protocols for us, so we’re very pleased that he is staying close to home. He’s been very informative and very useful to us at the moment - he’s given us information on the testing methods that we need and the way that the bubbles work at Sheffield Wednesday.

Smith confirmed that, were some kind of competition to go ahead, team roster sizes would be kept to a maximum of 18, with no more than 11 imports.

“We want to keep the import numbers down so we can get some of these unemployed British players signed up,” explained Smith.

“If it is the case that not every team goes – and we’re still hoping that everyone does – then that is why we would need to drop import numbers, to help get a few more British players on the roster which is something we’re very much aware of at the moment.”

Steelers’ head coach and GM Aaron Fox has already began the process of assembling his roster together ready for January, said Smith, having maintained regular contact with the players currently playing abroad across Europe, including GB internationals Robert Dowd and Jonathan Phillips, as well as imports signed in the summer, such as Marc-Olivier Vallerand and Anthony DeLuca.

There is no guarantee those players will either be able, due to their contract situation with the clubs they are at, or willing to return to these shores for a 12-week season if they are in the midst of a competitive season.

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