HAVING spent two years not gaining any competitive ice time, Liam Steele probably didn’t know what hit him last season.

Signed by Sheffield Steeldogs on a two-way deal with the Elite League’s Sheffield Steelers last summer, the young defenceman made sure his return to the UK after five years away in Moprth America was worthwhile.

An impressive 2025-26 season that brought an NIHL National Cup triumph, as well as 20 goals and 28 assists in 61 appearances for the Steeldogs in the UK second tier, got even better on Tuesday - his 22nd birthday - when he was called up to the Great Britain team for next month’s World Championships in Switzerland.

But his ice time wasn’t just limited to the Steeldogs, Steele also making five league and play-off appearances for the Steelers, with who he had trained all season.

STEPPING UP: Liam Steele made a handful of appearances for Sheffield Steelers during the 2025-26 season. Picture: Cerys Heslop/Steelers Media.

placeholder image — STEPPING UP: Liam Steele made a handful of appearances for Sheffield Steelers during the 2025-26 season. Picture: Cerys Heslop/Steelers Media.

Steelers’ head coach Aaron Fox had a fair idea of what he was getting when the deal was done to bring Cobham-born Steele to South Yorkshire last summer. And he has been subsequently impressed enough to sign the right-hander on a one-year deal for the Steelers for 2026-27, as announced on Friday.

There will still be opportunities for Steele to play in NIHL National with the Steeldogs but his and Fox’s primary focus will be with the Steelers.

“I think when we brought him in, the biggest thing for us was that he hadn't played a game in over two years,” said Fox.

“So when we brought him back, we felt like it was a multi-year opportunity for us as a club and for him to develop properly.

THE ONLY WAY IS UP: Liam Steele, in action for Sheffield Steeldogs against Peterborough Phantoms in the NIHL National Cup semi-final. Picture: Tony Johnson.

“He's big, he's raw, he's physical and his skating ability is very, very good.

“He’s been able to develop down there, play 25 minutes or so a night, play on the power play, get touches, get his conditioning up and then also practise with us full time, so he understands our systems and concepts.

“He probably deserved more games than we gave him and from a coach's perspective sometimes those opportunities when it probably would have worked out was when we were in a must-win game situation and our back end was playing pretty well at the time so, again, it was almost unfair to put him in those types of environments - all the while knowing that I feel like he's going to be a great EIHL defenceman.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he's going to come in and be a difference maker for us next year.”

Steele admits it has felt like being handed a new lease of life following two years of not playing, albeit training to a high standard at Cornell University in the top-tier of the NCAA.

“This is why I came to Sheffield last year, to earn a place on the Steelers team and I’m delighted to get this opportunity,” said Steele.

“I felt like I had a good year with the Steeldogs and the ability to play a lot with them while also training every day with the Steelers has certainly helped me.

“I’m looking forward to a hard summer of training and then getting back into the Steelers locker room for what we all hope will be a great season.”