MACOY ERKAMPS believes Sheffield Steelers are starting to find their “identity” as they focus their attention on making themselves a contender for the Elite League title.

Having assured themselves of a Challenge Cup semi-final spot last week with a home win over Manchester Storm, even better news arrived at the weekend when they discovered they would go through as Group A winners.

That was thanks to Storm coming from-behind to defeat Cardiff Devils in a shoot-out on Sunday, the same night the Steelers were edged out on penalty shots in their league clash at Coventry Blaze.

The Steelers face Manchester in back-to-back league games this weekend, starting with a visit to the AO Arena on Friday night.

FINDING FORM: Sheffield Steelers' defenceman Macoy Erkamps believes familiarity among the team's roster is breeding content. Picture: James Assinder/EIHL Media.

placeholder image — FINDING FORM: Sheffield Steelers' defenceman Macoy Erkamps believes familiarity among the team's roster is breeding content. Picture: James Assinder/EIHL Media.

The encounter represents the third meeting of the 2026-27 season between the two teams, with the Steelers having come out on top in both Challenge Cup group games. They meet for a fourth time in Sheffield on Saturday.

Erkamps acknowledges there were some teething troubles for a Steelers roster brought together by head coach Aaron Fox over the summer, one that included 11 players who didn’t feature in 2025-26.

But recent results and, more importantly, performances have given defenceman Erkamps that the Steelers are making significant progress.

“We're starting to find our stride now," said 31-year-old Canadian Erkamps.

ON THE UP: Defenceman Macoy Erkamps believes Sheffield Steelers are establishing some welcome consistency. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

"The first couple of games were kind of a feeling-out process, getting used to the new systems. There was some inconsistency in our games, but I feel we've really come together over the last four games or so and we've been playing really good hockey."

Given the higher than normal turnover of players during the off-season, Erkamps - who made the switch to the Steelers after spells in Germany’s DEL, Sweden and Slovakia that came on the back of 137 games in the AHL - said it was no surprise there was some early inconsistency.

“When you get some new guys together who aren't used to the systems, sometimes guys go off on their own page,” said Erkamps.

"You look at a team like Cardiff, where those guys have played together for a long time, and maybe they find more consistency at the beginning of the year.

"We had to adjust a little bit. It took some time to get there, but I really like where our game is going.

"We're starting to find more consistency and a better identity."

And while inconsistency was understandable to a degree, Erkamps said there was no excuse for being out-worked by teams, as has happened on occasion this season.

“We got that hammered home from Foxy a couple of weeks ago,” added Erkamps. “But you can see it.

“I mean, the momentum shifts - in the recent game in Nottingham, and in Guildford - when a team starts out working us, we're beatable. That's just the facts.

“So we've got to show up and be ready to go against every single team, every single period.”