Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox confident ahead of Elite League play-off semi-finals
AARON FOX saw enough positive signs to give him the belief his Sheffield Steelers could yet make a success of their 2025-26 Elite League campaign.
The Steelers made short work of their second leg play-off quarter-final against Guildford Flames following the intense cut and thrust of the previous night’s first encounter in Surry.
Coming back to Sheffield tied at 1-1 there were fears the Steelers might not make it to the National Ice Centre in Nottingham next Saturday.
In the end, there was to be little cause for concern as they got off to a good start and never relented, building on a 2-0 first period lead to run out 5-1 winners on the night and 6-1 overall.
For head coach Fox, who has come in for some stinging criticism in recent weeks given some of his team’s performances on the back of failing to win either the regular season league title and the Challenge Cup, there was an element of vindication as his players showed just what they are capable of.
Now he just wants them to repeat that when they come up against Manchester Storm in the semi-final in Nottingham.
“We were relentless for 120 minutes all weekend,” said Fox. “I felt like we got pucks deep and we made them play a 200-foot game for the majority of the weekend.
“And we pressured their D, forced them to make some turnovers and then we were in concept and did all the little things that you need to do.
“I just loved our effort, loved how relentless we were - it was just a huge 120 minutes of hockey from our group.
“We talked about after the game, how if that team that played 120 minutes this weekend can win a trophy next weekend, there’s no doubt in my mind, if we come with that same mindset and play the right way.”
It didn’t take long for the Steelers to make their mark in front of a 8,670-strong crowd at the Utilita Arena.
Dominic Cormier broke the deadlock at 1.44 and Aaron Fox’s team were 2-0 ahead before the first break when Sam Tremblay beat Justin Fazio at 13.19.
Any hopes Guildford had of being at Nottingham’s National Ice Centre for the final four play-off weekend were cast further adrift when Jordon Southorn fired home from the left circle just after the halfway mark.
Tremblay grabbed his second at 36.11 before captain Robvert Dowd got in on the act just over two minutes into the third period to make it 6-1 on aggregate.
Guildford pulled a goal back through Cole Ully’s 55th-minute power play strike, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.