Sheffield Steelers set-up ‘home’ run for new back-up netminder Ben Churchfield

Signing a two-year deal with the Steelers is a dream come true for Ben Churchfield, who grew up watching them as a youngster and came through the Sheffield junior system before heading to North America to combine his studies and further his career.

The signing of the 24-year-old as back-up means there is no place for Will Kerlin, who filled the back-up role last year understudying Tomas Duba and who is now expected to take up a slot with a team in the second-tier NIHL National league.

After four years in the USA - where he has played NCAA III hockey with the University of New England - ambitious Churchfield has been persuaded to return ‘home’ to South Yorkshire.

Steelers’ fitness coach Danny Mawer had a hand in Churchfield’s arrival, having first recommended him to head coach and GM, Aaron Fox last year.

“Part of me feels like I will be coming home,” said Churchfield. “I spent the first few years of my life in Sheffield and then after time away returned. By that time, I had fallen in love with hockey and almost lived inside Ice Sheffield.

“I watched the Steelers from high up at Sheffield Arena, the likes of Robert Dowd and Jonathan Phillips were the guys I really looked up to.

“I’ve stayed in touch with many people in Sheffield, including Danny Mawer and I’m grateful he told Aaron Fox about me.”

Fox said he was looking forward to working with Churchfield - who played for GB Under-20s at the World Junior Championships in 2016 - at the earliest possible opportunity and is convinced he is bringing in a goalie with huge potential.

“Danny put me onto him last fall and we watched a bunch of tape on him over the winter and really liked what we saw,” said Fox.

“He’s put up outstanding numbers as a starter at the D3 University level in the USA and I’ve heard he’s a great team-mate too.

“He has the potential to be a full-time starter in this league at some point, so us being able to get a two-year deal done shows real commitment from both sides.”

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