AARON FOX believes Sheffield Steelers’ defenceman Reece Kelly has put himself into a great position to be a part of Great Britain’s World Championship roster next year.

The 24-year-old made the switch to South Yorkshire from Glasgow Clan on deadline day last season, but it is the current campaign where he is beginning to show his progress and development.

Kelly, from Fife, first got a taste of the Elite League during a handful of games at Cardiff Devils in the 2023-24 campaign while on a two-way deal from NIHL National outfit, Bristol Pitbulls.

But it was his move north of the border to play under then coach Jason Morgan in Glasgow where his game began to develop at a faster rate.

Corey Neilson succeeded Morgan the following summer and while his ice time dipped under the former Nottingham Panthers’ head coach, Steelers’ boss Fox was impressed enough to offer him an opportunity to continue his career in Sheffield.

And while there have been ups and downs along the way for the right-hander, Fox believes the Scot is heading in the right direction.

“He is on a great run of play right now,” said Fox, who will be looking for his team to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-3 defeat at title rivals Nottingham when they host Manchester Storm on Tuesday night.

“He is just building more and more confidence in his own game, which we’ve rewarded with more and more ice time.

ON THE UP: British defenceman Reece Kelly has impressed head coach Aaron Fox with the progress he has made during the 2025-26 Elite League season. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

placeholder image — ON THE UP: British defenceman Reece Kelly has impressed head coach Aaron Fox with the progress he has made during the 2025-26 Elite League season. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

“I know sometimes that it’s tough late in games when you’re trying to close games out, you may shrink to some lines that you feel like you need to close with at times, or if you’re down a goal late, you might shrink to four or five D that you are looking to maybe bring you some offence.

“But we played him against Nottingham’s top line plenty of times over the weekend in a one-two match-up, he played great in Cardiff as well, who right now are a point ahead of us.

“So, again, it’s a great stretch – we have always thought very highly of him, which is why we brought him in last season and we’re happy that he has found the game he has for both himself and for us as a team.”

Kelly spent his formative years in North America, spending three years at Ontario Hockey Academy and then continuing his time in junior hockey with New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs at the 18U level in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

ON THE UP: Sheffield Steelers' defenceman, Reece Kelly. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

He returned to Europe, first continuing his development at Stavanger Oilers’ Under-21s in Norway before Under-20s hockey at IPK in Finland.

His next move took him to the Pitbulls in the summer of 2022 where he began to plot a path to the EIHL.

Further proof of his progress came in November when he was picked to represent Great Britain at the European Cup of Nations in Poland.

Even if his selection was partly down to the unavailability of more established GB players, Fox believes Kelly is in a good position to push for a spot on the GB squad which will compete at the World Championships in Switzerland next May.

“Absolutely,” replied Fox when asked whether Kelly was in a good position to make it to Zurich. “I think the way he is playing right now on a top team in this league, I still feel like his minutes are going to continue to grow and his role will expand even more with the consistency that he is showing.

“So, in that regard, I think it is a great year for him. He has found a really nice rhythm right now and he’s making really smart decisions on and off the puck.

“He’s a guy, too, that does a ton of video, he wants all his shifts and he wants that type of coaching, which is great to see.

“And when he’s maybe not been his best, he’s been able to take some accountability and ownership in those situations. He’s just been a pleasure to coach and it’s been great to see him grow as a player.”

Forward Patrick Watling is expected to make his competitive return for the Steelers, if not on home ice against Manchester on Tuesday, then certainly on New Year’s Day when the two teams meet again in Altrincham.

Watling has been prised out of retirement by Fox following the sacking of Clifford Pu.

He arrived in Sheffield last week but needed more time on the ice before deemed ready to return to action for the club he helped to a treble in 2023-24.