Sheffield Steelers proving a hit both on and off the ice for fans of all ages

Among those celebrating Saturday night’s 4-2 win over Belfast Giants - Steelers seventh win in eight meetings against their rivals this season - were 80-year-old grandmother Jean Gillott and 10-year-old Travis Wainwright.

It was only after watching her granddaughter ice skating at Ice Sheffield that Jean informed her family that one thing she had always wanted to do was watch a game of ice hockey.

So it was perhaps fitting that her first game at Sheffield Arena should end on a winning note for the Steelers who, on hearing of the grand occasion, issued a backstage pass for Jean and her family to go down and meet the players afterwards.

“It was a great night and it’s certainly not going to be my last game - I loved every minute of it,” said Jean after meeting Steelers captain and scorer of his team’s first goal of the night, Jonathan Phillips.

Also getting the post-match VIP treatment was young Travis who, along with his family, was invited down to the dressing room area by the club to meet with and chat to their favourite players.

After witnessing the win over Belfast, to cap a fantastic night for him and the family, first-year fan Travis was able to meet his on-ice heroes Zack Fitzgerald and Jason Hewitt after the game, while he and his family also went rinkside to visit the Steelers bench.