Squires hopes second chance with Steeldogs will pay off in the long run

The Steelers originally offered the 21-year-old forward a similar agreement with Steeldogs’ EPL rivals Telford Tigers, which would have seen him living and playing in Shropshire.

But Squires was keen to stay in the city where he has played all of his life and was keen for a two-way deal to be done between the two clubs after realising his ice time with the Elite League runners-up would be limited.

“I thought that the sensible thing was to have the two-way with the Steeldogs and then I could have still been training with the Steelers as well, while living in Sheffield,” said Squires.

“I did ask if it was possible, but it got turned down.”

The Steeldogs confirmed in a statement on Thursday that they had approached the Steelers about taking Squires on a two-way contract, but were told it was not possible.

Steelers head-coach Ryan Finnerty held a meeting with the former Great Britain under-18 and under-20 international last week where the Telford proposal was first offered.

It would have meant Squires being based in Telford, but icing for the Steelers when the Tigers – who finished bottom of the English Premier League in 2011-12 - did not have a game.

“Ryan Finnerty said that at this moment in time, with the plans they’d got, that I wouldn’t fit into their team as a ninth forward, which then meant I had to go away or take up their offer,” added Squires.

“The other option was to stay as a 10th forward. But the main thing for me was getting ice time this year and I wanted to play on a competitive team and when I spoke to Andre Payette that became apparent.”

Squires, who scored 36 points in his last full season in the EPL before joining the Steelers two years ago, insists that dropping back down a league will not hinder his progress, but instead lead to bigger things.

“I just want to play at the highest level I possibly can and I feel that this year, or however long it takes, is another starting block,” he added.

“I don’t really see it as a step back at all; I see it as a step in another direction.”

Earlier this week, Finnerty, who himself left home at the age of just 15 to develop his career, said the decision to send Squires to Telford was intended to develop the youngster both on and off the ice.

“We felt that Tom needed to get away from Sheffield for a bit,” said Finnerty.

“We spoke to several clubs and thought Telford was the best way forward to develop Tom and make him a better person, a better player and a Steeler of the future. It’s about developing you off the ice as much as on it. But, we move on as we have lots going on. We wish Tom all the best, he is a good kid.”

In a club statement released on Thursday, the Steeldogs said: “We approached the Steelers last week to see if there was any way of working a two-way contract with Tom, but were told this would not be possible.

“We are always prepared, where possible, to work with our neighbours, and still are.

“Our main obligation to all our players is to help develop them as hockey players to the best level possible, via the best means possible and to this aim, some of our players have had two-way contracts with different Elite League clubs, including Hull and Edinburgh.”

The Steelers announced the return of three more British players on Thursday, with captain Jonathan Phillips, Jason Hewitt and Lee Esders all back for the 2012-13 campaign.

And despite not being able to agree a deal himself with the Steelers, Squires insisted there were no hard feelings.

“I thank everyone involved with the Steelers – the fans, the staff and the players for their support during the two years I was there,” he said.