Steelers suffer further defensive blow as Ramsay returns

MARK Thomas says Sheffield Steelers’ injury-hit defensive unit are ready to take on the extra workload as they embark on a gruelling Continental Cup campaign in Denmark.

As defending Elite League champions, the Steelers are representing the UK’s top flight for the second time in two years.

They begin their three-day bid to qualify for January’s Super Finals in Rouen by taking on Italian side HC Asiago at around 2pm (UK time) on Friday afternoon. Games then follow against hosts Herning Blue Fox on Saturday and Hungarian outfit Dunaújváros the following day. But Ryan Finnerty’s team go into their opening match having been struck by two blows to their defensive line-up meaning a significant re-shuffle is on the cards.

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Rod Sarich is already missing after undergoing an operation to repair a bleeding kidney following Sunday night’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Panthers and is out for at least three months.

And, only hours after arriving in Denmark, Finnerty discovered on Thursday that defenceman Steven Birnstill had picked up a bug and was confined to his hotel room, making hima doubt for the whole weekend.

British defenceman Thomas, now in his seventh season with the Steelers, said: “We are more than ready to take on the added responsibility.

“We’re not under any pressure and we’re going to try and relax – sometimes that can pay off like two years ago when we made it through to the Super Finals in Grenoble.

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“Losing Roddy is obviously a huge blow, he’s probably been our most consistent performer this season.

“The main thing at the moment is for him to recover as quickly and as well as possible.

“But, from a Steelers’ point of view it’s a big loss not having him out there, he’s got a bit of everything in his game - he’s almost irreplaceable.”

Steelers have been boosted at the other end of the ice after it was confirmed Canadian forward Mike Ramsay would be fit to return after being out for more than a month with a hand injury.

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The 27-year-old winger has posted 19 points in 14 games so far this season, including six goals.

R G Flath, the man brought in to replace him on a temporary basis has impressed in the short time he has been in South Yorkshire, scoring three goals in eight games. But it’s thought he may be asked to drop back on defensive duties, particularly if, as feared, Finnerty has to make do without two of his natural defenceman, although there is a slight chance that Birnstill could still play some part.

Other options for Finnerty are stand-in captain Jeff Legue, no stranger to filling in defensively in the past, but whose loss up front would be keenly felt.

Warren Tait, fresh from being ‘loaned’ back to Peterborough Phantoms in the English Premier League, is another defensive option for Finnerty, who believes his team are capable of springing a few surprises.

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“There’s no pressure on us out here,” said Finnerty. “We’ve got guys who have played in this competition before, but it will be my first time coaching at this kind of tournament so it will be a good experience for me in that respect.

“It’s probably going to be a little more open than what we are used to in the UK and probably not as physical, but I believe we have got the guys in the room to deal with whatever comes at them.

“It’s also a good opportunity to get away as a group of players for a bit longer than usual. You don’t normally get chance to do this kind of thing back home where you are away for a few days so it will be good for the team in terms of bonding.

“The first game will probably be the toughest, but we have to make sure we are smart and stay out of penalty trouble.”