Video - Coach Paul Thompson praises departing '˜legends' Jason Hewitt and Jeff Legue

The two forwards will say an emotional goodbye to fans at Sheffield Arena on Sunday night after the second leg of the South Yorkshire club’s first round play-off encounter with Coventry Blaze.

With any luck, Legue and Hewitt will also then get to play in their last-ever Final Four Weekend the following week in Nottingham when they will hope to add a fourth play-off title to four Elite League championships they have won during their time at the club.

Thompson has know for some time that he will be losing both players and will already have plans in place to replace them for the 2016-17 campaign which will see them take part in the Champions Hockey league for a second successive year.

He admitted he had throughly enjoyed coaching the duo in their last season as professionals.

“Both Hewey and Leggy are legends here and rightfully so,” said Thompson.

“I’ve only been here a year but I’ve seen them enough times from the other side to know what kind of an impact they’ve had at the club.”

Thompson revealed that Legue kept news of his decision to retire quiet, fearing it would overshadow Steelers’ push for a fifth Elite League title.

“The thing with Jeff is that he’s so humble, he didn’t want to tell anyone - I found out off somebody else,” added Thompson.

“He basically didn’t want his retirement being the news above us going on to try and win a fifth championship and that tells you everything about the kind of person he is.

“Jason Hewitt is a another player you need in your locker room - he keeps people accountable.

“In sport, if you want to be a winner, you have to challenge people around you.

“I challenge players and players challenge me and Jason Hewitt challenges coaches and he challenges his fellow players and he does it in a way by helping his team win games and winning trophies.”