Sheffield steeled for tough Flyers clash

CHALLENGE: Steelers warned Fife side ‘won’t roll over again’

Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox last night warned his men that “Fife Flyers won’t roll over again” when the teams meet again tonight

That’s despite the men from The House of Steel winning 10-3 on Saturday to record their third biggest road win since the Millennium.

Only a 10-2 win at now defunct Edinburgh Capitals five years ago and a 12-4 victory at Hull Thunder in 2002 have seen wider-margin wins since the year 2000.

For Fife, it was their worst ever home defeat in the EIHL era.

However, Todd Dutiaume’s men bounced back on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Nottingham Panthers.

Fox told local journalist Bow Westerdale: “Fife will be hurting after the loss and I’m sure they will be wanting revenge.”

Sheffield scored 16 goals and conceded six at Fife and then Dundee Stars.

Four goals for Marco Vallerand, three in Fife on Saturday and the opening goal in Dundee on Sunday sees Vallerand sitting proudly on top of the Elite League scoring charts with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.

John Armstrong and ex-Glasgow Clan star Brendan Connolly are also in the top four scorers as Steelers lead the way in goals scored so far in the league – an average of 4.88 a game.

And they also top the supporters stats as more fans have come to watch the Steelers at the Fly DSA Arena than any other side, an average of 6,196 fans for every game.

Glasgow Clan still head the table with 12 points from seven games with Cardiff Devils second a point and game behind.

Steelers now have 10 points from eight starts with Fife fourth on eight points from six outings.

Goaltender Adam Morrison will be a key man for Flyers in Yorkshire. He admitted that he did not perform on Saturday, adding: “We all felt we left some effort on the ice (on Saturday) and I felt I did not do my job in giving the guys a chance.

“My purpose is to stabilise things and give the guys a chance and (on Sunday v Nottingham) I felt that they gave me the time I needed for me to get comfortable in the net.

“It makes my position a lot easier and they did a terrific job defending. They made my night pretty easy.”

The Canadian is obviously looking for an action replay of that form from his defence in the massive Sheffield arena.

Tickets for Wednesday’s visit by Fife are £5.

Picture: Derek Black. Steelers’ John Armstrong.