Christopher Szagola-US PRESSWIRE
It may not be the most popular of European hockey leagues, but Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Tom Sestito is off to play in England. Sestito took to Twitter early Monday afternoon to announce his new team while the NHL Lockout drags on:
Off to England to play for the #SheffieldSteelers.
Based out of Sheffield, England, the Sheffield Steelers are a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the top flight of hockey in the United Kingdom. Since their foundation in 1991, the Steelers have been one of the most dominant teams in the EIHL. They’ve totaled eight Regular Season titles, their most recent in the 2010-11 season, and eight Playoff championships. The Steelers boast just two players with any AHL or NHL experience: Corey Pecker, and Matt Stephenson,
Pecker was a former sixth round draft pick of the Calgary Flames, but spent his career bouncing around minor league affiliate teams such as the Binghampton Senators, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Manitoba Moose, and San Antonio Rampage. He is in his first season with the Steelers and has 10 points in eight games for the club.
Defenseman Matt Stephenson was a undrafted free agent who was picked up by the Texas Stars, the affiliate of the Dallas Stars. He was acquired before the start of the 2011 season and is entering his second year with the English team.
The Steelers have gotten off to a hot start in their 2012-13 campaign, starting the season 7-3-0-1, thanks to seven goals from leading point getter Ashley Tait and Center Jeff Legue. They find themselves in second place in the EIHL behind the Belfast Giants, last year’s champion.
Jake Pavorsky is a contributor for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JakePavorsky.
