Sheffield Steelers' upward trajectory takes them over initial target

Sheffield Steelers head coach, Tom Barrasso
(Picture: Dean Woolley) — Sheffield Steelers head coach, Tom Barrasso (Picture: Dean Woolley)

THURSDAY night's win over Nottingham Panthers was a significant moment for Sheffield Steelers' head coach Tom Barrasso '“ and not just because it meant his team recorded back-to-back victories over their arch-rivals.

Ever since he walked through the doors at Sheffield Arena, one of Barrasso’s chief aims has been to make the Steelers a plus .500 team – in other words, a team that has won more than 50 per cent of their games.

The stirring come-from-behind 5-3 victory against the Panthers in front of a 9,000-plus crowd did just that, much to Barrasso’s obvious satisfaction.

“My sole focus since I took the team over in October was to get the team over .500 – that second win over Nottingham does that,” said Barrasso.

“So, while I’m glad I was able to coach in front of 7,000 in Nottingham and close to 10,000 (in Sheffield), and it feels like you’re a real hockey coach in real hockey buildings – and it is tremendous fun – at the end of the day the most important result is that our team has clawed its way back to being an over .500 team.”

Meeting such a primary objective, however, does not mean that Barrasso is likely to ease up on his players in the coming weeks as they look to become a team challenging at the top end of the table once again.

The two wins over Nottingham earlier this week moved the Steelers up to sixth in the standings ahead of tonight’s visit from Manchester Storm.