The Sheffield Steelers is a professional ice hockey club based in Sheffield, England. The club was founded in 1991 and in 1996 became one of the founding members of the Ice Hockey Superleague (ISL), the first fully professional ice hockey league in the UK.
In the club's early years, they struggled to establish themselves as a competitive team. However, they made significant improvements in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, winning their first league title in the 1994/95 season, and then went on to win the 'Grand Slam' during the 1995/96 season. Through this run, the Sheffield Steelers quickly established themselves as the UK's premier Ice Hockey team.
The Steelers joined the EIHL in 2003, after the formation of the league, and quickly established themselves as a top club in a newly founded league. In the league's inaugural season the Steelers won the league title and went on to win a further four titles since. The club has consistently been a strong performer in the EIHL, regularly finishing in the top four and regularly competing in the playoffs.
One of the highlights of the club's history in the EIHL was their triple crown-winning season in 2016/2017, where they won the league title, the Challenge Cup and the playoff championship. This was a significant achievement for the club and marked their continued success in the league.
The Sheffield Steelers have had a number of star players over the years, including Sheffield-born player Mike Blaisdell, who played for the club for over a decade, and Liam Kirk, who was signed by the Arizona Coyotes and is currently playing in the Finnish Liiga for Jukurit. Currently, players such as Johnathan Phillips, who has played for the club since 2006, and Marc Oliver-Vallerand, who recently rejoined for his third stint at the club.
The club has a strong local following and is known for its passionate and dedicated fans. The Steelers regularly attract large crowds to their home games and have a strong and dedicated fanbase who follow the team both home and away. The Sheffield Steelers play their home games at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, and have the highest average attendance in the league at 6,677. The Steelers also hold the record for the largest attendance for an EIHL game, with over 9,000 fans in attendance for their Boxing Day clash against fierce rivals the Nottingham Panthers in 2021.
The Sheffield Steelers have a rich and successful history in the EIHL and continue to be one of the top clubs in the league. Their achievements and strong support make them one of the most respected and well-established ice hockey clubs in the UK.