The Sheffield Steelers were delighted to confirm this morning a partnership with the Prestigious University of Sheffield that will assist the Steelers in the recruitment of some of the best and brightest ice hockey players in the world.

The partnership will mean that players who were perhaps not thinking of the UK as an option to further their career, will have the opportunity to study for a postgraduate management qualification at the University.

Steelers GM Mike O'Connor said "We have been working on this partnership for almost 12 months and we are delighted that the University has agreed to work collaboratively with us on this venture. Many ice hockey players in North America were bought up in the University hockey programme and wish to further their education as well as play ice hockey at the highest standard possible. Now we can more attractive packages to these outstanding players.

"Our contacts in Europe and North America are looking beyond their ice hockey careers and our association with he University makes the Steelers a much more attractive proposition. With our great contact network at University level in the United States and Canada we can now openly recruit and advertise this partnership with the University of Sheffield, thus advising all the students there of the great educational opportunities available here in Sheffield"

"The assistance we have received from the University convinces us that together this partnership will return great rewards for both sides, better players for the Steelers and many new bright and intelligent students for the University"

Dean of the University's Management School, Professor Keith Glaister sad: "we are very pleased to be supporting the Steelers in this innovative partnership. This is a real opportunity to combine sporting and academic excellence and we are sure that it will help attract the brightest players in the world of ice hockey to the City of Sheffield"