Derek Gentile joins the Sheffield Steelers ahead of the 2025/26 season following a breakout year with Saint Mary’s University, where he led all of U SPORTS in scoring with 46 points in 29 games. He was named AUS MVP and a First Team All-Star, and added 8 points in 7 playoff games to cap off a dominant season.

The 26-year-old forward from Sydney, Nova Scotia, brings a strong pedigree from both the collegiate and professional levels. Gentile has previously skated in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays, notching 32 points (14G, 18A) in 40 games, and had a brief stint in Europe with Ritten Sport in Italy’s AlpsHL, recording 6 points in just 5 appearances.

He also played parts of two seasons with Dalhousie University and has consistently been an offensive contributor throughout his career. In junior, Gentile logged over 300 QMJHL games with Quebec, Charlottetown, and Cape Breton.

Head Coach Aaron Fox said:
“Derek is someone we’ve been tracking closely and his season at Saint Mary’s confirmed everything we thought about him. He’s a dynamic forward who plays with pace and has a real nose for the net.

“He sees the ice well, competes hard, and can be used in a number of roles for us. We love his hockey IQ and feel he fits the identity we’re building here.

“We also spoke to a few people close to him and they all said the same thing—great teammate, competitive, and driven. He’s a player our fans will enjoy watching, and we think he can make an immediate impact.”