Sheffield Steeldogs v Leeds Knights: Familiar faces ready to greet Jordan Buesa after Glasgow Clan two-way deal

The Scottish-born forward joined the Knights on Monday as part of a two-way deal with the Elite League’s Glasgow Clan.

Icing tonight at Ice Sheffield (face-off 7.30pm) will bring him face-to-face with former Steeldogs’ team-mates who he played alongside last season.

It was part of a similar two-way deal with the Clan which saw Buesa make 41 league and play-off appearances for the South Yorkshire team, in which he posted 21 goals and 38 assists.

But he has landed in a different part of Yorkshire this time around, much to the delight of Knights’ head coach Ryan Aldridge, who has been searching for a top-quality British player to help compensate for the summer departure of Cole Shudra back to hometown Sheffield Steelers.

A former GB Under-20 and Under-18 international, Buesa arrives boasting an impressive cv, having clocked up more than 230 EIHL appearances with the Clan and, previously, Fife Flyers.

“We have been talking with Jordan and the Clan staff for the last few weeks,” revealed Aldridge. “I believe what Jordan can bring is what we are missing right now, and I am looking forward to seeing him in a Knights jersey.”

What the ‘missing’ is for Aldridge, relates to a lack of consistency from his Knights’ team, despite them being joint-top of the regular season standings with Milton Keynes Lightning and fresh from a four-point weekend borne from wins against Bees and Solway Sharks.

Aldridge believes too many players are relying on netminder Sam Gospel to bail them out of games.

“Over the weekend, we’ve done enough to win,” he added ahead of Tuesday night’s Yorkshire derby. “Gossy was outstanding in both games, but we’ve got to stop relying on him being so good back there.

“Guys have to start bringing more. We’re up and down right now and we’ve got to come together as a group. We keep talking about it and it is something that we need to address.

“It makes no sense to some people I’m sure, but we’re better than how we’re playing right now. It’s a massive game on Tuesday - these are massive points that we need if we want to be successful this year.”

The Steeldogs will come into the game looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 5-3 defeat at home to Peterborough Phantoms - a game in which they took the lead three times.

Jonathan Phillips is hoping his years of experience will rub off on some of the younger players around him, having come out of ‘retirement’ to play alongside former Steelers’ team-mate Jason Hewitt once again - now his boss as player-coach.

Former GB and Steelers’ captain Phillips, 41, played for the Steeldogs previously for a short spell during the behind-closed-doors NIHL Cup during the Covid lockdown in 2021.

“This was the perfect way to carry on playing some hockey and burning off some energy, while keeping that competitive edge,” said Phillips.

“I’m enjoying what I’m doing in terms of my new job and that transition into the ‘real world’ but it’s nice to work with some younger kids and try and pass on some experience - not coaching them as such, just passing on my experience.

“It’s a good group we have here and that was the thing that attracted me to it. I had so much fun with them all during the NIHL Cup during lockdown. They are all honest, hard-working people which is exactly what you want to be a part of.”