Tyler Mosienko leaves Sheffield Steelers

Top scorer, and last season’s top scorer, Tyler Mosienko yesterday left the Sheffield Steelers. The centreman has been pining for a return to mainland Europe, where the salaries are higher and the profile greater.

He made his feelings known to club management in the last few days. We understand that the Canadian asked to play this weekend against Coventry Blaze before making up his mind. But Steelers felt that if the 32-year-old was not 100 per cent committed he should go. It is assumed at least one European club is waiting on the wings - although in fairness this season has not been such a happy experience for Mosienko. He doesn’t appear to have been given as much time on the power play although he is second behind Mathieu Roy in terms of overall points in Elite League and Challenge Cup - five goals and 10 assists in 13 games.

Head Coach Paul Thompson said: “Tyler came to see me earlier in the week and explained that he wished to leave and head back to mainland Europe. “His decision came as a surprise as we were happy with him and certainly wished him to remain as a part of out team going forward. “As a club we have tried everything within reason to retain him as a Steelers but his wish is that he leaves us and returns to the mainland. “Tyler has a clause in his contract allowing him to facilitate a move conditional upon a transfer / release fee being paid by his new club, as we stand we are still awaiting that.

Background to signing:

On the 26^th  August 2014, made the most astonishing signing in their history- a spot-fixing cheat. Canadian Tyler Mosienko bet against his own team, in January this year. He and others were exposed and shown the door at Esbjerg, Denmark. The 30-year-old had joined in a plot to place bets that his own team would concede at least once in the first period of a specific game - they conceded three, ending up losing 7-4. Further “unethical” bets on other games were made by team-mates, according to Danish press. But, in a huge irony, the whistle was blown when goalie Ervin Muštukovs - a former Sheffield Steeler - was approached to take part and alerted the authorities. Other team-mates who were not in the know, including another ex-Sheffielder Shawn Limpright, were furious. Spot-fixing, where a specific part of a game is rigged for financial benefit, is outlawed. Mosienko was banned for five games and fined around £500. He left to play in Alaska, reportedly saying: “My life is in ruins.”

Mosienko told the Sheffield Star: "I bet on goals conceded on my own game. A guy (team-mate) had asked me to do something and I said OK, and went with it. I wish I could have that moment back. I shouldn’t have done it, it was a mistake and I never thought about the consequences. Now I have to rebuild my career and my life. At no point did I intend to fix the result or let anybody score against us. In the game (he was playing for Esbjerg v Rungsted Hockey; his team lost 7-4.) I was definitely not inviting a goal against; that was never in my mind, I am a fierce competitor and play to win. In fact, I think I got three points in that game and hit a post."

After previous spells in North America, Japan and Denmark, it is clear the player’s wanderlust has not been satisfied.

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