Sheffield Steelers sign new coach

Mark Matheson had been in interim charge but this coming weekend the debut of two time Stanley Cup winner Paul Berrasso as Head Coach.

Brought in from Italian side Asiago double Stanley Cup winner–with Pittsburgh Penguins in the early nineties- takes over at the helm this weekend against arch rivals Nottingham Panthers.

Berrasso had a very successful playing career with Buffalo Sabres,Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators,Carolina Hurricanes,Toronto Maple Leafs, andSt. Louis Blues.

He was the only goaltender to ever play in the NHL directly fromhigh school, without having playedmajor junior, college, or some other form of professional hockey first. He was the youngest winner of the league'sVezina Trophyfor best goaltender, as an 18-year-oldrookiein 1984. He was also the youngest goaltender to winCalder Memorial Trophy, a record he still holds as of the end of 2017-18 season. Barrasso was a member of successiveStanley Cupchampionship teams in1991and1992with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was inducted as a member of theUnited States Hockey Hall of Famein 2009.

After retiring from playing he spent five years with Carolina Hurricanes as goaltending coach before going to the KHL as assistant to Paul Maurice. He the decided it was time to go it alone and took Asiago Hockey (Alps Hockey League) to a championship in 2016-17.

However, this season it is understood that he insisted on a clause being put in his contract allowing him to leave.

Former Sheffield Steelers legend Ken Priestlay, who played with him, described him as very intense and that he thought he would do great things with Sheffield.

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