Chris Lawrence and other Sheffield Steelers' veterans can lead the charge at Nottingham Panthers

Chris Lawrence may not have had the luxury of a full training camp, but he is in more than adequate shape to start off the season with Sheffield Steelers tomorrow.
Chris LawrenceChris Lawrence
Chris Lawrence

The former Panther returns to Nottingham, in the Challenge Cup curtain raiser, ready to centre Sheffield's fourth line.

Canadian Chris, 31, arrived late in the UK - and minus his equipment - but he has been putting the effort in over the past fortnight.

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"Chris started a little behind everybody else because he missed out on the start of camp but he has been pushing himself on and off the ice" says coach Paul Thompson.

"I'm pleased with how he has done, now he needs to get a game under his belt."

Old heads may be needed in the pressure cooker atmosphere of Nottingham's rink tomorrow.

"We have a great veteran corps in the likes of Aaron Johnson, Evan McGrath, Jordan Owens and Ryan Martinelli and you add that to our Brit core of Jono Phillips and Robert Dowd and you know there won't be a leadership issue in this team" added Thompson.

"I like the room, it is a strong group.

"And it is not just the older guys, the younger ones have the character you need too, they are pretty dialed in."