'˜Brexit' Brit Rob Dowd could have been a better Sheffield Steelers' player if he'd voted Remain!

Steelers' new asst coach believes Rob Dowd would have become a better player if he'd stayed in Europe, rather than '˜Brexit.'
Rob Dowd - Steelers fans will be glad he came back, but Andersson thinks he'd have improved even more in Sweden. Picture by Dean WoolleyRob Dowd - Steelers fans will be glad he came back, but Andersson thinks he'd have improved even more in Sweden. Picture by Dean Woolley
Rob Dowd - Steelers fans will be glad he came back, but Andersson thinks he'd have improved even more in Sweden. Picture by Dean Woolley

The GB winger had a single season at Troja/Ljungby (2012-13) before committing to Sheffield, where he’s remained for three seasons. Andersson, who worked with Dowd in Sweden, was an admirer of his skills and goal instincts. Asked if the 28-year-old was a superior player now, than he was in Scandinavia, he replied: “I think he is a better player today, but I think also if he stayed in Sweden one or two more years he should be a little better than he is today. I think he is a player for the SHL, the highest league.”

Andersson admires the notion of a player trying to “take a chance to the highest league” but drew the line at suggesting Dowd had made a mistake. The GB player came back for family reasons and is now a key part of the Steelers’ attack.

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The coach said he is often asked about UK hockey standards “Nobody understands that the UK league today maybe is the most underrated league in Europe” he said. “Last season, I watched Steelers against Frolunda, it was a close game, 4-2 an open net, Steelers were over in Finland and played a good game. It is a different style, but it is an upcoming league and the standard is very high.”

Andersson said he’d asked head coach Paul Thompson if he had a gut feeling on how the 2016-17 season side is shaping up.

“He feels very confident.” On a personal front he said he would like to assess the team with an open mind.

Andersson realised he is in for a baptism of fire when the full team arrives for duty, in the steel city. Training camp starts on August 8 and then are two friendly matches against Aalborg (August 13/14) before the side flies out for CHL combat. “We have to be very productive when we start “ he said.

“We have two games before CHL and the league starts here so we have to do the right things every minute, every day.”