'Sheffield has the best 17-year-old ice hockey player in the country'

He was born in 2003, part way through a season in which Mike Blaisdell's troops won the League and Play Off double.

Now at 17, he is the face of the post-covid future of the club.

But the lad from Dronfield, who was brought up in the culture of Sheffield hockey, hopes to become a star one day like his heroes, which in the past included import goalie Jody Lehman.

"I started hockey because of the first ever Steelers' game I went to at the age of three and I have loved the game ever since" he says.

Last year Graham signed for the EIHL club as an apprentice and currently remains on a two-way deal with Steeldogs.

He dressed eight times for Aaron Fox's outfit and doesn't complain about the amount of ice time he received, saying: "I feel like I got every chance I deserved last season and I am hoping to prove myself even more and get more chances in the upcoming season."

That's if the clubs get to have any sort of a season, of course, with coronavirus dominating the possibility of any sort of a near-future campaign.

But the former Mount St Mary’s college pupil is praying he will get on the ice in competitive games, saying: "I am just hoping the season will go ahead, fingers crossed."

His eight games in an orange shirt have made him hungry for more.

"The highlight of last year would have to be my goal, (Graham scored in an 8-2 rout of Fife Flyers in February) for sure: it was such an overwhelming feeling and I will never forget it.

"But being there when we won the Challenge Cup; that was another moment I will cherish and never forget."Steelers' coach Fox is trying to get the Great Britain Under 20 prospect ice in an Under 20 league in Sweden or the Czech Republic, if nothing comes up more locally.

"He is the best 17 year old in the country and no one is close, in my opinion" said Fox, who has confirmed the further two years of his three year contract at the Arena will roll over, should there be no EIHL campaign in 2020-21.