Sheffield Steelers' Mark Simpson discusses his decision to return for a second season to South Yorkshire and the factors behind his decision
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00:06 >> No, not at all.
00:07 It was a no brainer for me.
00:10 Just the way things this season went and obviously winning and
00:14 then just the relationship I have with Foxy and Carter and
00:17 just the group of guys in the room.
00:19 It was a pleasure to come to the rink every day.
00:21 And for me, it was a very easy decision to come back to Sheffield for next season.
00:27 >> Yeah, I mean, part of the adding challenge as well.
00:29 I think for a lot of players, all the players that will be coming back.
00:33 We know some are coming back, we know some are already back, but also new players.
00:37 Champions Hockey League, it's a big sort of pull or a big draw for some players
00:41 who like to play in Europe because you couldn't up against a creamy girl.
00:44 Was that a factor in your decision as well?
00:47 >> Yeah, that was a big factor for me.
00:48 Being able to play in Champions League is such a great opportunity for myself and
00:54 everyone that was a part of the team last year to be able to run it back with
00:58 the same group of guys and just to see where our team stands with other teams,
01:03 with other top teams around Europe.
01:04 We're not gonna have an easy draw by the looks of it, but
01:08 I don't think there was gonna be an easy matchup in this tournament.
01:13 So I think it'll be a great test and I think all of us are really looking forward
01:18 to that opportunity to be able to showcase ourselves to the rest of Europe.
01:21 >> Before you came to Sheffield, obviously you had a season in Europe,
01:26 spent a bit of time in Finland's league and
01:30 then obviously over in the Alps Hockey League as well.
01:33 But I guess this is perhaps gonna take that level of competition in Europe to
01:38 another level, we're talking about some top teams here, aren't we?
01:42 >> Yeah, I mean, you're talking about the best teams in each of those leagues.
01:45 So I think we're gonna fare well, I think just with the group we had last year and
01:51 just by the sounds of it, the group that's coming back,
01:55 I don't think there's any reason why we can't compete with some of these teams.
01:58 Obviously, it's gonna be a battle every night, but we're excited for
02:03 that opportunity and that challenge to be able to prove ourselves in Europe.
02:07 >> You look back at the season just gone, obviously it was a fantastic year,
02:09 won three trophies, the league, playoff and challenge cup titles.
02:15 What was your personal highlight,
02:17 the most pleasing aspect of that first season in the UK?
02:21 >> Yeah, the one for me, the biggest win for me was the league championship.
02:27 I think just as such a grueling season long schedule and
02:31 then every game matters.
02:34 Whereas in Canada and I guess in North American style,
02:38 you have the playoffs that finish off the league championship.
02:41 But I just found in the UK it was so different that you had to bring it every
02:44 night and you couldn't take a night off.
02:46 So I felt that after such a long grueling season to be able to pull that one out,
02:49 especially in front of our fans at home.
02:52 And that was probably the biggest highlight for me last season.
02:55 >> It's gonna be hard to replicate that as Belfast fan,
02:58 obviously last season as well.
02:59 I mean, they were the one with the targets on the back.
03:02 Is that also part of the appeal, that challenge,
03:05 that challenge to try and match what you've already achieved last year?
03:10 I mean, it is gonna be difficult, but it's something that perhaps as a group,
03:13 like I say, with quite a number of players that are returning,
03:17 as we expect, that you will embrace as a group.
03:20 >> Yeah, I think for sure you've already seen it in just the way some teams
03:23 are recruiting a lot of good players coming into this league.
03:27 And it really surprised me last year about how good and
03:30 deep this league actually is too.
03:32 So I think we'll definitely have a target.
03:36 We saw that a bit last year.
03:38 Foxy always reiterated that you're gonna get every team's best every night just
03:44 because of where we're at in the table and how teams are trying to catch us.
03:47 So I think it'll be similar next year, just the way the season went last year,
03:53 how successful it was that teams are gonna be gunning for us.
03:57 And we wouldn't want it any other way.
04:01 I think we're gonna have a competitive team again, and
04:04 it'll make for an exciting season.
04:07 >> Yeah, how tough is that to do that, to maintain that?
04:10 Cuz it was consistent from start to finish, wasn't it?
04:13 It's not an easy thing to achieve, that, is it?
04:15 To maintain that level of performance night after night.
04:18 Yes, there was the odd defeat here and there, but
04:19 there were no back to back defeats.
04:21 You never seem to linger, did it?
04:23 You always seem to be able to, as a group, bounce back very quickly.
04:26 How difficult is it to do that?
04:28 >> Yeah, very difficult.
04:29 I think the biggest key to that would be depth in our group.
04:33 We had four lines and three deep errands that just gave it every night.
04:39 And if some guys weren't going one night,
04:41 then you'd have other guys to pick those guys up.
04:43 And I think that's the key to sustaining that success for the long season.
04:48 So obviously, every team has key guys that can be game breakers.
04:54 But if you have a full team of guys that can play and
05:00 bring it on different nights, then I think that's how you become very successful.
05:03 And that's how you end up winning the league.
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