Sheffield Steelers 3 Skellefteå AIK 2: Relentless Steelers make it a Champions Hockey League treble

With each passing win in the Champions Hockey League, Sheffield Steelers are changing the perception of how Elite League teams are viewed around Europe.

One odd-goal win against more highly-regarded opponents could maybe be passed off by some as a one-off, a ‘flash in the pan’, somewhat ‘lucky.’

But having now beaten two top-ranked SHL teams, as well as see off the challenge from Czechia giants Sparta Prague in a rather more comfortable 5-1 victory, there can be no doubting the credentials of Aaron Fox’s team in this competition.

Maybe this is in some way, a significant turning point for the EIHL.

Ahead of the opening 4-3 defeat against Switzerland’s Fribourg-Gotternon, you got the feeling in some ways that this wasn’t the priority for Fox and his players coming into the 2024-25 campaign, that the EIHL regular season title and play-offs – maybe even the Challenge Cup again – which they lifted in grand slam style last year, remained top of the list.