ELITE LEAGUE: Talbot returns to Steelers (From This Is Lancashire)

ELITE LEAGUE: Talbot returns to Steelers

8:26am Friday 12th June 2009 in

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Joey Talbot is the latest Steeler to turn his back on the Euro and re-sign for David Matsos.

Talbot hit 35 goals in the Steelers double winning season, his 2nd with the club after a 29 goal first year.

Talbot said: "I had options to move away, both in Europe and North America. The Steelers have a draw for me though, I know what I'm coming back to. I like the club, the players, the City and the coach. I also like to win and think we have another great chance to lift trophies again this coming season. I will also be studying this coming year at the University of Sheffield. I guess I'm starting to think of life after hockey and that was an important add on.

"I considered all the options but in the end I decided that the Steelers where was my heart was, we have started this job and been successful. I didn't want last years double to be the end, I want it to be the beginning of a long reign at the top for the club.

"Matty has built a great team in Sheffield. I lot has been said about how tight we all are as a group. Sure we will lose a few guys from last year, that's pro sport, but the core will remain and new players coming in will find a winning mentality inside the dressing room. We know that other teams will look at us as the ones to beat and we will become everyone's target, that's what you get when you are winners."

Head Coach David Matsos said: "You don't easily replace 35 goals. You also don't replace his heart or his leadership. No one player is more important than any other one on my team, that's the way we build teams here at the Steelers, but in saying that I was a little happier than normal when his e-mail arrived.

"He is a clutch player, a guy you look to at big moments of games to come through.

"It will be a different Steelers team in many ways next year, maybe we set up differently to last year's team, one huge similarity though is that we have Joey Talbot on our roster."