Sheffield Steelers head coach Aaron Fox says that a successful Champions Hockey League campaign does not make up for the disappointment of failing to secure domestic silverware.
The Steelers completed a historic Elite League, Challenge Cup, and Playoff treble last season, but saw their hopes of retaining any silverware dashed on Saturday [19 April] when they were stunned in the postseason semi-finals by the Nottingham Panthers.
“Trophies are what we set our expectations on and we’re disappointed that we fell short on all three,” Fox told britishicehockey.co.uk at the Motorpoint Arena.
“We had a great Champions League campaign, making the round of sixteen and playing as well as we did against the group that we had was pretty special.
“But it’s disappointing [to lose in the playoff semi-finals] and we’ll have a lump in our stomach all season long because we didn’t get it done.”
Sam Tremblay and Mitchell Balmas fired the Steelers to a two-goal semi-final lead, but it was Nottingham Panthers captain Sam Herr who scored the overtime winner.
Sam Herr, Nottingham Panthers (Image: Dean Woolley)
“Yeah, I liked our game tonight,” continued Fox.
“We got off to a great start and we were probably a little bit flat [about the fact] that we were only up by one after the first period. After we scored our second, they bounced back with a powerplay goal and scored again real soon after.
“They scored their third off a turnover, we tied it back up, and then it goes to overtime when anything can happen. They pushed back hard tonight and played well.”
Analysis: Sheffield Steelers ‘fall short’ in bid to retain domestic silverware
Aaron Fox views this season through the prism of failure.
To the Canadian, success in the Champions Hockey League pales in comparison to winning silverware domestically.
“I love our group and the character in that room and it hurts to not be able to win something with those guys,” Fox said shortly after defeat at the Motorpoint Arena, “but that’s sport.”
Whether the immediate aftermath of a playoff semi-final collapse was the best time for Fox to evaluate the season as a whole is open to question, he might feel differently down the line.
However, his post-game remarks illuminated the philosophy that underscores his approach in Sheffield.
The Steelers lost in the Challenge Cup semi-final to the Cardiff Devils by a one-goal margin. They took their title defence to the final minute of the final game of the regular-season. And they fell in overtime in a one-and-done playoff format.
There is a fine line between success and failure in every sport, but the Elite League is particularly brutal in that regard.
Fox is now six seasons into his time as Steelers head coach and general manager. He has three trophies.
After signing a three-year contract extension last summer, the pressure is on for Fox to build a winning team next time around.
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