Sheffield Steelers’ netminder Ervins Mustukovs has signed a new one-year contract with the club.

Mustukovs back-stopped the Steelers to the 2016/17 Elite League play-off title and led the goalie standings during the regular season with a 91.3 save percentage.

Head Coach Paul Thompson said: “He is a top goalie and he is a winner. When we signed him we asked him to give us a chance to win every night and he did just that.

“He is focused, determined and a no-nonsense goalie. He stops pucks – more of them than anyone else.

“Moose is popular in the room, the players have great respect for him. He has an edge as well – he goes about his business quietly, but if he isn’t happy he lets you know

“Look at the play-off run, that night against Nottingham, the shut-out against Belfast and the big stops against Cardiff – incredible, but in saying that, just what I expected because that’s what he does.

“It’s the key position on any team and for us to have that sorted this early is crucial. Moose played a lot of hockey, so I hope he goes home and rests up because he has a lot more ahead of him next year as well.

“Moose is a massive part of our club, we all love having him around and you only have to listen to the fans when he makes a save to know what they think of him.”

(Image permission: Dean Woolley)