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Sheffield Steelers captain Robert Dowd has committed his future to the club for a further two years, extending his 16-year relationship.
The 35-year-old has played 790 games in Steelers colours and succeeded club legend Jonathan Phillips as captain at the start of the 23/24 season.
In his first season wearing the ‘C’, it looks as though he’ll be leading the team to their first Elite League title since 2016, and they are also in the final of the Challenge Cup which will be played at the Utilita Arena against Guilford Flames on March 13th with playoffs then to follow.
The right-handed forward spent five years in the Steelers programme before stints at Belfast Giants and Troja Ljungby in Sweden. His return to South Yorkshire came eleven seasons ago and Sheffield has since become ‘home’.
The Billingham-born forward said: “It’s nice to be staying at home, I don’t think there was any doubt that both sides wanted this deal to happen, but when it is signed there is a certain relief.
“It’s no secret that I’m a lifer here, I love the club, my teammates, the fans and this building.”
He was announced as Great Britain captain earlier this month as they progressed to the final stages of qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
The national team opened their campaign in Cardiff with a 10-1 victory over China in which Dowd scored his first goal as GB captain.
He went on to score his first hat-trick as captain in the team’s 11-0 victory over Serbia becoming the first GB men’s player to do so since Colin Shields against the Netherlands at the 2017 World Championship in Belfast.
GB made it three wins from three with a 7-4 win over Romania to book their place in the final qualifying round.
The forward has scored 23 goals and raked up 44 this points this season with the Steelers with head coach Aaron Fox commenting: “Getting Dowdy done long term was a priority and is obviously a great start to next year’s team.
"He’s made such an impact as our captain this year. Nobody competes harder night in and night out and he plays with such passion and emotion that is contagious to our group.”
The league leaders face Manchester at home on Saturday before travelling to Dundee on Sunday in Week 24 of the Elite Ice Hockey League.