Sheffield Steelers: Davey Phillips on why team-mate Kevin Schulze is the ideal D-partner

The pair’s contrasting styles fully complimented each other, Phillips’s defensive strengths working well with fellow GB international O’Connor’s more attack-minded instincts.

O’Connor left the Steelers in the summer of 2020 – during the height of the pandemic – and, after spells at Cardiff Devils and in Romania, now skates for Elite League rivals Guildford Flames.

Phillips didn’t take too long to find another willing partner in the shape of left-sided D-man Kevin Schulze. The two played the majority of last season alongside each other and, despite widespread change on the rest of the Steelers roster during the summer – head coach Aaron Fox adding 14 new faces – the pair have remained a constant during 2022-23.

Like with O’Connor, it’s a working relationship which Phillips enjoys, Schulze fulfilling the attacking side of the partnership.

“I do prefer playing with another D-man, one who likes being on the puck and is a bit more offensive-minded, like when I played with Ben,” said Phillips ahead of a weekend of Challenge Cup action for the Steelers which takes them to Nottingham tonight before hosting Manchester tomorrow (4pm).

“Benny obviously left and I got paired up with Kev and it just seemed like an easy transition for me. We quickly established a bit of chemistry and we know where each other is going to be on the ice, what we both like and what we don’t like.

“I’ve always found it helps me being with a guy who feels comfortable on the puck.”

Schulze arrived in Sheffield initially for the behind-closed-doors Elite Series in 2021, on the back of two seasons in the ECHL, plus a year each in the Swedish second tier and Germany’s DEL.

He remained in South Yorkshire last season, posting 45 points – including 7 goals – in 67 games.

"Kev came here with a really impressive cv,” said Phillips. “You can tell he’s played in good leagues over the years. He’s one of the best skaters I’ve ever seen to be honest … and he barely even ties his skates up, it’s crazy – he doesn’t even pull them tight, it’s mad how loose they are but he’s so good on his edges.

“He’s one of those players who doesn’t look that fast, but he is because he’s so powerful – he is very deceptive in that way.

“He’s a very good, smart hockey player and he’s here because he wants to be here. He might be good enough to go and play in another league, maybe make more money elsewhere, I don’t know, but one thing I do know is that he really wants to be here, he wants to play for this team and he wants to have success here and that is good to know.”