News Article | 29th January 2010 » Scimitars lose out at last minute

With the re-structuring of the team in recent weeks, Sheffield Scimitars were in the market for a top class goal scorer to compliment the young and aspiring British talent already at the Club.

After a couple of weeks searching, the name of Joel Petkoff was brought to the attention of Scims Director Ian Johnson who along with Coach Jon Rowbotham set about trying to put a deal together to attract the free-scoring Canadian to the UK.

After a period of hard negotiating a deal was concluded and a contract signed and the Scims were awaiting to finalise ITC and flight details when the news came through that Petkoff had decided that a return to the UK was out of the question due to his long term employment ambitions with the Canadian Police Force.

A bitterly disappointed Ian Johnson said "I am absolutely gutted! It is incredibly hard work trying to attract a player of Joel's undoubted abilities to come to Sheffield for the money we have available and I really thought we'd got our man. Alas, I was wrong."

Petkoff was looking for a return to the UK and with the new structure in place at the Scims he was hoping to get some quality game time in before joining the police force full time in the Summer.

The news was a blow for Scims Coach Rowbotham who said "Petkoff agreeing terms with us gave me a real lift as I thought we would benefit from his prowess in front of the net. Joel is a big player with a big reputation and he would have given the Club a different dimension that could only have improved our team. Sadly, he decided in the end not to join us."

With the news coming so close to deadline day for signing an additional player the Scimitars have little hope of any further strengthening of the team for the remainder of the season. However, Coach Rowbotham remains upbeat concluding "For sure Petkoff would have been a great addition to our roster, but I make no secret of the fact that on the whole I am more than happy with the group of players at my disposal, Petkoff would have been a bonus."

Comments were echoed by a disappointed Johnson who said "I spent 40 minutes on the phone with Joel this evening and he was sorry to have changed his mind at the last minute but his decision was for his future career and I know that for all players there has to be life after hockey so I wish Joel all the very best for his future and have no hard feelings towards him. In fact, I am flattered that he was prepared to consider joining us in the first place!"

The Scimitars face Slough Jets at Ice Sheffield on Sunday 31st January face off at 5:30pm. Usual ticket prices apply.

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31st January 2010
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28th January 2010

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