Nicholls completes Steelers off-season signings
Photo: Storhamar Hamar
Sheffield Steelers' final signing for the 2023/24 season has been confirmed as forward Josh Nicholls.
The club announced the 31-year-old on Wednesday morning, who joins after spending last season with Kunlun in the KHL. Over two spells with the Chinese side, he scored four goals and notched 15 assists in 86 KHL games. In 2021/22, Nicholls logged 13 points in 15 Norwegian playoff games with Storhamar, heading there after Kunlun were eliminated from playoff contention. He was almost a point-per-game player in the DEL2 the season before.
"Josh is a 6’2 forward who skates very well for a bigger guy and plays a very complete game. He has been close to a point per game player in any league other than the KHL where he has spent the last couple years as a solid bottom six player for them," commented Head Coach Aaron Fox. "In the 21/22 season he had 16 points in 36 KHL games before going to Norway mid-season. He finished as the playoff goal leader there with eight goals in a playoff run to the finals."
The player himself said: “I’m excited to get over to the UK and help contribute to a winning organisation. After the time in Russia I wanted to come to a side wanting to win, I need to compete every night and after speaking with Aaron, I decided that place was Sheffield.
"The KHL is a great league and I have left of lot of good friends over there but with so many changes every year on our team we struggled to be competitive. I’m now coming to a club with a clear plan on how to win.
"This is the right move for me at my time of life, I’ve just got married and the decision where to go and play this season was a big one. Once I got talking with Aaron, the Steelers and the UK was an option, then I watched all the YouTube videos of games and became hooked. Then I saw who we were signing and how the squad looked, and I had to be a part of it. I want to play in front of thousands of fans like we do in Sheffield, that fan support was a major pull for me, it excited me to perform for them and I can’t wait to do so."
