Steve Lee returns to Flames

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Great Britain Defenceman Steve Lee returns to the Flames on the 2nd year of a 2-year pact. Lee, 29, took the ice 50 times this past season while posting 14 assists on his return to Spectrum after initially spending the 2008-2009 campaign in Surrey before a decade at Nottingham Panthers helped established his role as an annual member of the GB national squad. Including his EIHL start with his hometown Hull Stingrays when he played at the top level in 2006-2007, the 6’0”, 200lbs blueliner has iced in 728 Elite League contests and has 29 goals as part of 195 career points.

Lee’s EIHL success includes 6 Cup championships between 2009 and 2016; a league title in 12-13; and 4 playoff captures. In 2012-2013, Panthers monopolised the silver set by collecting the league, cup and playoffs. Lee’s most recent trophy grab was 2016-2017 when Panthers put their name on the Continental Cup European competition.

Internationally, Lee’s GB representation was highlighted in the Spring of 2019 when he was selected as a top 3 player on his team when they played in the World’s Elite pool and defeated France to remain in the upper deck for the next World event which, due to Coronavirus cancellation, will now take place in the Spring of 2021. In all, he has 49 caps with the senior side at World championship and Olympic qualifications to go with more than 30 caps at Under 18 and 20 levels.

“Steve is a really solid presence at the back, and he came in and did exactly what we were expecting from a player who has been as successful as he has,” said Paul Dixon.

“The thing you can count on from Steve is a very consistent performance from night to night. You don’t really have to wonder, or worry, about what will happen when he is out there. He keeps things simple and smart, and I think we improved as a defensive group from the year prior in part because of his presence.”

“He was already under contract to be back for the upcoming season, and we are sure glad to have been in this position to ensure he would wear Flames colours again next season.”