Ice Hockey: Steelers fined on two counts

THE British Ice Hockey Association yesterday announced that First Division Sheffield Steelers have been fined pounds 2,000 for playing an import, Steve MacSwain, whose application was supported by a forged letter of passport eligiblity, writes Steve Pinder.

The club has also been fined a further pounds 500 for comments on its telephone hotline about an injury to a Basingstoke Beavers player.

The BIHA also considered the International Ice Hockey Federation/European Community guidelines on overseas players. British teams will now be allowed to sign any number of imports but can play only three in any one game.

There is also now a category designated an 'assimiliated' player: players who have played in Britain for four years and possess a full passport or who possess a full British passport on arrival. Each team can sign two assimilated players and play one per game. Of the four players nominated for each game only three can be on the ice at any one time.

The rule allowing dual nationality players injured on international duty to be replaced by clubs after the transfer deadline will, subject to a BIHA committee decison, extend to British players.