Rocket Ron Shudra: The Stories Behind a Sheffield Steelers Legend

From Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers to the rise of the Sheffield Steelers, Rocket Ron Shudra shares the memories, characters and rivalries that made his British ice hockey career unforgettable.

Some players are remembered for their goals. Others for the championships they won or the trophies they lifted.

And then there are those whose stories tell us something much bigger about an entire era of British ice hockey.

Rocket Ron Shudra is certainly one of them.

For Sheffield Steelers supporters, his name is synonymous with the club's extraordinary rise during the 1990s. For opposition fans, particularly those of us who followed Nottingham Panthers, he was one of the players you always noticed whenever the Steelers came to town.

But beyond the statistics and silverware, what was Ron really like? How did a young Canadian who had shared the ice with Wayne Gretzky end up playing at Solihull's Hobs Moat Road? And what was it like to be part of a new Sheffield club that went from a few hundred spectators to thousands seemingly overnight?

In my original Old Time Hockey UK podcast interview with Ron, we explored those stories and much more.

And there were certainly a few laughs along the way!

1. "Oh no, not them!" — Drafted by Edmonton

Ron Shudra during his time with the Cape Breton Oilers in the American Hockey League.

In 1986, Ron Shudra was selected in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

For most young hockey players, being drafted by the Stanley Cup champions would have been a dream come true.

But Ron's immediate reaction was rather different.

"Oh no, not them!"

It wasn't that he didn't want to play for Edmonton. Far from it.

The problem was the extraordinary collection of talent already wearing Oilers jerseys.

Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson were among the names associated with one of the greatest teams in NHL history.

How was a young player supposed to break into a side like that?

Ron had developed his game under Ken Hitchcock at Kamloops, where he had been given opportunities to play in different situations and learn from experienced coaches.

He eventually made ten NHL appearances for Edmonton during the 1987–88 season, recording five assists.

And, remarkably, he even shared the ice with Wayne Gretzky.

Yet what struck me during our conversation wasn't simply the famous names Ron had played alongside.

It was his attitude towards the opportunities he had been given.

He understood that wherever he was playing, whether in the NHL or somewhere considerably less glamorous, the responsibility remained the same.

Give everything you've got and make the most of the opportunity.

It was a philosophy that would prove particularly useful when his career took an unexpected turn towards Britain.

2. Welcome to British hockey — and a 17–3 defeat!

By 1990, Ron's North American career had taken him through the Edmonton Oilers organisation and into the New York Rangers system.

When a proposed new contract failed to materialise following changes in the Rangers' management, the possibility of playing in Europe arose.

Solihull Barons needed a defenceman.

Ron decided to give it a try.

His introduction to British hockey was certainly memorable!

Arriving at Hobs Moat Road with David Simms, Ron surveyed the building and thought it looked like a perfectly reasonable little practice rink.

Then he discovered it was where Solihull actually played their home games!

But the real culture shock came in the dressing room.

Ron found himself sitting between Ian Young and Phil Lee, both chatting away in their strong northern accents.

The new Canadian signing couldn't understand a word.

He remembered turning to another player and asking:

"What the hell did they just say?"

The rest of the dressing room found it hilarious.

And then came his first game.

After just one training session, Solihull travelled to Hull and suffered a crushing 17–3 defeat.

Whenever Ron attempted to return to the bench for a breather, he discovered that the door had been closed.

The message was simple: they hadn't brought him all the way from Canada to sit on the bench!

Ron Shudra takes a breather during his Solihull Barons days in 1990–91. A fitting image to accompany his hilarious memories of being expected to play almost endless shifts during his introduction to British hockey!

So back onto the ice he went.

From sharing the ice with NHL superstars to playing almost endless shifts in a 17–3 defeat at Hull.

Welcome to British ice hockey, Rocket Ron!

3. Sheffield Steelers — from 343 spectators to packed arenas

Sheffield Arena became the home of one of British ice hockey's greatest success stories during the 1990s.

When Solihull's plans for the following season collapsed, Ron faced another decision about his future.

He had been speaking with Basingstoke, but Ronnie Wood encouraged him to travel north and take a look at an ambitious new club in Sheffield.

The Steelers would be starting in Division Two of the Heineken League.

Not necessarily the obvious destination for a former NHL player.

Then Ron saw Sheffield Arena.

After his experiences at Hobs Moat Road, the sight of the enormous new building made quite an impression.

He knew immediately that he could see himself playing there.

But there was one rather significant problem.

Where were all the supporters?

Ron remembered an early home game attracting an announced crowd of just 343 spectators.

Imagine that.

A magnificent arena with thousands of empty seats and a few hundred supporters scattered around the building.

The Steelers had to introduce ice hockey to a city where many people had little idea what the sport involved.

Ron and his teammates visited schools, attended promotional functions and helped distribute thousands of complimentary tickets.

Admission was just £4.50, but even that wasn't enough to guarantee a crowd.

Slowly, however, things began to change.

Then came a dramatic game around Christmas.

Sheffield were trailing with only a couple of minutes remaining, but somehow recovered to snatch victory in the closing stages.

Ron remembered that night as the turning point.

Suddenly, word began spreading about this exciting new sport being played at Sheffield Arena.

The complimentary tickets were no longer necessary.

Supporters began arriving hours before face-off, queuing outside in the hope of getting inside.

Some games even required delayed starts because so many people were still trying to buy tickets.

Before long, the Steelers were playing in front of crowds of thousands.

From 343 spectators to packed houses.

It remains one of the most remarkable transformations in British ice hockey history.

And Rocket Ron was there from the beginning.

4. Behind the dressing-room door

Rocket Ron Shudra in the Sheffield Steelers original colours

One of the great pleasures of interviewing former players is hearing about the personalities who made those teams special.

And Sheffield certainly had plenty!

Ken Priestley, Tommy Plommer, Les Millie, Tim Cranston, Mike O'Connor, Rob Wilson, Chris Kelland and many others helped establish the Steelers as one of the dominant forces of the 1990s.

But who was the biggest character?

When I asked Ron about the craziest player in the dressing room, Tim Cranston was one of the names that immediately came to mind.

Ron remembered Cranston as a whirlwind of energy, constantly rushing around and leaving his teammates wondering what he was going to do next.

Then there was Mike O'Connor, whose powerful passing occasionally proved rather too powerful for teammates standing only a few feet away!

The stories brought plenty of laughter.

Ron explained that the Steelers didn't need one individual constantly delivering inspirational speeches.

They had experienced players who understood their responsibilities.

They knew what was expected of them and trusted the people around them.

And, importantly, they enjoyed one another's company.

It was that combination of ability, experience and team spirit which helped turn Sheffield into a championship-winning club.

But beneath the dressing-room banter was something much more important.

Ron explained that the Steelers didn't need one individual constantly delivering inspirational speeches.

They had experienced players who understood their responsibilities.

They knew what was expected of them and trusted the people around them.

And, importantly, they enjoyed one another's company.

It was that combination of ability, experience and team spirit which helped turn Sheffield into a championship-winning club.

The fierce rivalry with Nottingham was just one chapter in Sheffield's remarkable rise. By the 1994–95 season, the Steelers had established themselves as a major force in British ice hockey, culminating in a memorable Wembley playoff triumph.

For Rocket Ron Shudra, lifting the championship trophy was another unforgettable moment in a career that had taken him from the NHL to the very heart of British hockey.

🏆 Rocket Ron Shudra lifts the 1994–95 Playoff Championship trophy as Sheffield Steelers celebrate their Wembley triumph.

That team spirit helped Sheffield achieve remarkable success throughout the 1990s, including their memorable 1994–95 Wembley playoff triumph.

For Rocket Ron Shudra, lifting the championship trophy was a moment to savour.

5. Nottingham Panthers — every inch of ice was a battle

As a Nottingham Panthers supporter myself, there was one subject I was particularly keen to discuss with Ron.

The Sheffield Steelers–Nottingham Panthers rivalry.

Those who experienced the encounters at the old Nottingham Ice Stadium will remember an atmosphere unlike almost anywhere else.

The cramped dressing rooms.

The packed terraces.

The noise.

And the feeling that the supporters were practically on top of the players.

Ron remembered walking up the stairs from the dressing room towards the ice, with the atmosphere growing more intense with every step.

The Steelers knew exactly what awaited them.

Every inch of ice would be contested.

Every check, every shot and every confrontation mattered.

Ron described the intensity of players such as Ken Priestley, who seemed to raise his game another level whenever Nottingham were the opposition.

But he also made an interesting observation.

Much of the rivalry had its roots in the British players themselves.

Many had been competing against one another since their junior hockey days, long before Sheffield Steelers existed.

The imports added another dimension, but the foundations of those rivalries had already been established.

And then, of course, came the small matter of Sheffield winning their first league championship on Nottingham ice.

For Steelers supporters, an unforgettable occasion.

For Panthers supporters, rather less enjoyable!

Ron remembered Sheffield fighting back after falling behind, with Ken Priestley playing a pivotal role.

I had a rather unusual perspective on that particular evening.

Although a Panthers supporter, I was actually watching the game on a live transmission at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, surrounded by Steelers fans.

When the final whistle sounded, everybody around me was celebrating.

I decided it was probably a good time to make my exit!

But whatever side of the rivalry you supported, those games were special.

The noise, the intensity, the passion and the atmosphere were everything that made the Heineken era so memorable.

6. The heart and soul of the team

Towards the end of our conversation, Ron reflected on what made the great British hockey teams of the 1980s and 1990s so special.

For him, it wasn't simply the quality of the imports.

It was the British players who formed the foundations of those clubs.

The players who stayed season after season.

The players who understood the rivalries.

The players supporters recognised and identified with.

Ron described those homegrown players as "the heart and soul of the team."

Imports could arrive, make their mark and move on.

But the British players provided continuity.

They were the nucleus around which successful teams were built.

Ron also spoke passionately about the importance of developing young British talent and giving promising players opportunities to progress into senior hockey.

It was a subject close to his heart through his involvement in junior development at Ice Sheffield.

And it was particularly interesting to hear someone who had played at the highest level of the game emphasising the importance of British players to the identity and future of our clubs.

It's a discussion that remains relevant today.

More than a Sheffield Steelers legend

What made my conversation with Rocket Ron Shudra so enjoyable wasn't simply the remarkable career he had enjoyed.

It was the stories behind it.

The young Canadian wondering how he could possibly break into a team containing Wayne Gretzky.

The bewildered newcomer trying to understand Ian Young and Phil Lee in the Solihull dressing room.

The player helping introduce ice hockey to thousands of new supporters in Sheffield.

The teammate laughing about the characters who made the Steelers dressing room such a special place.

And the fierce competitor who still remembered the noise and intensity of those unforgettable nights in Nottingham.

Together, those memories reveal something that statistics and trophy records can never fully capture.

Rocket Ron Shudra wasn't simply part of Sheffield Steelers history. He helped create it.

And that is why he will always deserve his place among our Legends of the Game.

🎙️ Listen to Rocket Ron tell his story

These memories are even better when you hear Ron telling them himself.

In my original Old Time Hockey UK podcast interview, Ron talks about his NHL experiences, his introduction to British hockey, the rise of Sheffield Steelers and the unforgettable rivalry with Nottingham Panthers.

Listen to the full Ron Shudra podcast interview

🏆 Explore Ron Shudra's playing career

For a closer look at Ron's playing achievements, championship successes and lasting legacy at Sheffield, read our companion career retrospective:

Ron Shudra – Mr Sheffield Steelers

🏒 Over to you, hockey fans!

Whether you supported Sheffield, Nottingham or one of the other great clubs of the Heineken era, there's a good chance you have a Rocket Ron memory of your own.

What is the one Ron Shudra moment you will never forget?

Was it a thunderous shot, a crucial goal, a championship celebration or one of those fiercely contested games against your own team?

Share your memories. We'd love to hear them!

Old Time Hockey UK — Reliving British Hockey's Golden Years.