TWELVE months ago Kayle Short was chasing the grand slam with Sheffield Steelers.
A year later he would be happy just to help Manchester Storm climb off the bottom of the Superleague.
And too add a touch of irony to the situation, Storm's opponents on Saturday are an under performing Steelers side who sit one place above Storm in the table.
The demise of last season's grand slam winners and Short's move to Manchester has been well chronicled but what is new is that, at long last, Storm are starting to put together a decent run of form.
'Confidence is growing'
''We always knew from the start we had a good bunch of guys in the locker-room but it was just one of those things that we struggled to get going,'' said the 28-year-old defenceman from Barrie, Ontario.
''The coach never gave up on us. He stuck by us and all the guys knew it would get going. Confidence is growing and we just want to keep this thing snowballing. This is perfect because you want to be peaking coming into the play-offs.''
Short's game hit a peak last Sunday at the M.E.N. Arena when he scored a wonder goal three minutes from time to clinch a 4-3 victory over Ayr Scottish Eagles to maintain Storm's unbeaten start to the New Year.
''We came from behind twice in that game because we did not panic. We thought we had a couple of bad bounces," he said.
''But things stayed positive on the bench and in the dressing room between periods and we just battled back.
''That's the way things have been since the New Year. The guys are feeling confident and playing well.
''We are starting to get some bounces and the puck is going in and we just have to keep this thing going.
''There is a never-say-die attitude in the dressing room and everyone has confidence and faith on the guy sitting beside him.
'We must stay focused'
''As long as we stay focussed and never give up, we are always capable of coming back and winning games."
Storm are hoping to have Dan Preston back for the weekend games against Sheffield and champions Belfast at home on Sunday (5pm).
''Dan's shoulder popped out and then went back in again and it is sore,'' said coach Daryl Lipsey.
''We are hoping to have him back this weekend but, if not, I'm sure he will be OK for our trip to Ayr the following Wednesday.''
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