The 29-year-old Sheffield Steelers forward recently became the Elite League’s so-called ‘Iron Man’, clocking up more appearances – 566 – than any other player in the league’s short nine-year history, usurping team-mate Mark Thomas in the process. His years of success since first moving to South Yorkshire in 2006, together with the 20 GB international appearances that have followed in the last four years, all seem a far cry from September 2003 when he made his top-flight debut in the UK’s new, post-Superleague era for hometown team Manchester Phoenix. Back then, Hewitt and other young British players like him, were regularly used primarily to provide short, occasional breaks for the more valued import players. Any thoughts of nailing down a spot on a powerplay or penalty kill unit were nothing but a distant dream. These days, Hewitt is one of Steelers’ head coach Ryan Finnerty’s most trusted lieutenants, a man seen as fit for any situation out on the ice. It’s a position of trust which has taken a while for Hewitt to achieve and something he only began to plan for seriously himself around four or so years ago, during the last season of former Steelers’ coach Dave Matsos’s tenure. “I started realising that I could become a lot more valuable out on the ice than I perhaps was at the time,” said Hewitt, often labelled as ‘the British Bulldog’ for his willingness to play the agitating role and, when necessary, drop the gloves. “It was in Dave Matsos’s final season here and then my game went up to another level with the arrival of Ben Simon as player-coach. “When I first started out at Manchester, you were only used sparingly, mainly just to give the import players a quick rest every now and then. “But it started to change about five years ago when more and more teams began realising how important it was to have top British players in their line-up, players who were there to more than just make up the numbers. “Nowadays, finding top-quality British players is tough which is why you see most clubs hang on to the ones they have like they do. “I think it’s certainly better for British players coming through now, there’s always one or two who pop up every year.” As his game has developed in recent years, so has Hewitt’s confidence in his own ability, something first picked up on by the aforementioned Simon and then, more recently, current Steelers’ head coach Finnerty, who first noticed the potential when playing alongside Hewitt under Matsos back in 2006-07. “Hewey has come a long way since I first played with him,” said Finnerty. “First of all, he’s a more rounded and skilled player and he’s probably our best defensive forward. “I think he’s in the best shape he’s ever been physically. He’s matured and grown over the last six years or so and I still think there’s another level that he can go to. “He’s a big part of our team and plays in all the key situations for us – you can trust him to do anything.” It seems it was only after his arrival in Sheffield that the modest Hewitt was given some overdue encouragement to develop his game and thereby make himself a more valued member of the roster, a situation he would like to see continue for a few years yet. “Self-confidence wasn’t my biggest thing,” added the Hewitt. “But now, I feel like I’m a key player for the Steelers. And I put pressure on myself to make sure I remain an integral part of the team and just try and keep improving day after day.” Steelers begin a tough schedule of three games in as many nights on Friday night when they welcome Cardiff Devils to the Motorpoint Arena (7.30pm) in the Challenge Cup. A league trip follows on Saturday at Coventry Blaze before a return to South Yorkshire sees the Steelers host Hull Stingrays in another Group B Cup game at Ice Sheffield on Sunday (6pm). phil.harrison@ypn.co.uk Twitter: @PHarrisonYP