The Sheffield Steeldogs are delighted to announce the signing of exciting young British forward Jordan O’Brien on a two-year agreement ahead of the 2026/27 NIHL National season.
O’Brien joins the Steeldogs organisation on a two-way agreement with the Sheffield Steelers, creating an exciting long-term development pathway for one of the country’s highly regarded young prospects as he begins his progression within professional hockey.
Despite missing last season through injury, Jordan has now returned to full fitness and is spending the off-season fully committed to preparing for the next stage of his career. Throughout the recruitment process, the Steeldogs undertook extensive due diligence on the young forward, reviewing footage and speaking with numerous trusted sources from across the game. The feedback received was consistently positive, with his character, work ethic, coachability, and long-term potential repeatedly highlighted as qualities that strongly align with the culture being built within the organisation.
Still at the early stages of his development, O’Brien arrives in Sheffield with significant upside and a determination to establish himself at senior level. His pace, energy, and willingness to compete make him an exciting addition to the Steeldogs roster, while the structure of the two-way agreement will allow him to continue developing within an elite environment alongside the opportunity to earn valuable senior ice time.
The organisation views the next two seasons as an important stage in Jordan’s development, and the Steeldogs are committed to giving him every opportunity possible to continue progressing towards his long-term ambitions of playing hockey at the highest level possible.
Steeldogs General Manager Jamie McIlroy said:
“Jordan is a player that we identified during our recruitment process because there were certain traits in his game and mentality that immediately stood out to us. When you speak to people around the game, you quickly get a feel for what type of person somebody is, and the feedback on Jordan was consistently outstanding.
He’s already shown at junior international level that he can perform in high-pressure environments. His record with Great Britain at both U16 and U18 level speaks for itself, and the fact that he consistently produced points at World Championship tournaments against strong international opposition tells you a lot about both his ability and his composure. Those experiences are invaluable for a young British player and they’ve clearly helped shape his mentality and confidence.
For a young player to handle a difficult year through injury and still remain fully committed to improving himself and preparing for the next opportunity, says a lot about his character. There’s a maturity and determination there that you simply can’t teach. We’re bringing him into an environment where he’ll be challenged every day, supported properly, and given a genuine opportunity to develop. The partnership with the Sheffield Steelers creates an excellent pathway for him, but ultimately what happens next will come down to the work he’s prepared to put in.
Jordan has all the tools and attitude to make people take notice over the next couple of years, and we’re excited to see how far he can push himself in a Steeldogs jersey.”
Speaking on his signing, O’Brien said:
“I’m extremely proud to be joining such a respected organisation and I honestly can’t wait to get started. Missing last season through injury was frustrating, but it’s made me even more motivated to come back stronger and prove what I’m capable of.
Over the Summer, I’ll be working hard to get myself back to full fitness and prepare properly for this opportunity. From the first conversations I had with the club, it was clear how ambitious the organisation is and how much belief they have in developing young players the right way.
The opportunity to work within both the Steeldogs and Steelers environment is something I’m incredibly grateful for, and I’m determined to make the most of it. I’m excited to get to Sheffield, meet the fans and teammates, and give everything I have to help the team succeed.”
The Steeldogs would like to welcome Jordan to Sheffield and look forward to seeing his development in orange over the next two seasons.