Former Fife Flyers star was 'overwhelmed' by EIHL decision to scrap season

The 23-year-old had been planning to make his debut on the Sheffield Steelers' blueline after signing from Fife Flyers in a two-year deal last July, but all plans have been scrapped now until season 2021-22 because of the pandemic lockdown.

Jones admitted he felt "very overwhelmed" when it became clear Steelers would not be returning to the ice until September.

"If you would've told me last March when the season got cancelled this would happen I would have laughed in your face, to be frank,” he says.

"It's hard. I had planned my life to be overseas for nine months of the year so things are difficult.

"Honestly, I just feel defeated, you get your hopes up so many times and when nothing ever really pans out it is hard.

"I sold my car and would normally just rent a car when I come home, so I've spent the last 11 months with no car unless I rent one, just little things like that have made life difficult."

Jones, who iced 24 times for Fife last season, hasn't had much in the way of playing time on the ice, recently.

"There are no 'rec' teams to play with, but there are a lot of WHL guys in and around Kelowna that are in the same boat as me and haven’t started yet.

"I’ve been getting on with them and the ice times have been competitive."

He says he has been keeping busy with his own personal training business, Sam Jones Sports Performance.