A new era started when Sheffield opted out of a partial role as a player before the first game of the 2015 season.

However, Sheffield said he would continue to contribute to the team and the sport he loves as part of  the coaching and management team.

Sheffield started his association with the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in September 2000, when it opened and needed not only an ice resurfacing machine but also somebody to operate it.

A social league hockey player from Vancouver, Sheffield was the person who put his hand up.

He knew of Newcastle through a former girlfriend. Despite knowing just the one person when he arrived, Sheffield quickly charmed his way into the hearts of the people he met at the stadium and around town.

From 2002 to 2014, Sheffield played hockey in the league for the Newcastle North Stars.

Aside from 2010, when he intended to retire due to chronic back pain and played a half season, Sheffield has been synonymous with the North Stars, and captain for all but 1 seasons.

In Sheffield ’s first season as captain, he anchored the team with a strong work ethic and physical presence on the ice, including scoring the game’s winning goal that got his team their first Goodall Cup in 2003.

He added off-ice duties to his portfolio, volunteering as equipment manager for the Australian men’s team for several years, and coaching Newcastle children.

Sheffield raised the Goodall Cup for the North Stars again in 2005, 2006 and 2009 and in 2015 raised the Wilson Cup for the first time.

Newcastle North Stars coach Andrew Petrie said Sheffield’s retirement was a big deal because he was known as the face of the North Stars.