DURHAM, UK – Elite League Play Off weekend is the climax to the hockey season for many UK fans. This year’s event saw the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers and Hull Stingrays make it to the final four at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.
The season’s semi final match ups saw the Cardiff Devils take on the Belfast Giants and the ‘home’ side the Nottingham Panthers face the surprise package of the campaign the Hull Stingrays.
Like several other supporters before action got underway I couldn’t see past Belfast and Nottingham progressing to the final the bookies obviously agreed as Panthers were 1/9 to overcome Hull in the 2nd semi final while Belfast were odds on to taste success against the side from the Welsh capital. However on this occasion the bookies were not on the money.
Action from Belfast v Cardiff
Many recent play off encounters have been dull dour affairs however this was not to be the case this season as both match ups were full of incident and goals. The first semi final between Cardiff and Belfast got the weekend off to a flying start as Giants came back from 3-1 to tie the contest up at 3-3 forcing overtime and then penalty shots. Cardiff progressed to the final as their blue liner Kenton Smith was the only man to find the back of the net in the race to the net from centre ice.
There were plenty of goals in the 2nd semi final as Nottingham trounced Hull by 10 goals to 3. Stingrays began the game quite encouragingly and at the first interval Panthers only held a 1-0 advantage though as the game progressed Hull ran out of gas and could not contain Nottingham’s offense. GB international forward David Clarke caused all sorts of problems for Hull especially when Notts had the man advantage and he walked away with the man of the match award and a hatrick.
David Clarke picks up his man of the match award
The Elite League Awards were presented on ice at lunch time on the Sunday. There were few suprises as Jade Galbraith of the Braehead Clan won the player and forward of the year awards. In the fan’s favourite category Galbraith did have to settle for a runners up slot though as the accolade went to Fife Flyers netminder Garrett Zemlak.
The showpiece event of the weekend got underway shortly after 4pm on the Sunday afternoon as Cardiff faced off against Nottingham in the Play Off final. It had been rumoured that Jordan Fox would not be icing for Panthers however that did not prove to be the case as Fox was soon in the thick of the action out on the ice.
Action from Nottingham v Cardiff
Neither side was able to find the back of the net till after the 50 minute mark as both netminders Stevie Lyle of the Cardiff Devils and Craig Kowalski of the Panthers were in top form. David Beauregard (the scorer of the game winning goal in last year’s play off final) netted after 52 minutes of action to the delight of the Panthers fans.
Cardiff gave everything they had and even pulled their goalie in the dying minutes to try and find that elusive tying goal however it was not to be their day as David Clarke netted Nottingham’s 2nd of the game with only a few seconds of regulation time left on the clock.
Panthers celebrate
Panthers have now claimed the last 2 play off crowns with one of the most talented teams that has been around in British hockey for many a year.
Photos courtesy of Colin Edwards
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com
