SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers were announced victors of the first 20-20 Hockeyfest at the Sheffield Arena. The Steelers have had a poor start to the season winning only two of their first eight league games, so winning the Hockeyfest may get the ball rolling for them. The tournament featured all eight Elite League teams, with a total of seven games being played. The rules include, two twenty-minute running clock periods, instead of three twenty-minute stop clock periods. The quarterfinals were drawn on September 4th, with the losing teams exiting the competition. If the scores remained level after regulation, it would go to a sudden death penalty shootout with each team allowed one skater to take their team’s shots. The Steelers opened the proceedings with an 11am faceoff with local rivals the Hull Stingrays. Steelers claimed a 5-1 victory to ensure a flying start for the hosts. Amongst the scorers for Sheffield were Brad Cruikshank, Jonathan Phillips, Doug Sheppard, Joey Talbot and Jason Hewitt. The Stingrays’ Stephen Burns grabbed their only goal. 
The next game featured the Belfast Giants and the Cardiff Devils. Belfast were favourites to win before the game, but it was the underdogs from Wales who claimed bragging rights with a 3-2 win, after penalty shots. Pat Bateman and Evan Cheverie scored for Belfast, with Gerad Adams and a max Birbraer double sealing the win for the Devils. The next game was a somewhat more defensive game, with the Edinburgh Capitals taking on the much-improved Newcastle Vipers. It was the new-look Vipers who capitalised with Matus Petricko ensuring a 1-0 victory with just over a minute left in the game. The fourth quarterfinal saw the Coventry Blaze taking on the top of the table Nottingham Panthers. This was the surprise of the day with the Blaze winning by an emphatic margin of 6-0. The Blaze goals came from Greg Owen, Derek Campbell, Russ Cowley, Dan Carlson, Adam Calder, and Jonathan Weaver. The Panthers were favourites before the competition, signalling their intentions by bringing in former player Johan Molin from Sweden, for the tournament especially. The first semi final featured the Sheffield Steelers and fierce rivals the Cardiff Devils. Sheffield carried on their great tournament form with a 4-1 win over the Welsh outfit. Brad Cruikshank, Randy Dagenais, Jeff Legue and Joey Talbot all found the net for the hosts, with Tylor Michel scoring a consolation for the Devils. The second semi final featured the Coventry Blaze against the Newcastle Vipers. It was Paul Thompson’s Blaze who claimed victory by a score line of 3-2. This game was once again decided by penalty shots. Ryan Mahrle and Michael Berry scored for the Vipers, whilst captain Adam Calder’s penalty shot, and goals from Great Britain internationals Tom Watkins and Jonathan Weaver ensured Blaze a place in the final. The final faced off at 7pm with the hosts the Sheffield Steelers up against the Coventry Blaze. After forty minutes it was the Steelers lifting the cup after claiming a 3-2 victory. Kevin Bolibruck, Jeff Legue and Jason Hewitt netted for the Steelers, with Adam Calder and Dan Carlson scoring consolation efforts for the Blaze. The Sheffield Steelers played back-up netminder Dan Green throughout the tournament, as starting netminder Kevin Reiter sustained a groin injury from the previous weekends game against the Cardiff Devils. Dan Green earned huge plaudits for his displays in between the pipes, endearing him further to the Sheffield fans.
Dan Green (Photo courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
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