SHEFFIELD – A crowd of well over 4000 fans packed into the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield hotly anticipating a great matchup between all-star teams from the USA and Canada all in aid of two great charities.
The Super Series UK game was a big hit in Sheffield.
It’s the first time the event has been held in the UK after previously being called the Ice Hockey Classic. The event, which has been played in Australia, New Zealand and Germany for the past seven years, is the brain child of NHL veteran Keith Primeau and former European professional Kerry Goulet.
Since its inception, the event has raised over $1 million dollars in aid of Stop Concussions Foundation which is designed to educate players, coaches, officials and health professionals on the cause, effects and consequences of concussions and brain injuries, not only in ice hockey but all sports.
After a hard fought, entertaining game, Canada ran out the eventual winners with a 5-4 victory, kicking off the series before it heads ‘Down under’ to Australia in June.
Both teams exchanged early chances, but it was the Canadians who broke the deadlock with Tyler Gron firing a low wristshot past AHL veteran netminder John Muse after just 50 seconds.
Team USA rallied and soon came close with an effort from Brandon McQuinn being thwarted by former Ottawa Senator netminder Chris Driedger in the third minute.
Former Manchester Storm fan favourite Eric Neilson came close after he re-directed a Kevin Bieksa shot over the bar in the fifth minute.
Muse was much the busier netminder in the opening period foiling several attempts including efforts from Kevin Bieksa and Tyler Gron yet again.
Team USA levelled the game at 18:00 with Rob Schremp providing a sublime pass to Coventry Blaze captain Kevin Morris who fired top shelf blocker side past Driedger.
Canada regained the lead just over a minute later when former Belfast Giant David Rutherford saw his effort saved but his rebound fell nicely to linemate Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who made no mistake and fired it home from close range past Muse at 19:04.
Both teams came out firing in the second period, but it was the Canadians who extended their lead when KHL’er Karl Stollery found himself on a breakaway and netted a sublime finish on the backhand, top shelf past Muse to make it 3-1 at 24:03.
KHL star Karl Stollery adds a third for Canada (Image courtesy of Mick Johnson).
With momentum in their favour, the Canadians added a fourth goal courtesy of 752 game NHL veteran René Borque who fired a low wrist shot past Muse just over three minutes later.
At 31:08 the impressive Rylan Schwartz was denied on a breakaway by USA netminder John Muse.
Just 61 seconds later, Team USA grabbed a second goal courtesy of the silky-smooth former Edmonton Oiler, Rob Schremp. The 32-year-old centreman fired a stunning wristshot high past Driedger with an assist on the play going to USA captain Tim Stapleton.
No further scoring followed, ensuring the Canadians went into the period break, the happier of the two sides.
It took just 31 seconds for the Americans to bring the game to within a goal when T.J. Brennan one-timed high past Driedger after a pin-point accurate pass from Schremp.
Canada extended their lead with little over 6 minutes of the game remaining when Rylan Schwartz backhanded from close range past a sprawling John Muse to make it 5-3.
With little over three minutes of the game remaining, Team USA opted to pull netminder Muse in favour of an extra attacker in desperate hope to claw their way back into the game.
At 57:33 David Rutherford picked up the only penalty of the game as he sat for a tripping minor. Rutherford had barely sat down when Brennan netted his second of the night on the powerplay just over 10 seconds later with another exceptional pass from Rob Schremp, who would go on to take the MVP of the game for Team Canada.
Trailing by a goal and with Muse on the bench, USA pressed looking to equalise but it wasn’t to be as the clock ticked down and the buzzer sounded, ensuring the Canadians took the honours and bragging rights on the evening with a 5-4 victory.
Canada netminder Chris Driedger would go on to collect the MVP for his team after an excellent performance in between the pipes, much to the delight of the FlyDSA Arena crowd who applauded the netminding display enthusiastically.
‘Canada netminder Chris Driedger collected the MVP after an outstanding performance (Image courtesy of Mick Johnson).
Team Canada captain Kevin Bieksa, spoke about the result after the game, “The atmosphere was great tonight. It was a very cool arena which looks like it has a lot of history. When you play in a game like this it is for the charity, for a great cause. That is why we are all here to raise money for concussion research. A lot of us have had concussions, and a lot of us have friends who have had careers ended short due to them,” Bieksa explained.
“When the game starts you want to win. You go out there and have fun for a bit, but you get a little bit competitive and want to win so to come out with a win, it feels great,” Bieksa concluded.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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All images by Michael.Johnson@prohockeynews.com
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