SHEFFIELD, U.K.- It was a disappointing evening for the Sheffield Steeldogs on Tuesday Mar. 13 as they were beaten 6-3 at home against the Guildford Flames in the first leg of the EPL Cup Final.
Despite the loss, Steeldogs player/coach, Andre Payette, will be proud with the way his team conducted themselves in what was their first ever cup final appearance.
The packed home crowd at Ice Sheffield saw a fast paced start to the first period with both teams striving to open the scoring.
Despite the tremendous home support for the Steeldogs, it was the league and cup table leaders, Guildford Flames, who opened the scoring. After just 2:40, a goal from ex-Cardiff Devils forward, Matt Towe, gave Guildford the lead.
It was a feisty contest between the two sides which saw scuffles and exchanges between players throughout.
At 6:38, Sheffield’s leading goal and point scorer, Janis Ozolins, was ejected from the game with a five plus game penalty for high sticks after a collision with Guildford’s Neil Liddiard. After receiving treatment off ice, Liddiard returned minutes later.
The Flames capitalised during the five minute powerplay. At 6:51, Nathan Rempel made it 2-0 to Guildford. At 7:30, Guildford had another goal disallowed for having a man in the crease. Guildford’s David Savage further increased his team’s lead to three at 10:05.
Just as the powerplay expired and the Steeldogs returned to full strength, Jozef Kohut made it four for the flames at 11:40.
After the fourth goal was conceded, Andre Payette promptly called a timeout in the hopes of rallying his troops and getting his side back into the game.
Payette’s team talk seemed to have worked as he pulled a goal back himself at 18:26. Payette’s powerplay goal lifted his team and it wasn’t long until the Steeldogs found themselves on the score-sheet again. With three seconds left in the first period, Pavel Gomeniuk’s deflected shot brought the Steeldogs to within two goals.
The first period ended 4-2 to the Guildford Flames, with the Steeldogs hot on their trail.
Despite no scoring in the first 10 minutes of the second period, it started the same as the first with some feisty, fast-paced, end to end hockey on display.
The Steeldogs took the initiative in the second period, applying sustained pressure on the Flames defence and recording numerous goal scoring opportunities. Despite their efforts, Payette and his men could not find a way past back-up netminder, James Hadfield.
At 35:55, Guildford increased their lead to three through ex-Coventry Blaze forward, Greg Chambers to make it 5-2 to the visiting side.
The Steeldogs may have been down, but they were definitely not out, as they continued their offensive pressure in the third period. Hadfield remained defiant, shutting out 14 out of 15 good goal scoring opportunities for the Steeldogs.
Despite the Steeldogs taking control in the third, it was the Flames who found the twine first in the third period. At 55:09, Guildford forward, Ben Campbell, made it 6-2.
Minutes later, Andre Payette claimed his second goal of the night at 57:50 on the powerplay.
Andre Payette%27s two goals keeps his team in Cup contention (Picture Courtesy of the Sheffield Steeldogs)
The game finished 6-3 to the Guildford Flames. Sheffield’s Pavel Gomeniuk was given the MOTM award. Guildford’s Hadfield was awarded MOTM for his performance, stopping 38 out of 41 shots.
Although he will be disappointed with the result, Payette will be proud of the passion and determination his team showed throughout the game. The second leg of the EPL Cup final takes place in Guildford on Mar. 28, and the Steeldogs player/coach will be optimistic that if they perform with the intensity as the home leg, they could get a winning result and bring home the trophy.
Attentions will return to the league, however, as the Steeldogs face local rivals, Manchester Phoenix, at home on Mar. 17.
Contact the author at ryan.laycock@prohockeynews.com
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