SHEFFIELD, U.K.- The Sheffield Steeldogs were stung by the Bracknell Bees after a punishing 8-1 loss, away at ‘The Hive’.
The Bees flew into action, securing their first goal of the game within the first 10 minutes. Marcel Petran fired the puck into the back of the net, past Steeldogs netminder, Dmitri Zimozdra, to begin the Bracknell onslaught.
Rob Lamey doubled the scoring at 10:21 on the PP as Steeldogs captain, Greg Wood, sat out a two minute minor penalty.
Bracknell further increased their lead to three as Alan Lack slotted the puck into the net for the home side at 23:53. Despite best efforts from the Steeldogs’ players, recording 14 shots on net in the second period, the Sheffield’s sharpshooters could not find a way past on-form Bracknell netminder, Tom Annetts.
Sheffield’s former EIHL defenceman, Derek Campbell, picked up a match penalty after fighting Bee’s James Galazzi while both players were making their way to the penalty box to serve minor roughing penalties.
The second period ended with the Bees dominating, 3-0.
In the opening four minutes of the third period, the Bees extended their goal tally to five. Two quick goals by Martin Masa and Jan Bendik, scored at 40:48 and 43:31 respectively, effectively ending any chance of a Steeldogs comeback.
With the score at 5-0, Zimozdra was replaced by youngster, Brad Day, for the second game in a row.
At 44:39, Andrew Hirst scored Sheffield’s one and only goal to make it 5-1.
Steeldog%2C Andrew Hirst%2C received the MOTM award after a shocking 8-1 defeat to the Bees (picture courtesy of the Sheffield Steeldogs)
After conceding minor penalties, Andre Payette and Pavel Gomeniuk were sent to the box, giving Bracknell a 5-3 PP. Lamey quickly took advantage of the situation, firing the puck past Day to record his second of the night and take the score to 6-1.
Moments later, Bracknell scored their seventh goal as Grant Rounding and Lukas Smital broke free of the Steeldogs defence. Rounding found himself in a perfect position to receive a pin-point pass from Smital before firing the puck into the roof of the net.
With six seconds left on the clock, the Bees scored their eighth goal. This time it was Shaun Thompson who provided the finish. Thompson’s shot appeared to be saved by Day, but the youngster fumbled the shot and the puck trickled into the back of the net.
The game ended with the Sheffield Steeldogs suffering an embarrassingly one-sided 8-1 defeat. After scoring the Steeldogs’ only goal, Andrew Hirst was awarded the MOTM.
After the game, Steeldogs coach, Andre Payette, said, “ It was a really tough weekend for us,”
“I am very disappointed with the results and they’re unacceptable,”
“We need to have a really hard week of practice and get ready for our two games next weekend,”
“We will see what our team is made of in the coming week.”
The Steeldogs will travel to Milton Keynes on Saturday Oct. 27. to face the Lightning before hosting last years League and Cup Champions, Guildford Flames, on Sunday Oct. 28.
Contact the author at ryan.laycock@prohockeynews.com
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