Welcome to a condensed report of all three Super Final games played in Minsk.
The tournament began on Friday, and in the opening game the hosts defeated Ritten 2-1 thanks to a couple of early first period, this meant that the Steelers were in action in the later game naturally. The game couldn't have started any worse though as Astana took the lead with less than two minutes played. Midway through the period, Steelers were given a five minute major when Astana's Ilya Kovzalov was dispatched for kneeing Robert Dowd which left the Steelers winger on crutches when he left the rink at the end of the game. Unfortunately no further scoring ensued in the game that period but Steelers suffered a further blow in the opening stages of period two as Astana scored a second.
This second period saw the Steelers have the best of it with the shot count and also with numerous powerplay opportunities; yet they couldn't find the goal that they deserved. Penalty problems hit the Steelers in the opening minute of the final period as both Andreas Jämtin and Davey Phillips picked up minor penalties within 24 seconds of each other. Alas this proved the final undoing as Astana scored on both the 5 on 3 and the 5 on 4 advantages to make it 4-0. A further powerplay strike made it 5-0 at 48:34 but the Kazahkstani netminder was denied his shutout with just over five minutes to go as Steelers got their eventual reward; Eric Neiley scoring his first goal for the Steelers and assisted by Andreas Valdix. There was no additional goals from thereafter, Steelers losing game one 5-1 and now facing a real uphill battle to win the tournament.
Game two, and a rematch with the hosts Yunost Minsk whom inflicted a 7-1 loss on the Steelers when they met in the Rungsted semi-final. Steelers were without Dowd and Miika Franssila who were both injured in the Astana game, so had to reshuffle their pack completely. Like the opening game, Steelers suffered an early blow as Minsk were on the board before three and half minutes showing on the clock. When they added a second just shy of the nine minute mark; many would have thought here we go again but Steelers bounced back to restore parity by the end of the first period thanks to a double from Mathieu Roy which was to set the stage for the rest of the game.
Minsk went ahead again in the opening stages of period two, but again Steelers refused to buckle and within 90 seconds of the Minsk third goal: they'd drawn back level thanks to a goal from Mark Matheson. The home side dominated that period in terms of shots on goal but Steelers were still in there, could they squeak the win this gutsy performance deserved? Another early goal in period three handed Minsk a 4-3 lead but Steelers again rallied to level at 4-4 with just under eight minutes left thanks to the ever talismanic Levi Nelson. The game was anyone's now and moments after Steelers had seen off a Zack Fitzgerald minor, Minsk managed to prise open the door for 5-4 with just under two and a half minutes left. Steelers pushed on but couldn't get a fifth to force overtime and a valiant performance ended in a heartbreaking loss. An absolutely heartbreaking end to a superb team showing.
The third and final game of the tournament for the Steelers came on Sunday, at noon British time as they entertained well known Italian side Ritten Renon who had pushed both Yunost and Astana close in their two games. They had taken Yunost to a penalty shootout so started the game against the Steelers one point better off than Paul Thompson's battered and bruised team. Could the Steelers make one final push and take a maximum point haul?
The game was tense as you expected and it took until nearly 15 minutes before the first penalty was called. It was against Ritten and after working their opponents for a minute or so, Steelers profited with Swede Andreas Jämtin getting the decisive touch to beat former Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Patrick Killeen in the opposing goal. However Steelers ran into a spot of penalty trouble either side of the period break, but they were solid as a rock and denied the Italians. This spurred the team on further and they doubled the lead with just under six minute and a half minutes left in that second period. Ben O'Connor and Matt Marquardt creating the opportunity for Jonas Westerling to finish. Whatever Ritten threw at the Steelers it was repelled with interest as Steelers continued to control proceedings. In the end Steelers saw them off and shut the door on their opponents for a much deserved win and the bronze medal which could have been much, much more if bits of luck had gone the team's way.
Game two, and a rematch with the hosts Yunost Minsk whom inflicted a 7-1 loss on the Steelers when they met in the Rungsted semi-final. Steelers were without Dowd and Miika Franssila who were both injured in the Astana game, so had to reshuffle their pack completely. Like the opening game, Steelers suffered an early blow as Minsk were on the board before three and half minutes showing on the clock. When they added a second just shy of the nine minute mark; many would have thought here we go again but Steelers bounced back to restore parity by the end of the first period thanks to a double from Mathieu Roy which was to set the stage for the rest of the game.
Minsk went ahead again in the opening stages of period two, but again Steelers refused to buckle and within 90 seconds of the Minsk third goal: they'd drawn back level thanks to a goal from Mark Matheson. The home side dominated that period in terms of shots on goal but Steelers were still in there, could they squeak the win this gutsy performance deserved? Another early goal in period three handed Minsk a 4-3 lead but Steelers again rallied to level at 4-4 with just under eight minutes left thanks to the ever talismanic Levi Nelson. The game was anyone's now and moments after Steelers had seen off a Zack Fitzgerald minor, Minsk managed to prise open the door for 5-4 with just under two and a half minutes left. Steelers pushed on but couldn't get a fifth to force overtime and a valiant performance ended in a heartbreaking loss. An absolutely heartbreaking end to a superb team showing.
The third and final game of the tournament for the Steelers came on Sunday, at noon British time as they entertained well known Italian side Ritten Renon who had pushed both Yunost and Astana close in their two games. They had taken Yunost to a penalty shootout so started the game against the Steelers one point better off than Paul Thompson's battered and bruised team. Could the Steelers make one final push and take a maximum point haul?
The game was tense as you expected and it took until nearly 15 minutes before the first penalty was called. It was against Ritten and after working their opponents for a minute or so, Steelers profited with Swede Andreas Jämtin getting the decisive touch to beat former Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Patrick Killeen in the opposing goal. However Steelers ran into a spot of penalty trouble either side of the period break, but they were solid as a rock and denied the Italians. This spurred the team on further and they doubled the lead with just under six minute and a half minutes left in that second period. Ben O'Connor and Matt Marquardt creating the opportunity for Jonas Westerling to finish. Whatever Ritten threw at the Steelers it was repelled with interest as Steelers continued to control proceedings. In the end Steelers saw them off and shut the door on their opponents for a much deserved win and the bronze medal which could have been much, much more if bits of luck had gone the team's way.
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