Friday, 2 February 2018

The Junior Report: Edition 15


Welcome to the latest Junior Report; an article penned by George - one of the blog's Junior Members. In this report, he looks back at the Challenge Cup Semi-Final first leg against Cardiff on Wednesday night.

The Steelers blew away the Cardiff devils in what was to be an excellent 6-2 performance in the first leg of the challenge cup semi final. The game being played at Ice Sheffield in front of a handful of fans was really good to watch, if you didn’t come from the Welsh capital that is. 

A great start to the night was courtesy of ex NHL’er Tim Wallace. Excellent skating down the wing broke through a lack lustre Cardiff defence and he sniped the Steelers into a one goal lead with a short handed marker. Minutes later, the Steelers doubled up! Good cycling of the puck around the zone ended up with Mark Matheson playing the puck across to Scott Aarssen whose thunderous one timer beat local lad Ben Bowns from the blue line, Bowns was in for what was to be a torrid night for him.

The Welsh side then halved the deficit. A Pope snipe beat Mustukovs high over the shoulder on the power play, to give them their first of the evening much to the delight of the devils fans who had made the three and a half hour trip down to sunny Attercliffe. They would cheer once more in the night, merely a consolation however. Before the end of the first period the Steelers gained another goal to give them a two goal lead on the night, Ben O’Connor with a slap shot from the blue line on a delayed penalty gave the Steelers a bit of breathing space along with a few people breathing a sigh of relief after the puck trickled past Bowns. 3-1 after one period.

The Steelers came out of the blocks very quickly. Mathieu Roy slotting in from very close range, gave the Steelers a three goal advantage. Tremendous work around the crease opened up a gap where all he had to do was slot it over the line with a simple tap in. 4-1. Steelers fifth came via Matt Marquardt who again had a simple task of redirecting the puck underneath the five hole of Bowns. The Steelers were yet again relentless, but you have to ask questions of this normally excellent Cardiff side. 5-1 end of the second.

The Steelers then added another, through Levi Nelson. Excellent skating by Jonathan Phillips opened up the back door we’re all Nelson had to do was simply tap it in, it went to a review but it was plain and simple. A clear goal although Cardiff were claiming the puck had gone into the net whilst the net was off, it was just a mere claim that did nothing to the outcome. 6-1. The Devils got their consolation with a short handed goal that was fired past Mustukovs via Haddad, the Steelers will want this one back however. A bit of a mix up at the back costing us, but hopefully it will mean nothing after the 7th of February. 

Half time in this one, Steelers 6-2 Devils.


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