Monday 17th October 2011


Sheffield Steelers disappointed a crowd of over 6,500 on Sunday evening with a lacklustre performance against the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup.

The Steelers took two early penalties with Nottingham advantage scoring on both power plays through player coach Corey Neilson and Guy Lepine 

The middle period didn't get better for Ryan Finnerty's side with youngster Robert Lachowicz scoring a third.



It was all too much for Steelers winger Colt King who immediately challenged Lepine at the restart and the two traded serious heavyweight punches in a brawl that had the largest crowd of the season on their feet with King the clear winner.

It was little consolation for Finnerty though, who then saw his side go 4 down to a stunning solo effort from David Clarke with just over 5 minutes remaining.

It was left to Finnerty to break Craig Kowalski's shut over with just over 3 minutes on the clock. Tom Squires scored a further strike for the Steelers but it was all too little too late as the Panthers picked up two valuable Challenge Cup points.

What the coach said...

Ryan Finnerty was fuming after the Steelers 4-2 home defeat to the Nottingham Panthers on Sunday, "We let everyone down this evening! We had a huge crowd who came to see us perform and we didn't. We were out worked and that is what hurts the most.

"You don't get out worked in your own building, you don't get out competed but we did, we just never got into the game.

"We took two early penalties and the Panthers were sharp and took advantage. From then on we were chasing the game.

"We just carried far too many passengers tonight and it hurts me to say that. I never thought a Steelers side would get out worked the way we did. I'm sorry to the fans, they deserved better, they were loud, behind us and you could feel them willing us on."

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