Wednesday 4th January 2012


New Years Day: Sheffield Steelers 6 - 3 Coventry Blaze

Luke Fulghum (below) was the Steelers hero on New Years Day scoring twice against his former side in a 6-3 victory played out in front of 4500 fans at the Motorpoint (Sheffield) Arena.



Steelers started sprightly and were ahead after just two and a half minutes when Colt King scored an individual goal having split the Blaze defence open.

Bryan Jurynec levelled in the 9th minute before Fulghum scored his first of the night to have the Steelers ahead at the first break.

Steelers came out and dominated the open exchange in the middle period with first Fulghum and then Legue scoring. The game seemed over with the result in no doubt but, in recent weeks, Coventry have shown that they are no push over.

After calling an immediate time out after the 4th Steelers goal Coventry pegged Sheffield back. Owen Fussy scored a power-play strike and the Steelers rode their luck as the period expired.

The next goal was always going to be important and on a delayed penalty against Blaze Captain Jonathan Weaver, Matt Stephenson beat the outstanding Peter Hirsch to put the Steelers 5-2 ahead.

Within 3 minutes though, the Blaze had narrowed the advantage with Greg Owen scoring.

With just 10 minutes left all was to play for, but relief came when Francis Trudel found Mike Ramsay on a break away and with it, the Steelers 6th goal.

The Steelers now move clear into 3rd place in the standings, 9 points behind leaders Belfast but with 6 games in hand.

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