Wednesday 26th September 2012



What a Saturday night for the Sheffield Steelers in Nottingham! Firstly a great 3-2 victory on the road, a great return to the NIC for former Panthers Captain Danny Meyeres and then forward Ashley Tait breaks the EIHL scoring record with the game winning goal!



Steelers opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, Jason Hewitt (above) beating Kowalski from close range. Ashley Tait assisted, a point that took him to 511 Elite League points, tied for first place with former team mate Dan Carlson.

Jeff Legue extended the lead 5 minutes into the 2nd period and with Panthers coach Cory Neilson sat in the penalty box, Tait added a 3rd at 34.34 a goal that set a new EIHL record of 512 points.

The Panthers did fight back in the final period. Mathew Myers scored a powerplay goal at 44.26 and then as Nottingham pushed in one last effort, Eric Werner scored short handed to have the Steelers on the edge of their seats for the final 2 minutes.

Head coach Ryan Finnerty said "I'm delighted to have won. I thought we played a solid game. Sure we sat back at the end and let Nottingham have a sniff, we will learn that you can't play that way against them.

"Overall I was delighted though. John DeCaro played a strong game and kept us in it at times. He made some big saves, then at the other end we had a huge night out of Steven Goertzen, Ashley Tait bags the game winner with his record break point and guys just contributed in every way. Colin Shields had two fights for the team tonight, every guy did their Steelers duty. I was very proud."



Ashley Tait (above centre) entered the EIHL record books with another 2 point night, these 2 points, an assist of Jason Hewitts first goal and a powerplay strike of his own though, took the 37 year old forward to the top of the leagues all time scoring list.

"I'm very proud of this, I don't know how long the record will last but I'm proud to be the guy on the top right now" said Tait minutes after leaving the NIC ice in Nottingham.

"It's funny how things work out. I started playing my hockey here in Nottingham, for me to break the record as a Steeler here against the Panthers I guess does make it extra special. If you would have asked me before the game I would have said that I didn't care how the points would come, but now I couldn't be happier that the record point was a goal and a game winner here to boot.

"The assist to equal Dan Carlson's record was a simple one, a simple pass to Hewey (Jason Hewitt) and he did all the work to score.

"The goal was a little different, a battle to get the puck and a scramble to get it past Kowalski. When it went in I didn't think record, I just thought 3-0 Steelers, then moments later it came to me, 'wow that's the record'. I just grabbed the puck, it's one I will want to keep.

"The key tonight was 2 points in the game. I was keen my situation wasn't a distraction to the team. Winning the game was more important than my points."

Head coach Ryan Finnerty paid compliments to Tait saying "What an achievement. He has been at the top of his game for so many years. He still is the ultimate competitor. He has scored in out last three games. It shows what a leader he is on the ice.

"To be honest, it also shows you what a great bunch of guys we have here. Our player breaks an EIHL record and most of us didn't realise until after the game, we were all that focused on winning. I was proud to be Ashley's line mate and team mate as a player and now I'm equally proud to be his coach. An incredible night for him, especially against his old team, to break the record the way he did - it was a fairytale for him."

RECENT STORIES

STEELERS HIT 4 WITHOUT REPLY TO BEAT THE DEVILS -
The Steelers staged a stunning come back in Wales trailing 4-1 after 23 minutes but eventually beating out the Cardiff Devils 5-4. More...

STEELERS THROUGH TO 2014 CHALLENGE CUP FINAL -
The Sheffield Steelers progressed to the final of the 2014 Challenge Cup with a character 4-2 'come from behind' victory over the Braehead Clan. More...

STEELERS WIFE RUNS LONDON MARATHON FOR TEAM BLUEBELL -
Heather Finnerty, wife of the Sheffield Steelers coach Ryan, is pulling on her trainers and running the London Marathon for local children's hospice, Bluebell Wood. More...

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN STEELERS MAKE TEAM GB FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS-
Rod Sarich makes his National Team debut when Team GB, with 6 other Steelers, head to Japan for Olympic qualifiers More...

STEELERS 2, GIANTS 1 MATCH REPORT -
Tom Sestito made a home debut he will remember with a goal, an assist and a fight as the Steelers came from behind to beat the Belfast Giants More...

STEELERS SIGN SESTITO FROM PHILLY FLYERS -
Ryan Finnerty has confirmed that the Sheffield Steelers have signed NHL power forward Tom Sestito for the duration of the NHL lockout. More...

"UNACCEPTABLE" SAYS FINNERTY AS STEELERS LOSE TO THE BLAZE -
Despite leading 2-0 and looking comfortable at the end of the first period, the Sheffield Steelers collapsed in the final 40 minutes and went down 4-3 to the Coventry Blaze on Sunday. More...

STEELERS EDGE THE BELFAST GIANTS IN A
CRACKER -
Steelers forward Jeff Legue sent 4,000 Steelers fans home happy scoring the all important penalty shot winner against the Belfast Giants last Sunday evening. More..

JORGENSEN JOINS THE STEELERS -
Ryan Finnerty has moved quickly to acquire the services of former Braehead Clan defenceman, James Jorgensen. More...

5 STEELERS IN GB SQUAD, BUT DECARO LEAVES -
Steelers Captain Jonathan Phillips heads a Sheffield contingent that headed to Slovenia on Saturday with the Great Britain national side competing in the World Championships. More...

IS 1 POINT ENOUGH FOR THE STEELERS? -
Mike Bayrack scored the winner for Braehead Clan 3 minutes into overtime as the Clan beat the Steelers 4-3 in Glasgow last night More...

WOOLHOUSE LEADS STEELERS TO VICTORY -
Steelers' Keeper Geoff Woolhouse stopped 22 third period shots, 38 in all, as the Steelers beat the Hull Stingrays 2-1 on Saturday evening. More...

4 POINT WEEKEND FOR THE STEELERS AGAINST THE SCOTS -
Sheffield Steelers came from behind to beat the Fife Flyers 5-3 in Scotland on Saturday evening, but thrashed Edinburgh 7-0 at home on Sunday More...

STEELERS INCREDIBLE COMEBACK VICTORY OVER BLAZE -
Mike Ramsay led the Steelers to an incredible comeback victory against the Coventry Blaze on Sunday. More...

FINNERTY DISAPPOINTED DESPITE VICTORY -
"It was embarrassing at times, in fact almost farcical. I went past being annoyed at one time and just laughed", said Steelers Coach Finnerty. More...

NO COMPLACENCY FOR FINNERTY'S STEELERS -
Steeler's Boss Ryan Finnerty today warned his team of against thinking ahead to Sundays top of the table clash with Belfast. More...

STEELERS MAKE IT 7 STRAIGHT WINS -
Steelers make it 10 OT wins this season with player coach Ryan Finnerty leading the way with 2 goals. More...

STEELERS SEE OFF STARS AND SIGN NEW D-MAN DUFF -
Luke Fulghum scored twice for the Steelers on the way to a 3-1 victory over the Dundee Stars and also confirmed the signing of new D Man Nick Duff. More...

6 POINT WEEKEND FOR THE STEELERS -
3 Wins in 3 Nights for the Sheffield Steelers, after road wins in Coventry, Fife and Edinburgh on Friday, Saturday and Sunday More...

FULGHUM BRACE BEATS THE BLAZE -
Luke Fulghum was the Steelers hero on New Years Day scoring twice against his former side in a 6-3 victory in front of 4500 home fans More...

STEELERS FAIL THE PANTHERS TEST -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers suffered a reality check with back to back defeats in their festive games against arch rivals Nottingham More...

COACH HAILS 'CHARACTER WIN' -
Sheffield Steelers came back in dramatic fashion in Fife to claim two of the most unlikely points of the season. More...

RAMSAY STINGS THE STINGRAYS WITH OVERTIME WINNER -
Mike Ramsay scored the overtime winner 24 seconds into the extra period for the Steelers in Hull on Sunday to complete a 4 point weekend for Ryan Finnerty's men. More...

STEELERS SIGN D MAN TRUDEL -
The Steelers have moved quickly for defensive cover following the season ending injury to Rod Sarich by signing 28 year old Francis Trudel. More...

DISAPPOINTING END TO STEELERS' EUROPEAN JOURNEY -
Steelers ended their Continental Cup experience with a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Hungarian champions Dunaujveros Bull's. More...

"FRUSTRATED, DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET" FINNERTY -
Head coach Ryan Finnerty said he was frustrated, disappointed and upset after the Steelers 3-0 loss to Herning on Saturday evening. More...

STEELERS AWAIT CLARIFICATION ON ROD SARICH -
Rod Sarich spent time in hospital following the Steelers 3-2 victory against the Nottingham Panthers on Sunday night. More...

BRAEHEAD CLAN 2, SHEFFIELD STEELERS 4. MATCH REPORT -
A 2nd period burst from the Steelers that saw them score 3 within the first 7 minutes cemented this win. More...

A SPLIT WEEKEND BUT STEELERS STILL IN CHALLENGE CUP -
The Sheffield Steelers' Challenge Cup hopes remained in place after a 2-1 home victory over the Hull Stingrays on Sunday evening. More...

DOUBLE WIN KEEPS DOUBLE ALIVE -
The Sheffield Steelers recorded two more wins over the weekend that kept their hopes of both league and challenge cup success. More...

STEELERS SHUT OUT THE BLAZE TO IN A 4 POINT WEEKEND -
The UNISON Sheffield Steelers moved into 2nd place in the league standings after a 4 point weekend with victories over Dundee and at Coventry More...

STEELERS 'BOUNCEBACKABILITY' KEEPS THEM IN THE CHALLENGE CUP -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers bounced back from a 3-0 defeat in Nottingham on Saturday to beat the Cardiff Devils 5-3 More...

STEELERS 2, PANTHERS 4. MATCH REPORT -
Sheffield Steelers disappointed a crowd of over 6,500 with a lacklustre performance against the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup. More...

HUGE WIN FOR THE SHEFFIELD STEELERS IN CARDIFF -
After coming from behind to tie the Blaze 2-2 in the Challenge Cup game on Saturday, Ryan Finnerty's beat Cardiff on Sunday extending their winning streak to 5 games. More...

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE WON THE CHALLENGE CUP - STEELER'S BULL DOG HEWITT -
The Unison Sheffield Steelers commence their Challenge Cup campaign this weekend with a home game against Coventry Blaze, Saturday More...

STEELERS 6 - COVENTRY BLAZE 4. MATCH REPORT -
A big second period set up an outstanding 6-4 victory for the Steelers against the Coventry Blaze on Saturday night. More...

STEELERS CAPTAIN JONO UNDERGOES SURGERY -
Sheffield Steelers Captain Jonathan Phillips has undergone surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments. More...

NOW IT'S 3 OUT OF 3 FOR THE STEELERS! -
Steelers forward Neil Clark bagged another 2 goals as the Sheffield Steelers made it 3 wins out of 3 with a gutsy performance in Hull on Sunday evening. More...

2 OUT OF 2 FOR THE STEELERS -
The Steelers made it two wins out of two with a 4-1 home opening victory against the Dundee Stars on Saturday evening at the Motorpoint Arena. More...

CLARK GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR HOME OPENER -
Power forward Neil Clark is expected back in the Steelers line up for Saturdays home opener against Dundee Stars More...

A WINNING START FOR THE CHAMPIONS -
A very tight low scoring encounter to open the season in Belfast with the visiting Steelers taking the extra point thanks to a shootout win More...