Friday 28th September 2012



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.

The 5-4 victory over Belfast completed a successful 4 point weekend for the Steelers. On Saturday they overcame fierce rival Nottingham in a 3-2 road victory before further success 24 hours later against last years league champions.


Steelers score. Forward Ashley Tait, left, scores the Steelers 2nd against the Giants.

You would have had long odds on the game going to overtime when Steven Goertzen made it 4-1 to the Steelers in the 27th minute.

Ryan Finnerty's side was in complete control of the game and playing their best hockey of the season. Rod Sarich had given the Steelers the lead inside 3 minutes, though the Giants did hit immediately back through Greg Stewart.

Ashley Tait scored for the third game running to have the Steelers ahead again by the first break. Then two quick strikes by Legue and Goertzen had the Steelers comfortably ahead.

An error by Rod Sarich though in the 36th minute, gave the Giants a glimpse with Scott Champagne scoring a 2nd for Belfast. With that came a momentum change and this was harnessed even further just 30 seconds into the 3rd period when former NHL'er Noah Clarke brought the game back to 4-3.

The Steelers were on the back foot as the Giants pressed looking for the equaliser. It was only a matter of time before Sam Roberts levelled with 10 minutes still to go. Those final minuted ebbed and flowed with both sides going close.

Overtime couldn't separate the sides so the inevitable penalty shot shoot out began. John DeCaro who just seven days ago, seemed under so much pressure, became the Steelers key player, first of all stopping Craig Peacocks penalty shot. Steelers Colin Shields looked confident scoring past Stephen Murphy and when DeCaro denied Scott Champagne it set up the chance for Jeff Legue to win it for the Steelers.

Legue pulled several deaks before finally slotting the puck past Murphy to send the Steelers faithful home totally entertained and thoroughly drained.

Game winning hero Jeff Legue was delighted with the final outcome "I think we deserved the win" he said "we dominated the game early on keeping things very simple. We worked hard for our goals and I didn't think the 4-1 lead flattered us at all. 

"Saying that, it was a different Belfast that came at us after that. The 4-2 goal changed things, once they scored that one they had belief and threw everything at us. We perhaps sat back a little too much and got ourselves caught out.

"I think we were confident in the shoot out. Johnny (DeCaro) played great and didn't give the Giants' shooters any chance at all. When Colin, scored I knew I would have a chance to win it. I wanted to finish it there and then. The ice was bad and I didn't really want to make as many moves as I ended up doing but in the end I got it past Murphy and I guess the rest is history.

"I'm sure we will look back at the game and say we shouldn't have surrendered a 4-1 lead, and it's right we shouldn't have. Saying that, there were far more positives out of this game and the weekend than negatives, and I think we will focus more on those."

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