The Steelers were in town on New Year’s Day for the annual winter classic game. The Steelers currently sit top of the league and are on an impressive ten game win streak.

A high energy start by both teams produced an end to end start to the game, with both teams creating good scoring chances. It was the Storm who struck first when Critchlow one timed a wrist shot past Greenfield, assisted by Johnson’s pin point pass from behind the net.

The Steelers replied not long after on a 5 v 3 powerplay. Mosey beat Lavigne after the Steelers powerplay unit wore down the Storm’s defense with some good passing plays. Carter restored the lead when Greenfield spilled a rebound which fell kindly to him in the slot, and the Canadian took full advantage with a well placed shot in to the roof of the net.

Just twelve seconds later the Steelers equalised through Latal’s unassisted drive to the net beating Lavigne with a shot on his back hand. A tempestuous first period ended all square. The Steelers drew first blood in the second with an early goal from Ciampini just fifteen seconds in on the powerplay. Ex Sheffield man DeLuca quickly replied with a well taken marker assisted by Bricknell to make it three apiece. Both net minders were kept busy in the mid stages of the period making some impressive saves to keep things level.

Simmonds put the Storm ahead towards the end of the period only for Dowd to respond, once again, for the Steelers almost immediately. It took until the mid way point of the third for the deadlock to be broken in the Steelers favour. Connolly put the puck past Lavigne after a scrappy play in front of the net saw a rebound land kindly on to the forwards stick.

With only a minute left in the game the Storm called a time out and pulled Lavigne in favour of an extra forward to try and draw level. Despite their best efforts the Storm couldn’t find a way back and the Steelers took the points.