We face the invaders Fife Flyers on Saturday 21st December for our first ever Star Wars night! Get tickets here, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 19:00.

You Goodwin Group Manchester Storm were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by rivals Sheffield Steelers, as the Yorkshire side triumphed 8-5 across the two legs. 

The opening period of play was surprisingly sedate, with the hosts coming into this encounter with only four defencemen and trailing by three goals from the 1st leg of the competition. As a result of the defensive shortage, forward Hope continued to provide cover on the blueline. It was a pretty play from the Storm that eventually broke the deadlock at 15:49, with an excellent cross-ice fed from Ehrhardt converted by Hughesman. This goal reduced the aggregate advantage to 5-3, in favour of the Steelers, with two periods to play. 

The second stanza continued in a similar fashion, as the hosts pressed hard to reduce their handicap. However, a classy finish from Dowd at 33:53 restored Sheffield’s three-goal cushion. Despite this, the hosts maintained an aggressive forecheck and benefited from a fortuitous ricochet of the puck. Samuelsson was able to find Thompson, who fired the puck past Duba. This goal levelled things going into the final period at 2-2, with Sheffield holding the 6-4 aggregate lead.

It didn’t take long for the Steelers to restore their three-goal cushion in the final period. A one-timer from Connolly was sweetly struck, as it blew by Ginn in the Storm goal at 45:59. The visitors aggregate lead was extended further throughl Davies, as his well-placed wrist shot gave Sheffield more than enough breathing room with under five minutes remaining.

A consolation goal from Tyson Fawcett at 58:23 was only enough to bring the tie the second leg, as the Steelers held on for an 8-5 aggregate win.

Man of the Match: Cody Thompson (Storm) & Robert Dowd (Steelers)

We face the invaders Fife Flyers on Saturday 21st December for our first ever Star Wars night! Get tickets here, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 19:00.