NEXT HOME GAME: The Go Goodwins Manchester Storm face the Dundee Stars at the Storm Shelter this Saturday (6.30pm face-off). Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here, calling the box office on 08700 852 929 or direct at the box office.

A thrilling end to end game of ice hockey between the Manchester Storm and Sheffield Steelers saw the Yorkshiremen skate away with the 2 points, in a penalty riddled game of EIHL action in Altrincham, on a cold Wednesday night!

The first period saw the Storm weather an onslaught of attacks from the well-rested Steelers, as they pushed for the opening goal. This however went to the home side, when Grant Toulmin blasted one past Steelers goalie, Marec Pinc, inside the first 4 minutes of the game, whilst on the power play, to send the Storm Shelter wild!

This however was the beginning of a tough period for the Storm as they had not one, but five consecutive penalties to deal with, leading to over 4minutes of playing 3 on 5 hockey. Try as they might, the Steelers were unable to pop one past Kalemba in the Storm goal, until the dying moments of the 3 on 5, when Jason Hewitt bagged the Yorkshiremen’s opening goal.

Things began to ease up for the Storm, with the Steelers taking two penalties in quick succession, however the Storm were caught short and Fredrik Vestberg netted the Steelers second goal, to score short-handed. The period closed out with the Storm giving all they had to find an equaliser before the buzzer, but they were just unable to find a way past Pinc.

The second period began with Steelers dominating the play, causing the Storm to be playing in their own end for much longer than they would have wanted. As the period progressed, the Storm’s play became much more fluid, but the Steelers were however able to add another goal onto their tally, when Luke Ferrara scored with just 5 minutes to go in the midle period, meaning it was all to do for the Storm in the third.

The third saw the Storm come flying out of the locker room, pumped and ready to go! Shots were being fired in from the left, right, and centre onto the Steelers net with Pinc pulling off some superb saves in the Sheffield net. The effort was rewarded however when Matt Sisca bagged his 29th goal of the season to bring the Storm within 1 of the Steelers. The Steelers continued to struggle with the onslaught of pressure the Storm were throwing their way, and took 2 quick penalties to go down to 3 men. The Storm set up their power play and let rip with a barrage of shots, until Matt Sisca, creeping up the side of the net, pounced on a loose puck and shot home to send the Shelter wild to make it was a tied game, 3 all!

The Storm continued to push hard for goal number 4, cheered on by the big & equally loud Storm home crowd, and seemed good to score, until the officials made a couple of calls on the Storm that had the crowd & indeed the Storm bench livid. Despite the valiant efforts of the Storm’s D, and Zane Kalemba pulling off some fantastic saves, the writing was on the wall as Jeff Legue bagged his first of the night, and the Steelers 4th with just 1 minute left to play.

The clock finally ran out, and the Steelers and their traveling fans celebrated while the Storm fans could only take solace in the fact that playoff rivals Coventry Blaze were also beaten this evening by the Nottingham Panthers. All in all, a fantastic evening’s entertainment, and the atmosphere inside the Storm Shelter was something else this evening. We look forward to seeing you all again this coming Saturday for our crucial home game against conference rivals, Dundee Stars. (18.30pm Face-Off)

FINAL SCORE: Manchester Storm 3 Sheffield Steelers 4

MOM for the Manchester Storm: #22 Matt Sisca

MOM for the Sheffield Steelers: #12 Jeff Legue