Tickets for Storm’s upcoming preseason game against the Belfast Giants can be ordered online HERE, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 17:30 Sunday 15th September.

An emotional start to the game as the Steelers and Storm paid tribute to the passing of Vicki Thomas with a 44 second round of applause. 

With only 19 seconds gone in the 1st period Layne Ulmer took a hooking penalty, giving Sheffield an early chance on the power play.

A somewhat back and forth ten minutes saw the Steelers having better scoring opportunities. At 12:50 Steelers took the lead, a strong slap shot from Armstrong was coughed up by Matt Ginn in the Storm net and Meland slotted in the rebound.

At 16:25 the Steelers doubled their lead on a 5v4 powerplay. Dowd batted the puck into the net from a slap shot from Ben O’Connor. 

Sheffield started the second period by killing the remains of a Storm powerplay carried over from the first. Manchester halved the deficit three minutes later as Thompson’s floated wrist shot was knocked in by Puskarich as he drove to the net – a perfect start for the Storm. At the other end of the ice, Ginn was called upon to shut down a couple of good one on one goal threats by the Steelers. 

Midway through the game, Aulin latched onto a cutting pass from the Storm defence but failed to convert the breakaway, putting the puck just wide. Storm pushed hard for the equaliser at this point. 

A poor powerplay from the Storm ended with St. Pierre coming out of the penalty box and jumping straight into the play to go 1 on 1 against Ginn, who made a superb glove save. Overall, it was a much better period for Manchester.

With only a minute played in the third, an early penalty was called on Hope, gave the Steelers their 4th powerplay opportunity of the game. Storm, held their own, killing any opportunity.

Tempers flared with eight minutes remaining as Hope delivered a crushing hit, followed by Gagnon getting involved. Hope receiving a 2 minute minor for his late hit. A 5v4 power play for Steelers was cut short by a high-stick penalty being assessed on themselves as Ginn was taken out. 

With four minutes of the game remaining, Thompson was sent to the penalty box for a high sticking minor. Ginn stood firm however and Storm killed the penalty. This left Manchester with only 2 minutes to try and equalise. Despite plenty of pressure, Storm couldn’t quite find a way to score. It was Vallerand who fired into the empty net, securing a Steelers’ win with just seconds remaining. 

Man of the match for Sheffield Steelers: Tomas Duba

Man of the match for Manchester Storm: Matt Ginn

Tickets for Storm’s upcoming preseason game against the Belfast Giants can be ordered online HERE, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 17:30 Sunday 15th September.