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Cardiff triumph tempered by injury to Zima

Stuart Walker
Tuesday 13 March 2001 01:00 GMT
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Cardiff Devils got their Sekonda Superleague play-off campaign off to a perfect start with a 6-5 triumph over the Bracknell Bees on Sunday night. But their victory in Wales was marred by a knee injury to Ales Zima, which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

Cardiff Devils got their Sekonda Superleague play-off campaign off to a perfect start with a 6-5 triumph over the Bracknell Bees on Sunday night. But their victory in Wales was marred by a knee injury to Ales Zima, which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

Bracknell, buoyed by the news that their coach Enio Sacilotto has agreed a new two-year contract, took an early lead through Joe Cardarelli. Kim Ahlroos and Vezio Sacratini put Cardiff ahead but Matej Bukna and JF Tremblay restored Bracknell's advantage.

Sacratini and Cardarelli traded goals before Mike Ware levelled but goals from Frank Evans and Ivan Matulik finally ended the Bees challenge although they retained enough fire to net a consolation through Stephane Roy with 41 seconds remaining.

London Knights, the defending play-off champions, completed back-to-back weekend wins adding a 4-1 win over the Belfast Giants at the Docklands Arena to the 2-1 victory they secured against the Nottingham Panthers the previous day. Mark Kolesar and Mikko Koivunoro put London 2-0 ahead but Doug Searle cut the deficit before the Knights captain Bryan Richardson and Kevin Riehl traded powerplay goals. Mark Dutiaume claimed the insurance goal for Chris McSorley's side with 16 seconds left, Belfast having pulled netminder Mark Cavallin.

The Superleague chief executive Ian Taylor has opened an investigation into the circumstances which forced the play-off fixture between the Giants and Sheffield Steelers to be delayed last Thursday. The game at the Odyssey Arena was put back by 30 minutes, with the Steelers players threatening a strike following a row over unpaid wages.

"My understanding is that the delay of the game was avoidable, therefore I have launched an investigation," Taylor said. If it is proved that it was avoidable, the Sheffield Steelers will be charged for bringing the game into disrepute."

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