Ice Hockey: Devil of a day ends in triumph

ENGLAND beat Scotland 6-5 in the home international at Murrayfield despite being deprived of seven players through injury and Nicky Chinn, of Cardiff Devils, who was sent off after 17 minutes.

The Welshman wearing English colours instigated a fight against Scotland's Paul Hand, leaving the referee no choice.

Despite the absences, Ian Cooper and Rick Brebant scored twice, Cooper's goal in the third proving decisive.

In league action the next day, Cardiff Devils extended their lead to 10 points ahead of Fife Flyers at the top of the Premier Division thanks to a 9-3 win at Bracknell Bees.

Fife went down 4-3 to Nottingham Panthers, their third home defeat on the trot and their second at the hands of the Panthers.

Bracknell were 3-1 up early in the second only for Stephen Cooper, one of the seven missing from Saturday's international, to score with a slapshot. This was followed by Brebant's equaliser. Bracknell then ran out of steam and Cardiff ran out winners.

Whitley Warriors' match against Sheffield Steelers was a real thriller. The first period ended 2-2. In the second, the score see-sawed but the Warriors' Stephen Brown had the final say, scoring his fourth of the period with two minutes to go to make it 6-5.

Steelers' Ivan Mayulik equalised with 11 minutes left and Sheffield rained down on the Warriors' minder, Kevin Dean, who brought out his best saves to keep the game tied at 6-6.

Results, Sporting Digest,

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