Ice Hockey: Steelers' success stays on ice

SHEFFIELD STEELERS finished second in the Premier Division on the last weekend of League action, behind the champions, Cardiff Devils, in just their first season in the top flight, writes Steve Pinder. However, they could be relegated to fourth place if the British Ice Hockey Association deducts a threatened five points from the club for exceeding the agreed wage-capping limit set on teams.

Steelers are taking legal action against the BIHA over the matter and their second place remains at the moment.

Steelers at least played in two tight, competitive games over the weekend. Away to Humberside Hawks, they went into a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period thanks to Ron Shudra and Leo Millie. Hawks answered in the second with three goals in just 40 seconds and with the minder, Brian Cox, in superb form held on until seconds from the end of the period when Steve Nemeth pulled a goal back.

Steelers then won the game thanks to two long-range shots from Shudra and Nemeth that turned the game around into a 5-4 win for Sheffield.

The next day, Bracknell Bees did their best to stay with Steelers, with the second period ending 1-1. But six Sheffield goals in the last period compared to Bees' two saw the game go 7-3 to the visitors. Cardiff picked up the silverware after beating Whitley Warriors 14-5.