Posted in: HOCKEY UK Steelhawks show mettle to take title
By Mike Appleton
Apr 11, 2010 - 7:37:22 AM
COVENTRY, UK - SHAUN Wild grabbed a brace to fire Sheffield Steelhawks to a 4-2 EIHA Under 18
Playoff Win over Bracknell Drones.
In a feisty and often skilful clash, Sheffield's outstanding penalty kill was
far too good for Bracknell who spurned several opportunities to make their one
man advantage count.
That said, the Steelhawks were clinical in front of goal with Shaun Wild in
particular producing they kind of performance that will make him one to watch
for the future.
In a lively and fierce opening, Bracknell killed an Elbows penalty on Alan Lack
before he repaid his teammates with a quality finish after his initial shot had
been saved (4:00).
But the Drones' lead was short-lived as less than four minutes later Nathan
Britton set Shaun Wild free and the young forward made no mistake, committing
the netminder and then firing a nice backhand into the roof of the net (7:38).
Wild forged the Steelhawks ahead with a poacher's effort two minutes later
(9:42) and Sam Chandler would have kicked himself after missing an empty net
with less than five to go in the period.
Sheffield's Jonathan Hayes and Bracknell's Lewis Turner both received
ten-minute Misconducts on 14:15, with Hayes getting an additional 120 seconds
for Slashing.
And the penalties continued to flow at the end of the period too with both Jake
Walker and Luke Smith in the box giving the Drones a 5-on-3.
That penalty lasted for just under a minute and a half – straddling the end of
the first and beginning of second – and the Steelhawks didn't give their
opponents a sniff.
Sheffield killed another two penalties in the period before extending their
lead with a tame shot that was perfectly angled by Elliott Knell (31:20) to
beat Shannon Long by his near post.
Jonathan Hays' persistance found Sheffield another goal on 38:57 – on the
powerplay – to give his side a comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the break.
Turner got another 10 minute misconduct right at the end of the period and a
melee in front of the team benches showed passions were really running high –
Drones' Phil Dibble, Jamie Joyce and JJ Vincent all receiving 10 minute
misconducts.
With Sheffield's Luke Smith in the box following that melee, Tom Fisher reduced
the arrears 25 seconds into the third,
The Steelhawks lost Bradley Kitson on a Match Penalty for Roughing – giving
Bracknell a five minute powerplay and a further two minute opportunity for
Kitson's initial Tripping call – but once again Bracknell could not find a way
past the resolute penalty kill.
And on 55:26 Luke Smith killed off Bracknell's hopes with a cooly taken finish.
Dibble got his second misconduct of the game following the goal and like
Sheffield's Lewis Turner before him, was sent to the dressing room.
But that did nothing to dampen the scenes at the end of the game – with the
Steelhawk's players all jumping on each other to celebrate.
Period Scores: 1-2, 0-2, 1-1
Referee: Boardman
Scoring:
Bracknell:
Lack 1+0, Fisher 1+0, Tom Carrell 0+1
Sheffield:
Wild 2+2, Britton 0+1, Knell 1+1, Hays 1+0, Smith 1+0, Hayes 0+1
