With the Sheffield Steelers missing four key players competing for Team GB, former captain Jonathan Phillips was drafted in to much fanfare at the Utilita Arena, receiving the biggest cheer of the night from the home crowd.
Manchester Storm started the better side with Steelers keeper Matt Greenfield making some big saves in the opening stages. This didn’t last however as the Steelers opened the scoring through a tidy Patrick Watling finish. Kevin Tansey, captaining the Steelers for the first time, doubled their lead in the last moments of the first period with a fine solo effort, backhanding past the Storm keeper.
Captain Tansey 🫡#SteelersHockey pic.twitter.com/tAt82irW6m
— Sheffield Steelers (@steelershockey) February 11, 2024
Despite conceding two penalties and a powerplay in the second period the Steelers remained in the ascendancy and made it 3-0 courtesy of Daniel Ciampini from close range.
The final period did see a big chance for the Storm on the powerplay as well as some Storm shots in the final stages but Matt Greenfield kept the puck out of his net confirming his seventh league shut out of the season and man of the match performance in front of a delighted Sheffield crowd of over 7,000.
The Steelers remain top of the Elite League standings as their title party rolls on, 14 points clear of nearest rival Cardiff Devils.
The four missing players for the Steelers, Robert Dowd, Sam Jones, Brandon Whistle and Cole Shudra all got on the scoresheet as Team GB destroyed Serbia 11-0 in Cardiff.