Sheffield took control early in the game and never looked back, consistently finding the net, capitalising on scoring chances and maintaining pressure throughout while limiting Hallam’s opportunities. Hallam managed to get on the scoresheet, but Sheffield’s relentless performance ensured a comfortable and joyous victory.
The University of Sheffield dominated the first period with the opening goal coming in at just 3:38 scored by #86 Alexey Medwicz and assisted by #24 Freddie Stephens (0-1). Closely followed by some lovely end to end play from both teams, who were leaving it out there on the ice. After a lot of loose passes by Hallam and not being able to secure a goal on a powerplay, #44 Bethanie Jacobs caught a penalty for hooking and placed the University of Sheffield on a powerplay. Only for it to be short lived as #26 Sheffield’s captain Zak Pinkney was called for hooking, leaving the game 4 on 4. After Hallam return to full strength, Sheffield fired into the back of Hallam’s net for a shorthanded goal scored by #18 Josh Quince, assisted by #88 Ed Nendick (0-2).
After some back and forth, Hallam spent a lot of time in the defensive zone and the University of Sheffield fired back to back goals. Scored at 14:17 by #12 Seth Wheeler and assisted by #86 Alexey Medwicz (0-3) before a fourth goal straight from the face-off by #3 Mackenzie Mytenka assisted by #51 Alex Smith (0-4).
Sheffield Hallam got hit with another penalty kill at 16:10 as #47 Callum O’Shea gets called for boarding and the University of Sheffield swiftly stormed in with a powerplay goal timed at 17:55 scored by #68 Nathaniel Bell completely unassisted (0-5). The domination by University of Sheffield brought the first period to a close, while the crowd kept the varsity spirit high throughout the night,
The second period brought us less goals but more action with 6 penalties including one 5 minute major. Hallam finally found their feet and a goal, putting themselves on the scoreboard at 22:08 after a lovely powerplay goal by #5 Kader Casley and assisted by #47 Callum O’Shea (1-5). Amazing energy by the crowd truly lifted up and intensified the game, energising the players to a new playing level. However, Hallam took one too many face-offs in their own zone, leaving them to play a lot of the period on defence.
As the game ramped up, the on ice tension rose and words were shared amongst players as Sheffield found themselves on the penalty kill once again at 31:17 with #17 Yeti Smith being called for slashing. Hallam took the opportunity and fired as much as they could at netminder Jaden Davies who made some unbelievable saves.
A short time later Sheffield found themselves on a double penalty kill as #51 Alex Smith was called for slashing (32:25) and #68 Nathaniel Bell was called for a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind (33:50). In a unbelievable turn of events the University of Sheffield scored short handed at 34:53 through #70 Jake Grainger assisted by #12 Seth Wheeler (1-6) and managed to kill the major penalty, which brought the second period to an exciting end.
The start of the third period found Hallam looking a lot stronger than previous periods with tight passing and controlled stick work, including a lovely dive save by #92 Danny Bell that denied the University of Sheffield a breakaway goal. Some great end to end play by both teams once again before University of Sheffield was called for too many players on the ice and served a 2 minute penalty (47:03). Hallam managed to produce from this penalty and put the puck in the back of Sheffield’s net on a powerplay goal scored by #47 Callum O’Shea and assisted by #44 Bethanie Jacobs (2-6).
As the energy intensified and hopes were slightly being restored for Sheffield Hallam, a change in netminders happened for both teams Hallam’s #51 Matthew Key out and #7 Pat Sakaorattanakul in, while the University of Sheffield saw #33 Jaden Davies out and #71 Joseph Fields in. The atmosphere was high, the crowd was loud and the University of Sheffield could see the win in sight.
As the University of Sheffield’s domination continued, Hallam had conceded 3 goals in under 5 minutes. First at 53:39 scored by #86 Alexey Medwicz completely unassisted (2-7), then again at 55:16 by #88 Ed Nendick assisted by #17 Yeti Smith (2-8) and the final goal of the game at 56:30 scored by #10 Jonathan Lupu assisted by #24 Freddie Stephens and #13 Oscar Hilton (2-9).
Though no game is complete without a little controversy, as within the final 2 minutes the University of Sheffield believed they had scored a tenth goal. Careful deliberation from the referee and linesmen saw a no goal call and that Hallam’s #7 Pat Sakaorattanakul had made the save just before the puck crossed the line. Man of the match awards went to #47 Callum O’Shea for Hallam and #88 Ed Nendick for the University of Sheffield.
A heartbreaking game for Sheffield Hallam University after going into the game with a great mentality, ‘pretty defeated, but you can’t win them all’ says SHU captain Paul Meyne ‘1st period was abysmal. We didn’t even look like a team but after that, we switched on. We had a good go at it and we were back to the team that we have known from the last few years, but it’s just one of those things, can’t win sometimes.’
Though an outstanding win for the University of Sheffield who have won for the first time since 2022, ‘I’m on top of the world, honestly ecstatic’ are the words of Zak Pinkney, words that can not even begin to show the elation on the captains face, ‘since I’ve been at the University we’ve never won. We’ve never had this opportunity. We’ve always been done by Hallam, they always put a really good team on. This is honestly fantastic.’
A hard fought game by both teams who left it all out there on the ice, but the University of Sheffield came out victorious stealing another point for the total varsity scores, that currently stands at 11-3 to the University of Sheffield.
