Flames squared it after an early Steelers goal, but 2 more unanswered the rest of the way for the Yorkshire side pushed the Challenge Cup trophy into the hands of the home team with Spectrum’s men falling by a 3-1 count.
Brien Diffley opened the scoring exactly 2 minutes in. Bradley Lalonde replied for Flames in the 14th minute, but as a Steelers powerplay was winding down just 19 seconds from period time Patrick Watling sent them in front once again with what turned out to be the winner.
Inside the opening 5 minutes of the 2nd, Mitchell Balmas advanced the Steelers lead to a pair where the final tally would hold through the remainder of the evening despite Flames outshooting Steelers 16-1 in the 3rd while trying to climb back into it; finishing the game on the good side of the 33-17 shot differential but short of a trophy win.
“When you lose one of these, it is probably better just to talk about what the guys are feeling rather than trying to dissect the game,” said Paul Dixon.
“Every one of us came here with the expectation that we were going to be leaving with a trophy in hand so we are obviously gutted with the outcome.”
“It is a tough way to leave the building and tougher still for each of us to absorb it and figure a way to move forward in short order with league games on the way immediately.”
“You have to be in it to win it, but you also have to be willing to risk the extreme feelings that come when you are not the team that comes out on top and that is what our guys will need to process.”
“We are proud of the fact that we got to the Final with some resilience in a tough group and advanced round set of games, and we congratulate Sheffield Steelers on a well played Final. They are fully deserving champions not only on their play in this particular game but for what they have been able to do all season.
