Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers clinched a hard-fought 5-3 victory over the Manchester Storm in a heated Challenge Cup clash, adding two more points to their tally and extending their lead to 15 points from eight games.
The game started with the Steelers controlling the pace, taking a 2-1 lead after the first period. Mark Simpson struck short-handed, and Daniel Leavens restored the lead on a late power play after the Storm’s Ryan Hughes had briefly equalised.
In a thrilling second period, both teams traded goals with the Steelers pulling ahead 4-3. Brandon Whistle and Finlay Ulrick scored for Sheffield, while Joe Morrow and Loren Ulett kept the Storm within one. Physical play was rampant, and Manchester’s Alexis D’Aoust received an ejection for boarding, handing the Steelers a major power play late in the period.
Sheffield held their ground in the third, and Marco Vallerand provided the cushion they needed, scoring his 300th Elite League point with a rebound goal at 50:46. The Steelers’ defensive resilience and Vallerand’s milestone performance earned them the win and the forward a well-deserved Man of the Match honour.
The Steelers now prepare for a back-to-back Challenge Cup matchup against the Cardiff Devils tomorrow night, with upcoming games against the Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants to follow.
First Period [2-1] – Steelers Lead After Physical First Period, Simpson and Leavens Capitalise
The Sheffield Steelers opened strong in the first period, dominating play against the Manchester Storm but perhaps left frustrated to hold only a one-goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Joona Huttula sparked the Steelers’ offense in the first minute, testing Storm goaltender Evan Weninger early, though he later took a hard hit in his own zone, seemingly shaking off a dead leg.
The Steelers’ penalty killers were called into action at just 1:41, when Patrick Watling was assessed a tripping penalty in the defensive zone. Despite the disadvantage, the Steelers found a way to turn it into an opportunity. At 3:30, Mark Simpson opened the scoring with a short-handed goal, courtesy of a fast break initiated by Mikko Juusola. Juusola scooped up a loose puck at centre ice, blazed down the right wing, and delivered a perfect pass to Simpson at the back post.
In a game brimming with physicality, Jake Durflinger made his presence known, levelling Angelo Miceli behind the play. When Durflinger attempted a similar hit on Simpson, he earned a trip to the penalty box. Though the Steelers worked the puck around briskly on the power play, they couldn’t convert. Defenseman Sacha Guimond let a hard shot fly from just inside the blue line, only to be denied by Weninger.
The penalty box soon filled up as tempers flared. Tyler Hinam took a cross-checking penalty, followed by Joel Jantuinen, who collided with Weninger and was whistled down, keeping the game at even strength.
The Steelers came tantalizingly close to extending their lead, with Marco Vallerand and Mitchell Balmas ringing shots off the post. But, against the run of play, Manchester Storm found the equaliser. Ryan Hughes buried a slick feed from Alexis D’Aoust at the back post, tying the game at 13:57.
Momentum swung back to the Steelers when a cross-checking call on Grant Hebert, following a dangerous hit to Balmas, resulted in Hebert’s ejection and a major penalty. Balmas needed assistance as he was helped off the ice.
Seizing the power play opportunity, the Steelers regained the lead at 18:01. Dominic Cormier threaded a pass to the crease from the left wing, and Daniel Leavens fought his way to the net, muscling the puck past Weninger.
The period ended with the Steelers outshooting the Storm 14-8, heading into the second period up 2-1 and looking to capitalise on their offensive dominance.
Second Period [4-3] – Steelers Hold Off Storm Surge in Action-Packed Second Period
In a thrilling second period, both the Sheffield Steelers and Manchester Storm found the back of the net twice, with the Steelers narrowly holding onto their lead despite continuing to dominate offensively. Outshooting the Storm 34-16 by the end of the period, the Steelers racked up 20 shots in the second 20 minutes alone.
The period opened with the Storm killing off the remainder of a carryover penalty, but it wasn’t long before the Steelers struck again. At 23:50, Brandon Whistle doubled Sheffield’s lead. Marco Vallerand powered through Storm defenders along the blue line, managing to send a pinpoint pass across to Whistle, who finished top-shelf on one knee at the back post.
The physicality then ramped up around the 29th minute, when Colton Saucerman and Patrick Watling tangled with Storm players at center ice. Jake Durflinger joined in on the rough play, resulting in all three players being sent to the box on a mix of roughing and cross-checking calls. The Storm emerged with a man advantage, which turned into a two-man advantage when Vallerand was called for tripping near his own blue line. Replays showed minimal contact, but the penalty stood.
With the two-man advantage, the Storm cut the lead to one. At 34:48, Joe Morrow scored from the right-wing hashmarks, assisted by Ryan Hughes, bringing Manchester within striking distance.
The Steelers answered quickly, re-establishing their two-goal cushion just seconds later. Finlay Ulrick capitalized on a well-executed passing play from Mark Simpson and Daniel Ciampini, who skillfully directed a bouncing puck to the back post for Ulrick to finish at 34:48.
But Manchester refused to back down. Just 17 seconds after Ulrick’s goal, Loren Ulett found the back of the net as Leavens sat in the box for interference. Ulett’s goal, timed at 35:05, came just four seconds into the power play and tightened the game to 4-3.
The Storm’s aggression cost them yet again when Alexis D’Aoust was ejected after boarding Patrick Watling, sending Sheffield back on a major power play. Although the Steelers were unable to convert before the buzzer, they carried 1:07 of power-play time into the third period, setting up a high-stakes finale with a one-goal lead.
Third Period [5-3] – Steelers Seal Win with Late Vallerand Goal, Extend Challenge Cup Lead
The Sheffield Steelers held their ground in the third period, securing a crucial 5-3 win and adding two more points to their Challenge Cup tally, now standing at 15 points from eight games.
The final period began with another round of penalties, with each team taking two minors in the first ten minutes. Despite the opportunities, neither side could convert with the man advantage. Clinging to a one-goal lead, the Steelers maintained their pressure, pushing for a cushion to close out the contest.
Their efforts paid off at 50:46 when Cole Shudra launched a powerful shot from just inside the blue line. The puck was blocked but deflected perfectly for Marco Vallerand, who capitalised on the rebound and fired into an open net with Storm goaltender Evan Weninger out of position. The goal marked a milestone 300 points in all Elite League competitions for Vallerand—a testament to his skill and consistency.
After successfully killing off another penalty, the Steelers took full control in the final minutes, pulling away as the short-benched Storm struggled to keep up. The two points were well-earned, and Vallerand’s performance, which included his 300th career point, earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match honours.
The Steelers will be back in action tomorrow night as they hit the road to face the Cardiff Devils in another Challenge Cup battle. Next Saturday, they travel to Nottingham to take on the Panthers, followed by a home game against the Belfast Giants on Sunday with a 4 p.m. face-off.
