Adam Keefe and his Belfast Giants are on a roll and will take confidence from this weekend’s Elite League results, with the Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils, and Nottingham Panthers each losing ground in the title race.
The Giants were perfect in the season’s twenty-third round of play, toppling the Guildford Flames in overtime on Saturday [8 February] before putting the Manchester Storm to the sword a day later on home ice.
The Panthers stumbled on Sunday [9 February]; undone at the Motorpoint Arena by a resurgent Glasgow Clan squad in overtime.
Sheffield also lost in the fourth quarter on Super Bowl Sunday, falling to the Coventry Blaze despite out-chancing, out-shooting, and out-face-offing Kevin Moore’s side.
But the Devils suffered most of all – defeated in the first-leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final by Sheffield, before succumbing on home ice to the Blaze in regulation time.
With that, let’s dive into the Team of the Week.
Elite League Team of the Week – Sunday, 2 February
Jason Grande, Netminder – Nottingham Panthers
Jason Grande’s Elite League career is only one month old – and platitudes for the 26-year-old netminder are already in short supply.
Since arriving in the East Midlands, the American has played his heart out, and his latest pair of performances further cement his status as one of the best shot stoppers in the country.
The Panthers started their weekend with a 2-1 away win over the Dundee Stars. Grande made 1.73 saves above expected in a 34-stop performance.
He was equally impressive in Nottingham’s shootout loss to the Clan on Sunday, totalling 30 saves on 32 shots.
Elite League Team of the Week: Jason Grande, Nottingham Panthers (Image: Panthers Images)
Grande leads the Elite League in save percentage (.924) and goals-against average (1.91) 13 appearances into his Panthers stint.
Incredible mid-season recruitment from decision-makers in Nottingham.
Dominic Cormier, Defenceman – Sheffield Steelers
Dominic Cormier ranks second amongst Elite League defenceman for points on the season (behind Drydn Dow) and continues to look the part on Sheffield’s blueline.
The Canadian started the week with four assists in the Steelers’ 5-3 Challenge Cup semi-final first leg win over Cardiff, before providing the secondary assist on Robert Dowd’s game-winning goal against the Storm.
Cormier incurred his first penalty in ten appearances in Sheffield’s defeat to Coventry, bumping his career total to 12 minutes in 103 games played – hardly a loose cannon.
David Clements, Defenceman – Coventry Blaze
Beloved in Coventry. Underappreciated everywhere else. David Clements deserves his flowers, with the Team Great Britain defender his usual (under-the-radar-yet-impressive) self on the blueline in Blazetown.
Clements had the play of the night in Coventry’s win over Cardiff – leading the breakout before hammering home his game-winning one-timer from the left circle.
Result | #EIHL @cardiffdevils 3-5 @covblazehockey pic.twitter.com/LJM8m7dkXK
— Elite Ice Hockey League | #EIHL (@officialEIHL) February 8, 2025
The 30-year-old closed out the weekend plus three, orchestrating the Blaze’s four-point round at the expense of two title contenders. Kingmaker.
Rylan Schwartz, Forward – Glasgow Clan
The Clan needed a six-point week – and Rylan Schwartz was pivotal to its delivery, posting six points (one goal, five assists) in three appearances versus the Fife Flyers and Panthers.
Schwartz’s best performance came on Sunday, when he provided the primary assist on Reece Kelly’s second period strike.
Glasgow leapfrogged the Stars in the standings, moving two places and eight points clear of Manchester in the race to qualify for the playoffs.
Chase Gresock, Forward – Coventry Blaze
Elite League Team of the Week: Chase Gresock, Coventry Blaze (Image: Scott Wiggins)
After a weekend of formidable production, Chase Gresock now jointly leads the Elite League in goals (22) and looks set to play a significant role down the stretch.
The American’s three goals on the weekend were not created equal – an empty netter versus Cardiff was followed by a brace in Coventry’s 3-2 sinking of Sheffield. Clutch.
Scott Conway, Forward – Belfast Giants
The Giants rumble on at the top of the Elite League standings – and in no small part due to Scott Conway’s finishing touch.
The Team GB star scored the shootout winner on Saturday to overcome the Flames, before netting Belfast’s third in their victory over Manchester to take his season totals to 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games played.
Elite League Results – Round 23
Midweek
Sheffield Steelers 5-3 Cardiff Devils – Challenge Cup Semi-Final (First Leg)
Glasgow Clan 9-4 Fife Flyers
Saturday, 8 February
Cardiff Devils 3-5 Coventry Blaze
Glasgow Clan 4-0 Fife Flyers
Belfast Giants 4-3 Guildford Flames (SO)
Dundee Stars 1-2 Nottingham Panthers
Manchester Storm 1-3 Sheffield Steelers
Sunday, 9 February
Belfast Giants 3-1 Manchester Storm
Fife Flyers 3-8 Dundee Stars
Coventry Blaze 3-2 Sheffield Steelers (OT)
Guildford Flames 1-3 Cardiff Devils
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