Sheffield Steelers are through to the final of the Elite Challenge Cup after completing a 5-1 aggregate victory over Nottingham Panthers.

The Steelers produced a solid defensive display to seal a 3-0 second leg success – David Phillips, Geoff Walker and Levi Nelson got the goals.

Head Coach Paul Thompson told the BBC: “Over the two legs we were the deserving winners and we’re through to a final in Cardiff against the Devils.

“There’s a little more stress around a semi-final than the final. Once you’re in the final, you’re in the final – you want to go and win it.

“But it’s getting there and we got there. I thought the boys were magnificent, every one of them.

“They bought into the system, bought into the structure and, as I said, we were deserving winners.”

Panthers’ Player/Assistant Coach David Clarke believes his team played well enough to beat the Steelers, but they couldn’t find a way past netminder Ervins Mustukovs.

“I think we created a lot of chances,” Clarke told the Nottingham Post.

“We had a couple of grade ‘A’ chances and had a couple of breakaways. He made some good saves.

“It’s unlucky. We scored five against them on Saturday. Schultzy (Stephen Schultz) hits the post at the end there and a few went off the inside of the goalie’s pads and wide.”

Sheffield will face Cardiff in the final on Sunday, 5th March.

(Image permission: Dean Woolley)