Sheffield Steeldogs ended the Streaming Series by winning three of their four games, despite losing their final outing to Milton Keynes Lightning.
Ben Morgan’s side followed on their two previous wins over Swindon Wildcats with a Saturday win in the double header over MK as the test event for lower league ice hockey came to a conclusion.
Whether we see any action beyond this is unclear at this time, but assuming there are no further issues to come, it must surely be a matter of time before the EIHA and NIHL look at a fixture list.
There’s also the ongoing issue of whether Government funding can assist the proposed January come into fruition. If that can happen, then it would certainly lift the spirits of the fans now their brief reunion with the sport has ended.
They can take many positives from this weekend as Steeldogs and Lightning finished off the last three weekends in style, with a win each and fans glad to see some on-ice action again.
#hockeyiscomingback #SportNotLeisure #DontCancelMySport pic.twitter.com/PnAFQ1I8CB
— NIHL (@NIHLhockey) November 29, 2020
As for the games themselves, it saw Steeldogs win at Milton Keynes on Saturday before Lightning nabbed the victory in Sheffield a day later that wrapped up a successful couple of weeks.
Edgars Bebris opened the scoring within the opening five minutes on Saturday, from Lewis Hook as MK took an early lead.
By the end of the opening period, Ben O’Connor had levelled from a Jason Hewitt assist – a first of a five-point night for the ‘borrowed’ Hull Pirates player-coach.
Steeldogs went ahead in the second period through Alex Graham, before Lake and Hewitt added further markers to open up a 4-1 lead as the teams returned for the second interval.
Ross Venus scored a hat-trick for Lightning as they claimed a win on Sunday (PHOTO: Tony Sargent)
Bebris’ second gave Lewis Clifford’s something to cheer, but it was Steeldogs’ night as Jonathan Kirk and Ralfs Circenis wrapped up the scoring to seal a 6-2 success on the first night.
MK had an immediate opportunity to gain some kind of revenge when both sides met in Sheffield on Sunday and they duly got it, claiming their first win of the Streaming Series in a 5-3 game.
Lake’s opener for Steeldogs was cancelled out by Liam Stewart before Ross Venus struck early in the second period to put MK 2-1 ahead.
Sheffield turned the score back in their favour as Craig Elliott and Stanislav Lascek each netted, but Venus’ second and Lightning’s third had the game tied after two.
The visitors kicked on and claimed the win as Venus completed his hat-trick, added to by Robin Kovar late on.
