Sheffield Steelers have lost their first game in eight after a disappointing defeat away to Glasgow Clan.
The loss came even more as a surprise to fans of the city’s ice hockey team who having come away victorious from their Scottish rivals in their four most recent matches.
This was the Clan’s first victory over the Steelers in the Elite Ice Hockey League since November 2019.
Despite the loss, the Sheffield team remained top of the league table, three points above the second place Glasgow Giants as well as a game in hand.
Fans reacted to loss on twitter:
That loss to Clan has been coming, we have certainly riden our luck against them so many times this season.
Oh well, hope we learn from the loss. I have faith in Foxy 100%
👍🦊🍊#bleedorange
— Just_Tricky (@Grumpy_Tricky) February 16, 2022
We just wasn’t at it tonight got what we deserved, let’s get this out the legs and go again weekend!🙈
— OllieWhitham (@OlllieWhitham) February 16, 2022
The game was heated from the off with Sam Jones and Dylan Stevenson dropping gloves at the start of the game, resulting in both players being sent to the penalty box for five minutes each. Jones also suffered a leg injury after Stevenson landed on top of him in the exchange.
The first period saw just the one goal with Glasgow Clan netting at 17:22 from Mitch Jones. Clan then tripled their lead with two goals in quick succession just 23 seconds apart at the start of the second period.
Sheffield Steelers did start to mount a comeback with a goal from Tanner Eberle. Minutes later he had the puck was in the net again but the goal was ruled out in controversial circumstances as he was adjudged to have interfered with the Clan netminder.
Credit: Sheffield Steelers
Kevin Schulze then fired the Steelers back to one goal behind in the latter stages of the second period.
The Steelers’ hopes of comeback were firmly put to bed in the third period with two goals in two minutes from the Clan before a consolation goal from Eberle set the final score at 5:3.