EIHL Preview: Sheffield Steelers versus Hull Stingrays
The Sheffield Steelers host the Hull Stingrays on Wednesday in a Challenge Cup game which will represent much more than just Challenge Cup pool points for the home side and head coach Doug Christiansen.
Having made moves in the off season to establish themselves as a frontrunner in the race for EIHL silverware, the Steelers have started their campaign in a rather more pedestrian manner than anyone expected.
Having lost to the Nottingham Panthers on the first Sunday of the season, this weekend was another mixed bag for Christiansen’s men. Saturday saw them show just the sort of dominance that made the rest of the EIHL sit up and take note over the summer, with a huge 10-3 win away at the Edinburgh Capitals. Maxime Lacroix registered his first Hat-trick at the club, with Jeff Legue doing what he did all of last year and adding two goals of his own.
The Sunday though offered a completely different story, as the Steelers were trumped 4-3 by the upstart Dundee Stars, and so the Steelers come into Wednesday night’s game looking to prove that their new all star roster does makes them the pinnacle of the EIHL.
The Stingrays meanwhile are equally in need of a win, having lost their first two games. That being said, Wednesday’s game will see much more than just Challenge Cup pool points on the line, as the Stingrays look to start some sort of assault on Group B, whilst the Steelers need to get the ball rolling on what many think could be a championship winning season this year.
