Sheffield Steelers 2 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bowed out of the 11/12 Elite League Challenge Cup with a 0-6-2 record, going down to a fourth narrow defeat in four games by three goals to two against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.
The Stingrays - who were all but out of the competition prior to the last two weeks of Group B fixtures - fell behind to a first period goal from Colt King before R G Flath doubled the South Yorkshire sides lead in the second period.
Sylvain Cloutier's side once again made a game of it against their top five opposition though, new addition Andy McKinney scoring his first goal for the club in just his second full-time appearance - having previously iced for the club against Braehead on a two-way contact from EPL side Telford Tigers.
Though that goal gave the Rays a glimmer of hope that they could record their first win of the 11/12 cup campaign in their final attempt, the Steelers took control of the final period - firing 13 shots on netminder Christian Boucher for totals of 30-23 - and eked out a narrow 2-1 win.
While they may be thankful another fruitless Challenge Cup campaign is over, a pair of narrow, one-goal losses to Sheffield and ties against both Cardiff and Coventry - as well as a unlucky tight loss to Belfast in the league the week - is perhaps proof enough that the club is getting to a competitive base from which it can build.
It is somewhat unfortunate then that, given their recent balance, Cloutier must now release an import - having delayed his decision for more than a week.
That decision is expected imminently, ahead of a week which is just as important - if not more so - than the week which initially prompted the calls for change and the subsequent signing of defenceman Kurtis Dulle.
They face three fixtures against bottom five clubs in the next week, first travelling to Fife on Tuesday night hoping to replicate the 6-1 result from late October before returning to Scotland to play Edinburgh on Saturday night. After three weeks away Cloutier's side will then return to league action at the Hull Arena on Sunday, facing Fife for the second time in a week and fourth time this season.
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bowed out of the 11/12 Elite League Challenge Cup with a 0-6-2 record, going down to a fourth narrow defeat in four games by three goals to two against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.
The Stingrays - who were all but out of the competition prior to the last two weeks of Group B fixtures - fell behind to a first period goal from Colt King before R G Flath doubled the South Yorkshire sides lead in the second period.
Sylvain Cloutier's side once again made a game of it against their top five opposition though, new addition Andy McKinney scoring his first goal for the club in just his second full-time appearance - having previously iced for the club against Braehead on a two-way contact from EPL side Telford Tigers.
Though that goal gave the Rays a glimmer of hope that they could record their first win of the 11/12 cup campaign in their final attempt, the Steelers took control of the final period - firing 13 shots on netminder Christian Boucher for totals of 30-23 - and eked out a narrow 2-1 win.
While they may be thankful another fruitless Challenge Cup campaign is over, a pair of narrow, one-goal losses to Sheffield and ties against both Cardiff and Coventry - as well as a unlucky tight loss to Belfast in the league the week - is perhaps proof enough that the club is getting to a competitive base from which it can build.
It is somewhat unfortunate then that, given their recent balance, Cloutier must now release an import - having delayed his decision for more than a week.
That decision is expected imminently, ahead of a week which is just as important - if not more so - than the week which initially prompted the calls for change and the subsequent signing of defenceman Kurtis Dulle.
They face three fixtures against bottom five clubs in the next week, first travelling to Fife on Tuesday night hoping to replicate the 6-1 result from late October before returning to Scotland to play Edinburgh on Saturday night. After three weeks away Cloutier's side will then return to league action at the Hull Arena on Sunday, facing Fife for the second time in a week and fourth time this season.
