Hull Stingrays 7-5 Cardiff Devils (CC)
A hat-trick from returning forward Jereme Tendler and a second consecutive 40+ save night from keeper Ben Bowns tonight lead the Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays to their first victory of the 12/13 campaign by way of a 7-5 Challenege Cup triumph over the Cardiff Devils.
The home side got off to a great start, utility man Ryan Hand - pigeon-holed as an enforcer before arriving in Hull - beating Phil Osaer for his first of the season after just 47 seconds for a 1-0 lead.
The Devils two big offensive signings of the summer, Mac Faulkner and Chris Blight, then bagged two goals in three minutes before Cale Tanaka followed Hand's example and netted his first of the year with a lovely solo move and wraparound goal to level the scores at two.
Faulkner restored the Devils lead less than 40 seconds later before Tendler - who was returning to action after sustaining a wrist injury against the Sheffield Steeldogs in pre-season - bagged an eight minute natural hat-trick with two powerplay goals and a shorthanded goal early in the third. Jason Silverthorn then added his second in two games to give the Rays a 6-3 lead against his former side on 48.36.
Gerad Adams' side came back strongly thoufh and Faulkner completed a hat-trick of his down 10.43 into the third before Max Birbraer edged the Devils back into it 13 seconds later to bring the scoreline to 6-5.
The home side weren't about to throw away their first victory of the 12/13 campaign however, and Slovakian defenceman Tomas Valecko sealed with victory with a shorthanded empty net goal on 59.21.
The home side got off to a great start, utility man Ryan Hand - pigeon-holed as an enforcer before arriving in Hull - beating Phil Osaer for his first of the season after just 47 seconds for a 1-0 lead.
The Devils two big offensive signings of the summer, Mac Faulkner and Chris Blight, then bagged two goals in three minutes before Cale Tanaka followed Hand's example and netted his first of the year with a lovely solo move and wraparound goal to level the scores at two.
Faulkner restored the Devils lead less than 40 seconds later before Tendler - who was returning to action after sustaining a wrist injury against the Sheffield Steeldogs in pre-season - bagged an eight minute natural hat-trick with two powerplay goals and a shorthanded goal early in the third. Jason Silverthorn then added his second in two games to give the Rays a 6-3 lead against his former side on 48.36.
Gerad Adams' side came back strongly thoufh and Faulkner completed a hat-trick of his down 10.43 into the third before Max Birbraer edged the Devils back into it 13 seconds later to bring the scoreline to 6-5.
The home side weren't about to throw away their first victory of the 12/13 campaign however, and Slovakian defenceman Tomas Valecko sealed with victory with a shorthanded empty net goal on 59.21.
