Injury-hit Stingrays’ Cup dreams dashed in Belfast

HULL Stingrays’ hopes of reaching their first Challenge Cup final were ended with a 6-1 quarter-final defeat at Belfast Giants last night.
MAIN MAN: Guillaume Doucet leads the scoring charts in the Elite League after grabbing his 30th goal of the season at Belfast Giants. It couldn't prevent a 6-1 defeat in a match doubling up as both a league and Challenge Cup fixture. Picture: Arthur Foster.MAIN MAN: Guillaume Doucet leads the scoring charts in the Elite League after grabbing his 30th goal of the season at Belfast Giants. It couldn't prevent a 6-1 defeat in a match doubling up as both a league and Challenge Cup fixture. Picture: Arthur Foster.
MAIN MAN: Guillaume Doucet leads the scoring charts in the Elite League after grabbing his 30th goal of the season at Belfast Giants. It couldn't prevent a 6-1 defeat in a match doubling up as both a league and Challenge Cup fixture. Picture: Arthur Foster.

In a game doubling up as an Elite League game – as well as being reduced to a one-legged tie instead of the two legs normally played in the knockout stages – a short-benched Hull side were still able to retain hopes of an upset at the halfway mark.

Guillaume Doucet’s 28th-minute powerplay strike saw them halve the deficit after first-period strikes from Kevin Saurette and Evan Cheverie had given league leaders Belfast the lead.

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But two goals in five minutes from Chris Higgins and Darryl Lloyd gave Belfast a 4-1 advantage going into the third period.

Craig Peacock then followed up his 44th-minute powerplay strike with a second on the night to make it 6-1 at 57.35 as Hull – icing only 11 outskaters – struggled to keep the home side at bay.

Stingrays’ player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said: “We knew coming in short-benched it was going to be a difficult task.

“We are disappointed, but we gave it our best shot and that is all you can ask.

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“We wanted to sit back and frustrate them but they got two quick goals at the end of the first. We managed to get a goal back but they were just too strong for us.

“You have to give Belfast credit, they are the best team we have played this season. They are solid all-round and by far the most complete team in the league. They will take some stopping.”

Stingrays are back in league action on Thursday when they take on Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steelers at iceSheffield (7.30pm).