Sheffield Steelers 0 Nottingham Panthers 8: Thompson 'embarrassed' as Steelers are hammered by Panthers

ANY Sheffield Steelers' fans with tickets for tonight's second leg of this Challenge Cup semi-final will be forgiven if they choose to stay at home instead.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2016, 00:02 BST
Updated 24th Feb 2016, 09:25 BST
Sheffield Steelers' Ben O'Connor finds his path blocked by Nottingham Panthers' Matthew Myers. Picture: Dean Woolley.Sheffield Steelers' Ben O'Connor finds his path blocked by Nottingham Panthers' Matthew Myers. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Sheffield Steelers' Ben O'Connor finds his path blocked by Nottingham Panthers' Matthew Myers. Picture: Dean Woolley.

On a shocking night for the Steelers at Ice Sheffield, any hopes of ending their wait to win the competition in the Elite League era will have to go on for at least another 12 months after they were torn apart by a rampant Nottingham.

Head coach Paul Thompson admitted he was left “embarrassed” afterwards.

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“To play our biggest rivals in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and to capitulate like we did is just unacceptable,” said Thompson.

“I feel for the fans who came out to support us.

“On Sunday, in Cardiff, we played like the kind of team I know we are. We battled and we played with our hearts on our sleeves and got a great result.

“But (last night), I don’t know if they were good or we were just terrible. I’m just embarrassed by the performance of our team and I am part of that team.”

The home side were left reeling after a first period that saw Nottingham go in 3-0 ahead.

EMBARRASSED: Sheffield Steelers' head coach, Paul Thompson.EMBARRASSED: Sheffield Steelers' head coach, Paul Thompson.
EMBARRASSED: Sheffield Steelers' head coach, Paul Thompson.
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Evan Mosey broke the deadlock at 6.04 before Great Britain centre Matthew Myers doubled the advantage for the visitors at 14.41.

No sooner had the Steelers recovered from that blow before they were picking the puck out of the net for a third time when Juraj Kolnik extended the Panthers’ lead at 15.49.

Three more goals followed in the second period from David Clarke, Cam Janssen and Geoff Waugh before Kolnik and Brad Moran added insult to injury in the third.

Thompson also spoke afterwards of his players showing some pride in the second leg at the National Ice Centre on Wednesday night.

Barring some kind of ‘miracle on ice’, there will be little else to play for.

Related topics:Nottingham PanthersSheffield SteelersNottinghamCardiffDavid Clarke