Sheffield Steelers 8 Dundee Stars 2 - Steelers get top marks after regulation win

Paul Thompson shows his delight on the Steelers bench. Pictures: Dean Woolley

IT may only be a couple of weeks into the season, but Sheffield Steelers seem to have served notice of their intent to recapture the Elite League crown they last won two years ago.

After the lottery of 3-on-3 overtime saw them lose out 4-3 to defending champions Cardiff Devils at home on Saturday, Paul Thompson's team have struck back with a vengeance.

A 7-1 hammering of newcomers Guildford Flames in Surrey on Sunday night was followed 48 hours later by a similarly comfortable triumph over Dundee Stars, a team who reached last season's Final Four Play-off Weekend and under a new coach in the form of former Hull Stingrays and Manchester Storm boss, Omar Pacha.

As a result of the 8-2 win at Ice Sheffield, the Steelers moved in to pole position in the, admittedly, very early standings.

"It's a pretty good start to our season, nine points out of a possible 10 in the league and the Challenge Cup," said Thompson. "I thought we were superb in that first period, the way we were skating and moving the puck and we scored some highlight reel goals.

"Our powerplay was clicking again and I thought everybody contributed. It was our third game in four nights so to play with that energy and speed was very, very pleasing. Everything today was fantastic."

The game was effectively over as a contest after the first 15 Steelers at which point the hosts were already 5-0 in front. Colton Fretter put them ahead in the fourth minute before Juha Koivisto tipped in to double the advantage a little over 90 seconds later.

It was Fretter again who struck in the eighth minute before a sumptuous passing combination fed Mathieu Roy before Brad Ramsay found a gap to increase the agony for Pacha's players.

Colton Fretter scores against Dundee Stars

Some light relief came the way of the visitors at 28.22 when Malcolm Gould reduced the deficit, but in-form forward John Armstrong - who scored four goals at the weekend - was able to restore the Steelers five-goal lead just over two minutes later.

Jimmy Jensen made it 6-2 at 43.05 on the powerplay before Tim Wallace replied with a goal on the man advantage for the Steelers at 46.13, Jonas Westerling rounding off the scoring with just under two minutes to go.