Simon demands Steelers refocus as they head for meeting with Panthers

The Steelers clinched their place at the final-four weekend at Nottingham’s National Ice Centre after securing an 8-5 aggregate win over the Dundee Stars on Sunday night.

The Panthers, meanwhile, saw off the Braehead Clan 8-4 on aggregate during their two-legged quarter-final to set up a first play-off meeting between the two teams since the 2008-09 final, which the Steelers won 2-0.

Player-coach Simon admitted his team were slightly complacent in their 4-2 second-leg defeat against Dundee but insisted his players would be fully focused on achieving a fourth win of the season over the Panthers in their own building.

“I think some guys were getting a little bit ahead of themselves,” said Simon. “We need to get re-focused for this weekend and I’m sure we will be.

“It should be a cracking atmosphere against Nottingham in their building – we match up well. We’ve played well down there already this season and they’ll come into the game trying to make sure they can still add another trophy to the Challenge Cup they have.”

Hull Stingrays’ player-coach Sylvain Cloutier says he will take many “positives” from his side’s Elite League campaign.

Following a promising league season, the East Yorkshire club bowed out of the play-offs at the first hurdle after losing 8-4 on aggregate to the Cardiff Devils.

“It has been a great season,” said Cloutier. “We finished one point behind sixth place and posted the most wins and points this organisation has had.”