Sheffield Steelers 1-2 Cardiff Devils
Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg

Cardiff missing Russ Romaniuk (suspended one game), Rob Davison (ill), Sheffield missing Les Millie

It will be winner takes all next Thursday 20 Jan in Cardiff when these sides contest the second leg of the Challenge Cup. Cardiff came close to taking home a single goal lead but stalwart Ron Shudra stepped up to blast home nearside from the left wing (52:21) with ex-Sheffield Steeler Kirk DeWaele sitting his third penalty of the game.

The 2499 fans were treated to an exciting final session as the home side peppered Jason Cugnet with 13 shots in the final session, but in truth Devils were well worth a share of the points. Whistle's side successfully shut-down Sheffield's attack whilst they are always potent on the counter.

Jonathon Phillips stretched to reach a long pass 9 minutes in, but Jayme Platt made a comfortable block as Phillips went right on the goalie. For the home side Mark Dutiaume was creating the chances and seconds after his left wing shot was padded wide, Dion Darling collected the puck and fed Dutiaume once more and this time he made no mistake from the same position (17:09).

Suddenly Cardiff created a few chances, and they took the momentum into the middle session as twice Nathan Rempel made the home side pay for slack defence. Each time he burst through alone from the right, skating across the front of goalie Platt. Each time he netted behind the goalie, though on the second one Platt committed himself with a despairing attempted poke check which Rempel avoided with ease.

Devils were level at 22:11 and 4 minutes later Jeff Christian cleverly intercepted Jason Becker's pass out from defence but the chance went begging. Gavin Farrand and Jeff Burgoyne clashed, with Kirk DeWaele also heading for the box to put the hopme side on the powerplay, but Christian found himself having to haul back a Devils' forward to even things up on the ice.

Erik Anderson and Jeff Christian had glorious chances to beat Cugnet in the 36th minute, but Rempel showed them how to do it 2 minutes later (38:29) and Devils suddenly looked very comfortable.

Sheffield upped the tempo and the pressure in the final session, but suffered a set-back when Gerad Adams had to be helped off after Daryl Andrew's rocket shot struck the unpadded area of his right calf.

Rempel had a hat-trick chance breaking away 2-on-1 with Dave Matsos. He unselfishly passed to Matsos who fired wide from the right wing.

Adams returned, forcing two stops. A minute later Shudra blasted home to leave the tie finely balanced for that second leg.