Cardiff Devils Play Sheffield Steelers In Cup Final at Ice Arena Wales

Cardiff Devils will play bitter rivals Sheffield Steelers in the 2017 Challenge Cup final.

Steelers won 3-0 against Nottingham Panthers in the second leg of their semi-final last night, completing a 5-1 victory.

Coach Andrew Lord’s Devils have qualified for their third successive final, having beaten Steelers two years ago and lost in overtime against Nottingham a year ago.

This time, though, the final is being played at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay and the arena is going to be buzzing with atmosphere.

Lord and his players won’t even think about the final, though, because they stand top of Elite League and play second-placed Belfast Giants in back-to-back away games this Friday and Saturday.

That is their only focus right now and with new signing Denny Kearney, an American winger, now in Cardiff an training with the team there is a major feeling this could be Cardiff’s season.

Devils fans certainly believe this is a massive time for the club. Their next home fixture, against Coventry Blaze on Saturday week, is already virtually sold out with only 50-plus tickets left in a 3,088 capacity building.

Sheffield booked their place in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final thanks to a 3-0 win against Nottingham, winning 5-1 on aggregate.

British defenceman David Phillips gave the Steelers the lead after eight minutes in what proved to be an intense encounter as cup holders Panthers, who defeated Devils in overtime a year ago, searched for a way back in to the tie as they sought to defend their 2016 Cup crown.

There were chances at both ends and Steelers had a five minute powerplay after Nottingham had Jeff Brown ejected, but Sheffield only made sure of their place in the final during the final two minutes.

Panthers had rested goalie Miika Wiikman at Cardiff on Sunday when they were beaten 3-0 with Jindrich Pacl playing the full game between the pipes.

Wiikman returned for the cup game, but was pulled with Panthers 3-1 behind over the two games.

Geoff Walker fired into an empty net to score Sheffield’s second of the evening, while Levi Nelson put the game beyond doubt just under 90 seconds later.

Sheffield now take on 2015 winners Cardiff in the final at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday, March 5 (4pm). Ticket information is available from the hotline on 0800 0842 666.