The final pre-season match ended in favour of the Sheffield Steelers, 4–2, but a pulsating final period will undoubtedly have left Storm fans eager to return for the competitive curtain-raiser next weekend.

The visitors flew out of the traps and found themselves two goals to the good within the opening six minutes of play. A move from the face-off dot saw Balmas register the game’s first goal. This was quickly followed by the speedy Tait, who reacted to a loose puck in front of DeRidder to double the Steelers’ advantage after the American netminder had made a strong initial stop. At the other end, an excellent save from Greenfield denied Haden and the Storm their opener in the 13th minute, as the hosts began to find their rhythm and pinned Sheffield in their zone for the remainder of the first period.

The middle frame started much as the first had ended, with the hosts throwing everything they could on net, but the Storm still could not solve the problem that was Greenfield between the pipes. At the midway point, both benches opted for a netminder change, as Weninger and McAdam took over the crease. A couple of powerplay opportunities came and went without the Storm fashioning any notable chances, as they were evidently still working through some pre-season rust.

The Storm’s lack of success on the man advantage was immediately punished when Jasper converted from the slot just 34 seconds into the final stanza, on the powerplay. The hosts then landed themselves in further penalty trouble, but a tremendous effort on a 5-on-3 kill kept hopes of a last-period rally alive. A battling, determined surge by Gilmour saw him somehow break through to goal, pushing home the rebound — comically ending up beyond the red line along with the puck — to give the Storm their first goal of the game. In the 54th minute, a decisive save by McAdam denied Caines one-on-one, the pad kicking away the chance after some neat stick-handling from the returning forward. However, the mounting pressure in front of the Steelers’ net eventually paid dividends for Manchester, as a neatly worked powerplay was craftily finished off by Johnson to put the Storm within touching distance with over five minutes remaining.

Storm’s gung-ho approach in the final throws of pre-season left Weninger exposed, and a 3-on-0 rush saw Gentile restore the two-goal cushion for Sheffield, sealing the contest and ending the night’s scoring.

Words by: Callum Schora