Ice Hockey: Fired-up Devils make a point at Sheffield

Nov 29 2007 Terry Phhillips, South Wales Echo

Cardiff Devils 4-4 Sheffield Steelers

CARDIFF Devils served up anger, pride and two ice hockey firsts in this Elite League Challenge Cup semi-final last night.

The Devils were fuming when their appeal against captain Brad Voth’s match suspension was turned down – and they read the verdict on the internet.

“We weren’t treated with any respect,” said Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams.

“No matter what the result of the appear hearing we should have been told properly. The first I knew of the appeal result was when I read it on the league website during Tuesday afternoon – and all we were sent was a text message early on Wednesday.

“The league should have had the courtesy to ring us.”

Adams then outlined his pride after a 4-4 draw against Sheffield Steelers in the League Challenge Cup semi-final first leg.

His Devils were two imports down with Voth suspended and Mike Prpich injured, while they were also playing an exhausting seventh match in 14 days.

“It’s a great result and one of my proudest moments since I started coaching,” said Adams.

“We were 2-0 down and yet the players stayed calm and kept believing. We took the game to Sheffield, earned a draw and deserved it.”

Apart from Adams’ anger and pride, the Devils had long-serving Welsh players Jason Stone and Neil Francis achieving firsts.

Defenceman Stone, who has made more than 1,000 games for the Devils, wore the captain’s C in place of suspended Voth and said: “I was captain during a game for a short time, but it’s the first time it’s been official.”

Cardiff-born forward Francis scored Carduff’s fourth goal to give them a 4-3 lead, his first point in Challenge Cup ties.

Francis has made more Challenge Cup appearances than any other Cardiff player at 38, one more than team-mates Phil Hill and Stone.

The teams meet again in the second leg next Wednesday, at Ice Sheffield, and the winners will go forward to play Nottingham Panthers or Newcastle Vipers in the final.

Statistics:

Scorers, Cardiff: M Birbraer 2+1, N Francis 1+0, P Sample 1+0, M Towe 0+1, T Teplitsky 0+1, S Deschatalets 0+2, M Petricko 0+1, J Silverthorn 0+1, M Garrow 0+1.

Sheffield: R Finnerty 1+0, A Tait 1+2, D Shepard 1+0, J Talbot 1+0, R Degenais 0+1, J Legue 0+2, J Phillips 0+1.

Period scores (Cardiff first): 2-3, 2-0 (4-3); 0-1 (4-4).

Penalties in minutes: Cardiff 10+4+2=16, Sheffield 10+10+0=20.

Shots on goal: Devils (on Lehman) 8+14+10=32; Sheffield (on Osaer) 19+6+11=36.

Referee: Nigel Boniface.