Planet Ice, Altrincham

Manchester Storm 3-6 Sheffield Steelers

13th January 2023

The last time I dropped into an Elite Ice Hockey League match, a few weeks ago in Cardiff, Guildford Flames were sitting proudly atop the league standings six points clear of Coventry Blaze, and nine ahead of third placed Sheffield Steelers.  Well, a severe wobble by the Flames since then, meant Sheffield went into this match knowing a win would take them to the top of the table.....with the pair meeting just 24 hours later.

Storm, for their part, had both eyes on overhauling Nottingham Panthers, in their attempt to secure a top-eight play-off spot.

And things began so well for the home lads, they opening the scoring after around 90 seconds through Michael KAROL tapping in a rebound from the Steelers' 'keeper's pads.  Outperforming their high-flying visitors for much of an entertaining (if rather tame - no penalties) first-period, it looked to me just a matter of time before Manchester increased their lead.  But with four minutes of the first-period remaining, a sloppy pass by Storm number 10 Dallas Ehrhardt led to Evan MOSEY evening up the scores.

And, within seconds of the commencement of the second-period, the Steelers went ahead when Danny KRISTO was allowed do that trick of skating round behind the goal, then round to the front before clipping the puck high into the net.  I always understood it was a big No-No for any defence to allow such a thing to happen.  Moments later it was 3-1, MOSEY picking up his second with his shot, as with Kristo's earlier, seeming to go straight through home 'keeper Jeremy Brodeur's legs.  This goal coming along pretty much immediately after Storm had messed up a breakaway opportunity of their own.  A double kick to the nuts, then.

When Tomáš PITULE extended the visitors' lead - this one a real scrappy in-front-of-goal scramble - I began to wonder if Manchester could find themselves on the wrong end of a real bashing here.  The Storm coaching team clearly felt so too, for they immediately called a time-out in order to attempt to ascertain just what the feck was going on.

The home lot did manage to stem the flow, and fine solo effort by Anthony DeLUCA soon followed.  But within a few minutes of the restart, Brett NEUMANN made it 5-2 to reinstae the visitors' three goal lead.  Again Jeremy Brodeur failed to cover himself in glory with this one.

Another DeLUCA goal swiftly followed, leaving Storm to decide to do that play-without-a-goalkeeper thing for the closing few minutes.  Which, as I am sure we all know, rarely ends well - this evening being no exception as the crowd watched Steeler Robert DOWN trickle the puck into an empty net from faaaaar out.

So - Steelers ended the day top of the EIHL pile and, rather interestingly, now awaited the imminent visit of Guildford Flames.

Planet Ice is actually in Altrincham, which is on the southern edge of Greater Manchester.
The building was opened in 2007.

Inside the club shop there is a display cabinet of memorabilia of Altrincham Aces,
who played at the now demolished Altrincham Ice Rink from 1961-2003

No idea what is going on here.

Planet Ice, Altrincham.

Squirting water into his face would prove to be one of the high points of Jeremy Brodeur's night.

A bunch of Steelers...

...and some Storm

I am not quite sure who was more disturbing: Storm mascot Lightning Jack, or his Minder.

Around 150 bods made their way from Sheffield.

Update: Guildford Flames reinforced their reputation as this season's side to beat, by winning 4-2 at the Sheffield Arena to regain top spot.