Tansey hat trick helps Steelers past Storm

Photo: Mark Ferris

2,540 fans at the Storm Shelter saw Sheffield Steelers overturn an early deficit to eventually run out comfortable 8-3 winners over Manchester.

"The team had a bit of a slow start, but we came back out in the second period hard, really coming back to our systems and working hard, so we got a good result by the team," said Kevin Tansey, who scored a hat trick for the Steelers.

"I think personally I had a pretty good game, I got some pucks in the net tonight, had some screens, some good shots, so overall it was a good game, a good team effort.”

Loren Ulett's neat finish off good passing from Stephen Johnson and Ryan Hughes had Storm ahead with just over five minutes played, but goals two minutes apart put the Steelers in front by the end of the period - Daniel Leavens putting home a rebound off a Sacha Guimond shot at 13:38, followed by Maxim Golod scoring straight off a faceoff win at 15:34.

Kevin Tansey beat Evan Weninger from the point off another clean draw win for the Steelers wed 1:45 into period two while Daniel Ciampini finishing high exactly eight minutes later saw the end of Weninger's night in net. Alexis D'Aoust slotted home in front at 33:43 to give Storm some hope just two behind, but a Tansey shot from the blue line beat Alex Oldale low at 34:52 to put the Steelers back in control.

Storm were again back to within two at the start of period three as a Grant Hebert shot was spilled by Marco De Filippo into the path of Craig Martin 53 seconds into things. 

However, Tansey made it a hat trick with another rocket from the point at 44:40. Nathan Ripley and Golod both added to the Steelers' tally inside the final five minutes to complete an 8-3 win.