Sheffield Hallam run out 5-3 winners in exhilerating game.
The Winter Varsity Ice Hockey game would again take place at the Motorpoint Sheffield Arena for its second year, building on its first year where there was 3,800 in attendance as Hallam won 7-4 and clinched the Winter Varsity title.
This year the event was set to be bigger than ever, with pre day sales smashing last years numbers and a huge walk up attendance expected.
Sheffield Hallam University had won all previous six Winter Varsity Ice Hockey games and were desperate to keep their unbeaten record. The University of Sheffield however were just as determined to win the game for themselves, and the rivalry was set to be as big as ever!
The game started with a fast hard hitting tempo was expected, and both teams had early chances but it was the University of Sheffield who took the lead on 9.30 when Howard Smith capitalised on a chance infront of the Hallam net.
Sheffield Hallam were quick to reply and equalised on 12.44 when Emrys Sharples fired the puck into the back of the Sheffield net. Then the penalty minutes started to add up, with Chris Bryniarski going to the bin on 15.57 for slashing, followed by Dan Mawer on 16.46 for interference gave the University of Sheffield a 5 on 3 powerplay opportunity. Jack Ware and Sam Cooper were both sent to the box on 17.22 for roughing, before Michael Szollosy scored on 17.29 on the 5 on 3 powerplay to put the University of Sheffield into the lead just before the first intermission.
In the second period David Perks received 2 minutes for charging on 23.46 putting Sheffield Hallam onto a powerplay. Hallam took the opportunity and Nick Manning tied the game at 2 on 24.34.
The score was tied for merely ten seconds though, as the University of Sheffield came straight down the ice and Andrew Terentjev put the University of Sheffield back in front. The University of Sheffield took a two minute bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice at 27.31 but Sheffield Hallam were unable to capitalise on the man advantage.
Arguably the biggest point in the game was Sheffield Hallams equalising goal in the dying seconds of the period. Matthew Jeffcock got a breakaway chance and crossed into the Sheffield zone with 4 seconds to go, as the clock ticked down he took the puck round the goaltender and put the puck into the net, as the puck went in and the red goal light flashed it was immediately followed by the end of period buzzer and the time on the clock red 0.00. The referees judged the goal light came on before the buzzer sounded and awarded the goal.
The end of period score was 3-3 and Sheffield Hallam had come from behind three times.
During the third period Sheffield Hallam University killed off a 5 on 3 penalty as Arran Bell received 2 minutes for cross-checking on 45.49 followed by Chris Bryniarski getting 2 for hooking on 46.45.
The University of Sheffield had another powerplay chance on 54.15 as Bryniarski received another two minute penalty, this one for tripping. It was Sheffield Hallams powerplay that was most effective though, and when Daniel Boardman received 2 minutes for hooking at 57.04, Nick Manning scored his second of the game on 58.11 to put Sheffield Hallam into the lead for the first time in the game and with less than two minutes to go.
The University of Sheffield called a time out with less than a minute to go and with a face off in the Hallam zone opted to pull their goalie in favour of an extra skater, but when Nick Manning interecepted a pass and got a break away he slide the puck into the empty net to score his hat trick goal on 59.24 to put Sheffield Hallam 5-3 into the lead and win the game.
Statistics:
Shots on Goal:
University of Sheffield: 29
Sheffield Hallam University: 40
Penalty Minutes:
University of Sheffield: 8
Sheffield Hallam University: 12
PowerPlay Conversion:
University of Sheffield: 1 of 3
Sheffield Hallam University: 2 of 3
University of Sheffield scorers: Andrew Terentjev 1+1, Howard Smith 1+0, Michael Szollosy 1+0, Robert Firth 0+1, Ryan Jinn 0+1, Eric Lee-Cheong 0+1
Sheffield Hallam University scorers: Nick Manning 3+1, Matthew Jeffcock 1+1, Emrys Sharples 1+0, Ben Duffy 0+1, Tom Ray 0+1
Man of the Match:
University of Sheffield: David Roxburgh
Sheffield Hallam University: Nick Manning