Coventry Blaze were beaten in the final of the first ever 20-20 Hockeyfest at the Sheffield Arena today.
In Sheffield, the Blaze took on the Nottingham Panthers in a two twenty continuous minutes match. Watched by a crowd of around 4,000, Sheffield Steelers beat Hull 5-1 in the opening game, Cardiff Devils won the second on penalties after a 2-2 draw against the Belfast Giants and Newcastle beat Edinburgh 1-0 in the third quarter-final.
Coventry Blaze met Nottingham Panthers in the fourth quarter final. Greg Owen put Paul Thompson's team ahead on 8.40 when he smashed home after being set up by Luke Fulghum.
Paul Thompson
On 16.32, Derek Campbell gave St Pierre in the Nottingham goal no chance when he fired home a second and seconds before the end of the first, it was 3-0 when Russ Cowley scored a disputed goal that referee Henson allowed.
The Blaze fans were in fine voice as the fourth goal came, 1.23 in to the second period, thanks to Dan Carlson firing home at his third attempt.
Four became five on 29.39 through Adam Calder and Jon Weaver hit number six to see a match up with Newcastle Vipers in the second semi-final.
Sheffield beat Cardiff 4-1 in the first semi-final and the Blaze took to the ice for the second against Newcastle Vipers whom they had lost 5-2 to last night.
On 9.27, Greg Chambers had a shot saved by the Vipers net minder and there was Tom Watkins to fire Coventry into the lead. However, in the 13th minute, Newcastle equalised when Kralj made the most of a deflection to tie the match going into the second period.
With the Blaze players looking tired, Newcastle took a lead three minutes in when Mike Berry netted on the power play.
However, the Blaze were not finished and with two minutes left, a bullet from Jon Weaver flew into the net to take the game into penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Adam Calder scored with his second penalty but Peter Hirsch save Kralj's second and Blaze were into the final.
The final started well for the Blaze who were ahead on 1.26 thanks to Dan Carlson firing home after the puck came off the back board and he tapped in.
Sheffield in front of their home fans started to get back into the game with Brad Cruickshank hitting the post and a minute and forty five before the end of the first period, the Steelers were level through Kevin Bolibruck.
Straight after the restart, Blaze restored their lead when Adam Calder waited before picking his post to score.
The players from both teams were playing on adreneline after a long day amd still producing a great game of hockey. But with 9.15 to go and a penalty for Matt Soderstrom just finishing, Jeff Legue equalised.
There was 4.20 to go when Jason Hewitt hit what some of the media were describing as the goal of the tournament to put Sheffield ahead and give them a 3-2 victory and the 20-20 Hockeyfest Cup.
Coach Paul Thompson said after the game to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Geoff Foster: "Our guys really gave their all today but it was not to be."
In Sheffield, the Blaze took on the Nottingham Panthers in a two twenty continuous minutes match. Watched by a crowd of around 4,000, Sheffield Steelers beat Hull 5-1 in the opening game, Cardiff Devils won the second on penalties after a 2-2 draw against the Belfast Giants and Newcastle beat Edinburgh 1-0 in the third quarter-final.
Coventry Blaze met Nottingham Panthers in the fourth quarter final. Greg Owen put Paul Thompson's team ahead on 8.40 when he smashed home after being set up by Luke Fulghum.
Paul Thompson
On 16.32, Derek Campbell gave St Pierre in the Nottingham goal no chance when he fired home a second and seconds before the end of the first, it was 3-0 when Russ Cowley scored a disputed goal that referee Henson allowed.
The Blaze fans were in fine voice as the fourth goal came, 1.23 in to the second period, thanks to Dan Carlson firing home at his third attempt.
Four became five on 29.39 through Adam Calder and Jon Weaver hit number six to see a match up with Newcastle Vipers in the second semi-final.
Sheffield beat Cardiff 4-1 in the first semi-final and the Blaze took to the ice for the second against Newcastle Vipers whom they had lost 5-2 to last night.
On 9.27, Greg Chambers had a shot saved by the Vipers net minder and there was Tom Watkins to fire Coventry into the lead. However, in the 13th minute, Newcastle equalised when Kralj made the most of a deflection to tie the match going into the second period.
With the Blaze players looking tired, Newcastle took a lead three minutes in when Mike Berry netted on the power play.
However, the Blaze were not finished and with two minutes left, a bullet from Jon Weaver flew into the net to take the game into penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Adam Calder scored with his second penalty but Peter Hirsch save Kralj's second and Blaze were into the final.
The final started well for the Blaze who were ahead on 1.26 thanks to Dan Carlson firing home after the puck came off the back board and he tapped in.
Sheffield in front of their home fans started to get back into the game with Brad Cruickshank hitting the post and a minute and forty five before the end of the first period, the Steelers were level through Kevin Bolibruck.
Straight after the restart, Blaze restored their lead when Adam Calder waited before picking his post to score.
The players from both teams were playing on adreneline after a long day amd still producing a great game of hockey. But with 9.15 to go and a penalty for Matt Soderstrom just finishing, Jeff Legue equalised.
There was 4.20 to go when Jason Hewitt hit what some of the media were describing as the goal of the tournament to put Sheffield ahead and give them a 3-2 victory and the 20-20 Hockeyfest Cup.
Coach Paul Thompson said after the game to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Geoff Foster: "Our guys really gave their all today but it was not to be."