Coventry Blaze started 2012 with a 6-3 defeat at Sheffield Steelers tonight.
Around 300-400 Blaze fans made the trip to Sheffield to see Colt King fire the Steelers ahead on 2.33.
They had something to celebrate when Bryan Jurynec levelled six minutes later, assisted by Owen Fussey and Dave Phillips but by the end of the first period, the Blaze trailed by a goal after former Blaze player Luke Fulghum scored on 17.36.
Fulghum made it 3-1 to Sheffield on 21.49 when another bad bit of luck for the Blaze saw the puck bounce in off of Fulghum's skate, which he knew nothing about.
Fifty nine seconds later, and Sheffield had a fourth a mistake by Kralj on the blue line, left Hirsch with no chance and Jeff Legue got the goal.
Blaze coach Paul Thomson immediately called a time out and it worked as Blaze hit back on 25.53 with Owen Fussey finding the net for a powerplay goal, assisted by Shea Guthrie and Dustin Wood.
Rob Farmer had a ten minute penalty for misconduct for the first half of the last period, which saw the Steelers score a fifth goal through Stephenson in the 47th minute.
Greg Owen hit a third for the Blaze on 40.32. (via Decaro) and assited by Domish and Bakrlik but on 51.45, it was 6-3 to the Steelers when Park had a chance from the slot. He got his stick lifted meaning the puck was loose and a Steelers player got behind the defence to create a breakaway goal for Ramsey.
Picture courtesy and copyright of CJ