Wednesday: Blaze hosts Steelers in Cup SF First Leg

Photo: Aimee Hollingsworth

Coventry Blaze contest their first Challenge Cup Semi-Final since 2014/15 with the visit of Sheffield Steelers to the Skydome on Wednesday night.

Click here to watch Blaze vs. Steelers.

The Blaze came through against second seeds Belfast Giants to make it this far, having fallen at the Quarter-Final stage in each of the past two seasons. Their last Final appearance was winning it in 2007, while they lost 9-4 over two legs when they faced Cardiff Devils in the semis in February 2015.

In that same season, the Steelers made the Final but lost to Cardiff in the decider. The Steelers have gone out of the cup at the Semi-Final stage in each of the previous two seasons since winning the Challenge Cup in 2020.

Sheffield are the clear league leaders so far in 2023/24, finding themselves 13 points clear, with a game in hand, at the top of the table. They lost their lengthy winning run last weekend but bounced back on Sunday. The Steelers have also yet to drop a Cup game this season, winning all eight they've played so far in regulation.

Coventry have not lost in Sheffield this season in regulation, but were beaten 5-2 by the Steelers on their own ice in early October. The Blaze have won two of their last 10 home games against the Steelers overall, but into this tie having won four straight league games.