Steelers hand Blaze first defeat of 2026

Photo: Hayley Roberts

Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze, two of the form sides in the league, met on Sunday night at the Utilita Arena Sheffield, with both teams having taken nine points from their previous five games.

A quiet opening period was broken with just 1.3 seconds remaining when Grant Mismash put the Blaze ahead. A long pass from Colton Saucerman sent him in on a partial break and he finished under the arm of Eamon McAdam.

“I think we came out strong in the first and second, and we were playing good defensively,” explained Blaze forward Matthew Gleason. “Robson was playing well and we were good at maintaining momentum.”

The Blaze doubled their lead early in the second period. Breaking quickly from their own zone on a three-on-two rush, slick passing left Jere Vertanen to finish from close range and make it 2-0.

“We got that big goal, but then the building got pretty rowdy and they came out in the third and we just came up short,” added Gleason.

The Steelers responded when a quick breakout sent Patrick Watling and Mikko Juusola away on a two-on-one. Juusola’s initial pass was mishandled but recovered, and he fed Mitchell Balmas in front to fire home Sheffield’s first of the night.

“It was pretty interesting. They got up by two, but I think we really pushed back well,” explained Steelers forward Balmas. “Credit to the boys, I thought we were really going and it was only a matter of time before we tied it up and then took the lead.”

The hosts then turned the game around in the third. A Juusola pass into the slot set up Brett Ritchie for a one-timer with 8:36 to play to tie the game, before Jack Dougherty put the Steelers ahead with 7:26 remaining, cutting inside from above the circle and finishing high to complete the comeback.

“Coventry are a good team. They have a good goalie at the back, they work hard out front and they’re never an easy match,” added Balmas. “I thought we matched their compete level tonight and our skill took over in the end.”