Cliff Pu hit a hat-trick as Sheffield Steelers recorded a 5-1 Challenge Cup victory in Coventry to move within a point of top spot in Group A behind the Blaze.
The visitors took control midway through the opening frame when Cliff Pu broke clear with shorthand and beat Mat Robson to open the scoring at 9:19. Eight minutes later, Pu struck again after another breakaway, finishing a pass from Mikko Juusola to double the lead. He completed his hat-trick at 12:35 with a point shot into the top corner, sending Sheffield into the break 3–0 ahead.
“I thought it was a good team performance from us,” Pu began. “Our special teams did well, 6/6 on the kill and 2/3 on the power play, so all parts of our game are strong and it was nice to get the win.”
The Steelers extended their lead at 28:27 when Evan Jasper scored on the power play to make it 4-0. Grant Mismash pulled one back for the Blaze late in the second period, closing off a feed from Alessio Luciani and Sam Ruffin with 13 seconds left.
“I thought we came out pretty well for the first ten minutes and then a short goal against and their second goal deflated a bit,” admitted Blaze’s David Clements. “It was still a long way back against a team that has a lot of quality everywhere and a goalkeeper who is playing well. It was a tough climb uphill, but the effort was there from the boys.”
Matchell Balmas added a fifth with 13 seconds to play in the final period.
“It’s good hockey here in the EIHL,” Pu concluded. “The secret of British hockey is getting better and better. There are a lot of good players here and it’s been a lot of fun so far.”
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