The Sheffield Steelers had to wait a while for their first-ever win in the Champions Hockey League, but after seven defeats to some elite clubs, the British side finally tasted victory. While that was their last game in the competition to date the flip-side is that they've not lost in the CHL since that night in September 2017!
The Steelers had already taken part in the CHL a season earlier but were unable to manage a win, leaving them behind both the Braehead Clan and Nottingham Panthers who'd managed to earn a victory in their debut seasons.
They started well on the road on Jönköping, tying HV71 a 3-3 early in the final period before eventually losing. However, a horrible game in Salzburg two nights later saw the Steelers thrashed 8-1 and led to Head Coach Paul Thompson declare after the game:
However, back on home ice the Steelers put up another gallant display against HV71 before entertaining Salzburg on 11 September. Although the Steelers fell behind to goals from John Hughes and Manuel Latusa either side of Jesse Schultz's equaliser, the Yorkshiremen took over in period two and were ahead by one thanks to Schultz and Rob Dowd after 40 minutes. Luke Ferrara gave them some breathing room early in period three before Schultz completed his hat-trick with just under 13 minutes to play.
That 5-2 win was a historic one for the Steelers - not only their first victory in the CHL, but also their first points on the board. And while it wasn't enough to help them through to the next round, it still helped the Elite League pick up 60 points that season in the overall League Ranking.
"We showed what we are about tonight," said the proud Steelers' Head Coach after the game. "We let ourselves down in Austria and wanted to put that right tonight, we bounced back and showed the team that we are so credit to the boys. Every time you go to Europe you play the best teams in Europe – Red Bull are one of them, HV71 are another - and you become better by playing better teams. We'd have liked to have moved on in the competition, but every year we're getting closer."