It was an important day for the Elite League and British hockey as there were two big news stories in the EIHL today both coming out of Yorkshire.
Firstly in Hull the Stingrays have announced they will be without top scorer Jerome Tendler for some time as the forward has failed a drugs test.
Tendler has been missing from the Stingrays line up for 4 games since being informed of the news that he had tested positive after a game against the Coventry Blaze on January 15th. The actual substance the Canadian was found to have taken has not been released yet but was described by the organisation as a ‘specified substance,’ which according to the World Anti Doping Authority, WADA, is one that is ‘more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation.’
Tendler will remain suspended from playing duties until his case is heard by the UK Anti Doping Agency however if found guilty Tendler could face a punishment of anything from a warning to a 2 year ban. The EIHL has not announced whether or not it plans to take its own disciplinary measures against the player or not.
It is a huge blow for the Stingrays who currently lie 7th in the table and are looking to secure their playoff spot.
On the other side of Yorkshire there was no Valentines Day love to be shown at the Motorpoint Arena as the Sheffield Steelers faced their biggest rivals the Nottingham Panthers. Eleven years after a mass brawl on the ice in the NIC between the two sides there has been little love ever since.
Tonight’s meeting was important for both sides, as both need a win to keep the pressure up on Belfast at the top of the table. The tone was set early as David Clarke put the Panthers ahead after just over a minute only for Colt King to reply for home side less than a minute later.
The second period followed a similar pattern as Birnstill this time put the Steeler’s in front before Robert Lachowicz replied for the Panthers. The deadlock was finally broken in the third period as the Panthers penalty troubles caught up with them with Steelers player coach Ryan Finnerty notching the gaming-winning goal after fighting with Brock Wilson earlier in the game.
Jonathan Philips netted with just over a minute remain to seal the victory, move the Steelers 3 points clear of the Panthers in second place and 2 points closer to the Giants but also seals a first win in 5 attempts so far this season against their arch rivals.
Results
Elite League
Tuesday 14th February
Nottingham Panthers 2 Sheffield Steelers 4
Neil Tucker
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