Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Dylan Pick
The Sheffield Steelers got their 2025/26 season underway with a perfect start at home taking a 5-2 victory in the Challenge Cup against the Guildford Flames.
Aaron Fox’s side headed into the game as not only favourites for the match, but one of the favourites for Elite League silverware this season, an important goal for his side after failing to defend anything from their treble winning season in 2023/24.
It took 15 minutes for the first Steelers goal to go onto the scoreboard in what was a tight first period as defencemen Brien Diffley got proceedings underway.
Period two showed more of what Guildford had to offer as they came out with more urgency and physicality, a staple of Paul Dixon’s side over the years.
Cole Ully was the man who got the first Flames goal of the season as he tied things up with a beautiful one timer goal as he was fed by Jake Coughler following a turnover on the boards.
Less than two minutes into the final period the Steelers got themselves back ahead on a two-on-one as newcomer Derek Gentile scored his first in orange.
It wasn’t much later before Gentile added another to his tally, this time a move between his legs opened up some space to beat Justin Fazio.
Heading into the final 10 minutes the Flames got themselves back within touching distance, Jake Coughler racing down the left wing to get a shorthanded goal onto the tally.
Coughler’s effort was only to be in vain as the home side racked up two goals in 40 seconds from Jordan Southorn and Cliff Pu to confirm their first win of the season.
This is now the ninth home win in a row against the Surrey-based side, who haven’t won at the Utilita Arena since 2023.
Up next for the Steelers is another Cup game, this time on the road away tomorrow (Sunday 14th) to Cardiff, who they already beat in Pre-Season.
