Sheffield Steelers 2, Cardiff Devils 6

Cardiff Devils have won the British ice hockey title for the first time in 20 years.

Player-coach Andrew Lord and his team outplayed reigning Elite League champions Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire and clinched top spot.

Devils, who had already won the Challenge Cup, still have three League fixtures to play, all at home, but they have already made certain of the title.

Mark Richardson, Patrick Asselin, Joey Martin, Sean Bentivoglio, Lord and Patrick Bordeleau were the scorers on a huge night for Cardiff.

More than 400 fans made the trip from South Wales to South Yorkshire and they chanted ‘We are number one’ as their team won in style.

Devils hoaxed Steelers over the injury to Ben Bowns.

The story went out late in the week that Cardiff had signed British goaltender Sam Gospel from Telford Tigers to act as back-up to Thomas Murdy because first choice Bowns was injured.

Yokshireman Bowns had been hurt a week earlier when he damaged an ankle in a collision during a League match in Sheffield.

Devils took the deception further when Bowns hobbled off the team coach on crutches in clear view of Sheffield stewards and fans.

Former Cardiff forward Doug Clarkson, who plays for Telford, joined in when he tweeted: “So proud of Sam being called up by Cardiff.”

The ploy worked to such an extent that Steelers coach Paul Thompson was told by club staff that Gospel was in the Devils team.

But when the warm-up started Bowns and Murdy were the netminders on the ice with no sign of the ‘replacement’ – and Bowns was the starting goalie.

First period

Bowns was in goal, while Layne Ulmer was the import player rested after his wife gave birth to a son this week.

Devils then stunned Steelers by scoring after only 26 seconds when Richardson scored with assists going to Andrew Lord and Sean Bentivoglio.

Cardiff then scored again on a 5v3 powerplay when Patrick Asselin fired home after 13 minutes 27 seconds with goalie Ervins Mustukovs pulled hopelessly out of position.

Devils dominated for long spells with Steelers looking got break fast on the counter-attack.

End of first: Steelers 0, Devils 2.

Second period: 

Steelers pulled a goal back on the powerplay when Ben O’Connor fired home (25-47), but Devils continued to play with a calm composure.

They carved out a big chance of their own when Matthew Myers slipped a pass for Guillaume Doucet, who was only denied by a huge Mustukovs save.

Martin made it 3-1 on the powerplay after 34-08, firing home after Andrew Hotham was denied.

After two periods Devils had outshot their hosts 25-12.

End of second: Steelers 1, Devils 3.

Third period

Cardiff strengthened their grip on the match when Bentivoglio smashed home a shot for an unassisted goal on 44-12.

Steelers were simply unable to contain Cardiff’s as they powered towards the title.

Martin broke clear and was only denied a shorthanded goal by another big Mustukovs save, while Gleason Fournier’s shot hit the bar.

Sheffield launched a late assault and scored their second when Geoff Walker fired home on 52-03, but Devils replied quickly with a powerplay goal by Lord.

Steelers pulled their goalie with three minutes left and it was Bordeleau who completed the scoring, going full length to slide his long range effort into an empty net.

End of third: Steelers 2, Devils 5.

Match stats:

Scorers, Steelers: Ben O’Connor 1+1, Geoff Walker 1+1, John Armstrong 0+1, Marcus Neilson 0+1.

Devils: Mark Richardson 1+0, Patrick Asselin 1+0, Joey Martin 1+2, Andrew Lord 1+1, Patrick Bordeleau 1+0, Sean Bentivoglio 1+0, Andrew Hotham 0+2, Sean Bentivoglio 0+1, Joey Haddad 0+1.

Period scores (Steelers first): 0-2; 1-1 (1-3); 1-1 (2-4).

Penalties in minutes: Steelers 8+4+4=16; Devils 4+2+6=12.

Referee: Tom Pering.