Saturday 7th March 2020, Face off 7pm, Doors Open 6:00pm

Tickets available here

Sheffield Steeldogs make their last league visit of the season to Planet Ice on Saturday when the battle is on between sixth and seventh placed teams.

For anyone thinking that the game is of little consequence, try telling that to both sets of players who will be giving their all for the bragging rights as the campaign goes into the business end of the competition with the play-offs looming just a couple of weeks away.

Lightning, Steeldogs and Hull Pirates are locked in an almighty fight for positions five to seven with just two points separating the two northern outfits and MK squeezed in the middle. Hull have a game in hand on their two rivals but all three teams could still finish fourth – if Basingstoke Bison drop points.

If MK and Sheffield finish sixth and seventh – in any order – they will meet again in the play-off group games while Hull will come into the frame if they fall down the league. Nothing is likely to be certain, it seems, until the final buzzer on the final day of the league programme – it’s that close and consequently, exciting.

That makes for highly competitive hockey and if the previous meetings between Lightning and Steeldogs are anything to go by the score will be close – three out of the past four games have seen the sides separated by a single goal. MK lost on penalties the last time out but the previous day won by a solitary goal – a 52nd minute strike from Liam Stewart who also scored the first goal in the second minute.

Both games in the run up to Christmas went Lightning’s way with a 5-2 home success followed by a closer 4-3 result the next day at iceSheffield. Having momentum going into the play-offs is all important for both teams so head down to Planet Ice on Saturday, face off 7pm, to catch the action. Book your tickets in advance by phoning 01908 540020, or going online here

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Photo: Tony Sargent