Sheffield Steelers ice red-hot Pinc tonight

The astonishing surge in form of Czech goaltender Marek Pinc means he will be the starting Sheffield Steelers goaltender tonight, at Braehead Clan.
Marek Pinc - Sheffield SteelersMarek Pinc - Sheffield Steelers
Marek Pinc - Sheffield Steelers

Tyler Plante, while not 100% fit, has trained at full pelt all week and was hoping for a recall. But Pinc’s confident performances - he has conceded a single goal in each of his last four performances - make him coach Paul Thompson’s pick this evening. Jonathan Phillips, who has also trained all week, is not ready for a return yet. His target is the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Panthers.

Steelers host Coventry Blaze on Sunday and their goalie Brian Stewart, who is rated as the best goalie in the league, when he is hot, by Thompson.

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n A group of friends will join together on Monday, for a charity match to raise money for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. It’s the big one: “Team Elf” play “Team Santa” at iceSheffield (6pm.)

Planning started a year ago at the UK Forum All-Stars weekend where hockey enthusiasts came together to raise money for specific causes. Supporter Joe Hattersley said: “After a hard day of hockey, two of the hockey players, Matt Newton and Craig Smith were having a chat that would become reality. One of them said: ‘It would be great if we could do a charity game at Christmas in aid of charity.’

“After a lot of hard graft, the first Christmas Classic game was played in December 2014. A sum of £2,000 and over 2500 tins of food were donated to Sheffield’s Firvale Food Bank. “This year it’s the turn of Sheffield Children’s Hospital to become the chosen charity. “We hope people will donate, support the excellent services of the Children’s and come to iceSheffield to support the players.”