Sheffield Steelers: Marco Vallerand on how he has 'popped his cherry' after Challenge Cup win

The Sheffield sniper helped his team to a 4-3 Challenge Cup final win over Cardiff Devils last Sunday with a first period goal and a great all-round performance.

At 30 years of age, the trophy is the first the French Canadian has collected on any team since skating out for École Éd.-Montpetit Prédateurs in midget Quebec hockey, 15 years ago.

Speaking after the win in Wales, Vallerand said: "I have never won anything, so I have just popped my cherry! It is an unbelievable feeling. It is overwhelming."

It is a sensation he wants to repeat, too.

And while winning the regular EIHL title may now be a big ask, with Devils a point ahead of Steelers with three games in hand, the forward and his team-mates will be going for maximum points in that competition and the play offs.

"We are going to keep digging. It is the first one to win and we won it and we'll see what happens next but it sure is a great feeling," says Vallerand, who has scored 31 goals and as many assists this campaign.

Sheffield had been underdogs before Sunday's final but Vallerand said he did not feel any extra pressure going into the game.

The players approached it as a one-off, differentiating it to other matches before or afterwards.

"Everybody responded so well," he said - and included the 1,500 Steelers supporters who had made the 415-mile round trip.

He said the fans were "incredible" - the players could hear them chanting and singing from the dressing room before the game at the Viola Arena.

"The energy that they gave us was just incredible."

Vallerand had special words of praise for goaltender Tomas Duba, who had an off-night at the same rink last Friday.

"He responded...you have got to give credit to the guy, we all knew he would come strong and he made some unreal saves."

*Vallerand is second only to Brendan Connolly on points, this season.

Connolly has a single point more - but has played nine more games.

Steelers are back in action at home against Manchester Storm on Saturday.

On the same night Cardiff entertain Guildford Flames.

Sheffield have no game on Sunday - but Devils will use up one of their games in hand, in a visit to second-from-bottom Dundee Stars.

Andrew Lord's team use up another on Wednesday, March 18, when they host one of Vallerand's former teams, Coventry Blaze.

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