Nottingham Panthers rivalry adds extra spice for Dominic Cormier as Sheffield Steelers chase semi-final spot
Sheffield Steelers travel to take on Nottingham Panthers on Saturday before facing Guildford Flames at the Utilita Arena on Sunday
Sheffield Steelers defenceman Dominic Cormier believes Saturday's Challenge Cup showdown with Nottingham Panthers carries extra significance as Aaron Fox's side look to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Steelers face their biggest rivals at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Saturday before returning to home ice on Sunday evening to take on Guildford Flames at the Utilita Arena Sheffield (7pm).
Two victories would guarantee Sheffield's progression to the semi-finals, with the Steelers currently leading their Challenge Cup group with 10 points from six games, one point ahead of Nottingham, who have played a game more.
And while Cormier acknowledges that every victory is worth the same two points, he admits there is always something special about beating the Panthers.
"The rivalry itself has gone on for so many years, and you always want to be better than them," said Cormier.
"At the end of the day, it's two points, but it means a lot more when it's against those guys.
"I think the two points mean a lot more in those games."
The Steelers have already enjoyed success against Nottingham this season, recording a 3-2 victory over the Panthers on September 19, with Cormier collecting an assist in that encounter.
However, the Canadian defenceman knows Saturday's meeting will present another difficult challenge against a Panthers side equally determined to strengthen their position in the group.
"They're always a good team," he continued. "They know Sheffield are coming to Nottingham, so it's a big game for them too. Everyone is going to be going, and it should be an interesting game."
One of the features of any Steelers visit to Nottingham is the travelling support, with hundreds of orange shirts regularly making their presence felt inside the Panthers' home arena.
Cormier says that backing provides an additional lift for the players, particularly in fixtures carrying such importance.
"It's always fun going there and seeing all the orange jerseys in that rink," he said.
"After last weekend, we got back on track and the guys are excited for the next weekend.
"We have quite a few Challenge Cup games, and our goal is to finish first in the pool.
"These two games are going to be huge for us, and all the guys are excited to see all the orange in Nottingham."
The Steelers head into the weekend with renewed confidence following victories over Glasgow Clan and Manchester Storm, results which provided the perfect response to their disappointing previous weekend.
Having established themselves at the top of their Challenge Cup group, Fox's side now have the opportunity to take a significant step towards the knockout stages.
But Cormier insists the Steelers are not simply looking to qualify. Finishing as high as possible in the group remains an important objective.
"That's our goal. We want to finish as high as we can," he explained.
"We've set ourselves up nicely in the Cup, so two points against them would just help us down the road."
Following Saturday's trip to Nottingham, the Steelers will have little time to recover before facing Guildford Flames on Sunday evening.