Devils lose in Sheffield on Sunday night

Pictured above: Tyler de la Bertouche got his first start as a Devil on Sunday (photo Dean Woolley)

The Devils headed to Sheffield for the second game of the pre-season series against the Steelers on Sunday evening.  They were missing 7 players away with Team GB and another two that were lost to injury (Mac Carruth and Riley Brandt) last night in Cardiff. 

With neither of their starting goalies available, the Devils called upon Tyler de la Bertouche who is on a two-way agreement with the Devils and the Bristol Pitbulls to start in goal.  The Devils also had 4 other two-way players in the line-up – Jacob White-Sey, Sam Smith, Bayley Harewood and Joe Tomalin, all playing a regular shift on the night. 

Pictured above: Bayley Harewood was solid all weekend for the Devils (photo Dean Woolley)

The teams traded goals in the first period, first the Steelers’ Mark Simpson made it 1-0 at 3:45 then Andrew MacWilliam tied it up at 9:47, set up by Zach O’Brien making it 1-1.  The period ended tied with the Devils having the better chances on goal. 

The second period saw the Steelers turn up the intensity and take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.  Dominic Cormier and Mikko Juusola scored for the Steelers before Hunter Shinkaruk continued his pre-season scoring streak with a late goal at 38:23 to pull within one going into the final period. 

Pictured above: Andrew MacWilliam scored the first for the Devils (photo Dean Woolley)

Four unanswered goals for the Steelers in the final period saw the home side skate away with the 7-2 victory over a short-benched Devils squad that will look forward to getting their GB International players and coaches back next week when they take on the Nottingham Panthers.