Ice Hockey: Still pride at stake for Stew

ROB Stewart admits he is surprised his team go into battle with the Nottingham Panthers this evening with nothing at stake.

Early in the season his Belfast Giants side were the team to beat in the Elite League with the Panthers fighting it out with them for top spot.

However, when Sheffield hit the front just days into the New Year they never surrendered that lead before clinching the Championship two weeks ago.

That has rendered games almost meaningless apart from those vying for Play-off places at the bottom of the table as next week eight becomes six.

Stewart said: "When the fixtures came out I looked at the last game at Nottingham and I thought it may mean more than just pride.

"We still want to win it, though, we could meet them again in the Play-offs and if we do I want to face them having won the previous game.

"The important thing for us is that we don't pick up injuries going into the Play-offs, but we still want to go into this game showing we mean business."

Basingstoke are the first team, following their 2-2 draw with Belfast, to fail to make the Play-offs, which are split into two groups of three teams.

Having won the league the Steelers will face those who finished fourth and sixth while Group B consists of teams finishing in second, third and fifth.

If the Giants beat Nottingham and Coventry lose to Cardiff, then Belfast will finish in third place.

TODAY: Manchester v London, Nottingham v Belfast, Coventry v Cardiff, Sheffield v Basingstoke.

Copyright 2004 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.