BRACKNELL Bees slipped to a 7-3 defeat in their English Premier Ice Hockey League encounter at Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday night.

In an early exchange, the home side’s netminder Dalibor Sedlar stopped a blast from Milan Kostourek, before Arnaldos Bosas tested Alex Mettam at the other end.

An Andrew Hirst attempt went wide of the post for the Steeldogs, but they took the lead on a powerplay when Tim Smith fired his side in front.

The Steeldogs had a little momentum after the goal and Stano Lascek produced a sweet move taking the puck around the net but the Bees netminder was equal to the task.

Bees player coach Lukas Smital looked to have a scoring chance as the period drew to a close but a sliding stop from Steve Duncombe denied him.

Sheffield spent much of the opening minutes of the second stanza killing penalties, and when Lascek chased a puck up the ice after initially losing out, he squeezed the puck home at the second attempt.

The Bees did eventually cut the gap when Kostourek beat Sedlar, and Bracknell were level soon after when Jordan Smith forced the puck home from close range.

The next few minutes saw the netminders working hard, Mettam denying Bosas after some great passing and then Sedlar slamming the door shut twice on Kostourek as he counter-attacked.

The Bees made it three straight goals with Vanya Antonov getting a tip in front to divert the puck and give the visitors their first lead of the night.

The visitors had several more chances and the Steeldogs were on the back foot until they thought they had scored, but after lengthy deliberation the referee decided it was not a goal as Bees led 3-2 going into the last period.

Sheffield equalised early in the final stanza as, with the Bees having two men in the penalty box, Tom Squires tipped the puck home.

The game carried on with opportunities at both ends but with the home side giving Mettamthe majority of work to do.

But the Bees netminder was powerless to stop goal four as the puck completely changed direction in front of him, Lascek credited with his second of the night.

Kostourek returned to the action after serving a 10-minute misconduct penalty and almost got his name on the score-sheet again, but his stick did not connect with the puck.

At this point the Sheffield team began to dominate the game, first Bosas slotting home, before Liam Charnock notched his first goal of the campaign to make it 6-3 to the home team.

With time running out, Bracknell pulled Mettam for the extra skater but Smith stepped in to score an empty-net goal with eight seconds of the game to go to put a further gloss on the scoreline.

Bracknell Bees visit Basingstoke Bison on Saturday (6.30pm) before hosting Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday (6pm).

l BRACKNELL Bees forward Vanya Antonov has been named in the Great Britian Under 20s squad for the World Championship (Division 1B) in Megeve.

GB, who were promoted from Division 2A last year, will come up against hosts France and also Japan, Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine.

The six-team tournament runs from December 12-18, with the group winners being promoted to Division 1A.

Twelve of the squad who won the gold medal in Estonia last year have been named in the squad.

Head coach Tommy Watkins said: “I am very pleased with my squad and we have a great mix of youth and experience.

“I had a number of tough choices and a number of excellent players are disappointed to be left out of the squad.

“Myself and the coaching staff – and all the players – are excited about the challenges that lie ahead.”

Bees defenceman Tom Relf has been listed among four reserves for the event.