Steve Thornton's Giants side drew 3-3 in Sheffield

The Belfast Giants let a three-goal lead slip in the first of their matches against the Sheffield Steelers in the British Knockout Cup on Saturday.

It was the first of back-to-back games between the sides with the aggregate winners making the quarter-finals.

The Giants enjoyed a 3-0 lead thanks to scores from Bobby Robins, Colin Shields and Andrew Martin but the Steelers hit back to level the contest.

The second match is in Sheffield on Sunday, 26 October at 1900 GMT.