By Stuart Hughes BBC Sport Online

Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Nottingham Panthers

Sheffield Steelers held off Nottingham Panthers on Sunday to reclaim the Challenge Cup.

Steelers, who won the trophy for three years running between 1999 and 2001, beat their fierce rivals - despite a late comeback by Nottingham at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

The Superleague's leading goalie, Joel Laing, looked to be heading for a shutout until six minutes from time, when he slipped up and let a short-handed Briane Thompson effort through.

Two minutes later Greg Hadden, who recently became the ISL's all-time leading scorer, forced through Nottingham's second.

Panthers pulled goalie Petter Sandstrom for the extra skater but Sheffield held on to claim their eighth Superleague title.

Hadden claimed one of his side's goals

Panthers had got off to a positive start. Lee Jinman fired wide before the game was delayed due to a problem with the plexiglass.

Kristian Taubert had two early chances and in the 10th minute Mark Cadotte put Joel Laing to the test.

After Nottingham's Jason Clarke was sent to the penalty box for roughing, Sheffield's Kent Simpson put Steelers ahead.

Scott Allison was penalised for cross-checking and as he came out of the box had two chances inside a minute to pull Panthers level. He too was denied by man of the match Laing.

Blocked

With three and a half minutes left in the opening session Jason Sessa unleashed a shot from the right wing past Nottingham goalie Mika Pietila.

Panthers coach Paul Adey replaced Pietila with Sandstrom for the start of the second period.

He blocked dangerous shots from Kent Simpson and Jason Sessa.

Towards the end of the middle period Sessa's shot took a nasty deflection but Sandstrom somehow managed to prevent the puck from crossing the goal line.

Mark Dutiaume bagged Sheffield's third with twelve minutes left before Nottingham began their spirited, but ultimately fruitless, fightback.

In the Superleague, meanwhile, Belfast Giants hammered London Knights 5-1.

Knights, unbeaten in their previous six home games, scored first. A pass from Mo Mansi set up Steve Aronson after three minutes.

London's lead was short-lived. Steve Thornton (powerplay) equalised on ten minutes.

After the first break two goals from Rob Stewart, a second from Thornton and a short-handed effort by Kory Karlander lifted Belfast to their first away win in eight games.

Knights will get a chance to avenge the defeat next Sunday, when the two sides meet again in Docklands.

ICE HOCKEY SUPERLEAGUE

Team	P	W	D	OTL	L	For	Ag	Pts
Sheffield Steelers	27	15	4	0	8	69	48	34
Nottingham Panthers	28	15	4	0	9	85	73	34
Belfast Giants	26	12	5	1	8	87	65 30
London Knights	28	10	8	1	10	73	77	29
Bracknell Bees	30	5	5	2	18	70	121	17