2010-11 Season

Sheffield Steelers won the Elite League for the third time, while Nottingham Panthers became the first side to complete the Challenge Cup and play-off double in the Elite League era.
 
A thrilling league campaign went down to the final weekend of the season, with Sheffield, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants all having a chance of winning the title. Steelers claimed the crown by virtue of regulation-time wins ahead of Cardiff, with Belfast Giants a point behind in third.

With Sheffield having the advantage going into the final weekend, Cardiff and Belfast needed the Steelers to slip up. All three sides won on the final Saturday of the regular season, Steelers beat Braehead in Scotland (5-1), Cardiff beat Coventry at home (7-4) and Belfast travelled to Nottingham and won 6-2.

The following day, Belfast beat Coventry 7-2 in the Skydome, Cardiff thrashed Edinburgh 9-2 in Scotland and Sheffield beat Braehead 7-2 at the Sheffield Arena to secure the title.

Panthers won the Challenge Cup with a 4-3 two-legged victory over Belfast. A 3-1 win for the Panthers at the National Ice Centre was followed by a 2-1 victory for the Giants in Northern Ireland as Nottingham held on for their third Challenge Cup trophy in four seasons.
 
Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham and Sheffield reached play-off finals weekend. The Devils beat the Giants (4-1) and Panthers saw off arch-rivals Steelers thanks to a goal from Nottingham-born Robert Lachowicz in overtime (4-3).

Nottingham and Cardiff went head-to-head in a replica of the 2007 final and Panthers claimed their second trophy of the season with a thrilling 5-4 victory.
 

Tags: 2010-11 Season