First things first, I think we put our best performance of the season in on Wednesday against Coventry, we at last found a way to beat them in a regulation win.

As many of you will know its was the second leg of the Knockout Cup and we trailed 2-1 after the first leg. We were 6-4 up and I honestly thought that would be enough to see us through.

However, the game ended 6-5 and we had to play an overtime period. We were still confident and had chances to win the tie but when Jonathan Weaver, my GB team-mate scored for Blaze it was like a dagger through the heart. Afterwards in the room it was so mixed; we all knew we had played the game of the year ... we had won the match but lost the tie. Performance-wise I don't think there's a Steelers fan alive who could have faulted any player for effort, I hope not anyway.

Injuries happen, its a part of the game we play. We're all tough guys who play tough. However when some injuries happen they still turn your stomach as was the case on Wednesday when Warren Tait was hit in the face with a puck. It was one of those moments, it was horrible.

The good news, if there can be such a thing, is that Warren won't require surgery. He had 16 stitches and has a broken cheekbone. He'll be out for some three weeks and will look like the Elephant man for a while but it could have been a ot worse. Get well soon mate.

In September you arrive for training camp and meet your new team-mates for the first time. You hope that you have a good bunch of players who you'll get on with for the next 32 weeks. Therefore when one player has to leave, has to be cut from the team, it's hard for us to take. On Wednesday, after the game, Jeremy Cornish was released by Dave Matsos our coach. Corney is a top guy, its been great to be with him for the journey so far, and we'll all miss him. You have to feel for a guy when this happens and we wish him well.

I sat next to Dave in Cardiff when he was a player. I know in just his second year as a coach he still has great feeling for the players, he remembers how we feel, what we like. Therefore I know cutting Corney would have been tough.

'Matty' has to do what he feels is best for the team, I suppose he has to take the personal feelings out it. I would hate making those decisions.

We have a new player coming in and Matty obviously feels that this guy will help us. What a game for the new guy to make his debut in, a Challenge Cup Final against Nottingham. We have to win this, there can be no excuses. This is our game of the season.

We've had huge success against Nottingham so far this year but it was a similar story last year and then the only game they won against knocked us out of the play offs. We owe them.

When I came to Sheffield I thought this Steelers-Panthers stuff was a lot of hot air, just marketing for the games. It isn't you know. The two clubs genuinely hate each other, the players don't speak, the fans banter is legendary.

I wake up on Nottingham mornings in a cold sweat; it's Nottingham, we just have to win, nothing else matters.

That's how its got me, a second year Steeler, a Welsh second year Steeler.

The Challenge Cup Final first leg is being played at the Sheffield Arena on Wednesday, January (face off 7.30pm). Ticket Office 0114 2565656.