The Basingstoke Bison found the Blaze too hot to handle in Coventry on Sunday night as they lost their opening Challenge Cup game 6-2.

The home side opened the scoring at 11.51 with a goal from Danny Stewart, they doubled their lead at 16.58 as Matt Soderstrom found the net. With 4 seconds of the period left the Bison pulled one back from the stick of Brad Cruikshank.

The Blaze restored their two goal advantage at 23.04 with a powerplay goal from Sylvain Cloutier and then at 29.50 number four was on the board as Curtis Huppe scored. For the second time in the game the visitors hit a late goal as their Danny Stewart hit the net at 39.16.

Coventry made the game safe with a fifth goal at the start of the third period as Tom Watkins slotted home at 41.29. The final goal of the game came at 53.22 as Sylvain Cloutier netted his second of the game for the Blaze to run out comfortable winners.

Period Scores: 2-1 2-1, 2-0
Penalty Mins: 10-16
Shots On: Trevor Koenig 30 - Stevie Lyle 23

Other Sunday results:

bmibaby Elite League
Edinburgh Capitals 3 Cardiff Devils 2
Manchester Phoenix 2 Nottingham Panthers 1

Challenge Cup Group B
Hull Stingrays 1 Sheffield Steelers 4