NOTTINGHAM Panthers' hopes of winning the first silverware up for grabs this season went crashing in spectacular fashion at the Sheffield Arena yesterday.

The Elite League leaders were walloped 6-0 by Coventry Blaze in the fourth quarter-final at the inaugural Hockey-Fest 20-20 tournament.

Host club Sheffield Steelers enjoyed some rare success on their own ice this season by winning the competition, beating Blaze 3-2 in the final.

But Panthers player-coach Corey Neilson angrily refuted claims that he'd been "arrogant" and had not taken the event seriously by resting three players – including himself – for their first game.

Star Brit David Clarke and young Scot Ross Dalgleish also sat out, along with injury worry Kevin Bergin, who was replaced by fellow import Johan Molin in a pre-planned move to give the French-Canadian's damaged ankle more time to heal.

It was a gamble that back-fired big style but Neilson was adamant it was done to give his side the best chance of winning the trophy – as well as keeping his star players fit and healthy for the more important games to come.

"I haven't let anyone down," he said. "It was a calculated risk, much like a Champions League manager, resting players for the bigger games ahead.

"The fact is, after the schedule we've had recently, I didn't want the older, experienced guys playing three games in a day.

"We're on a six-game unbeaten run and have just come off playing Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday.

"It's been tough but we've got a mission and I didn't want to lose one of my ten import stars or the other key players to a groin pull or something.

"And these guys wanted a rest.

"The plan was all drawn up and I going to miss the first game then hopefully play the semi and the final.

"Bruce (Richardson)_was going to miss the next game and I was going to rest Jade (Galbraith) too.

"If we'd have got to the semi-final we would have been the freshest team in the last four. It wasn't as if we didn't put out a good team.

"We even spent money to bring Johan Molin over from Sweden. That's how much we wanted to win it.

"I don't like the accusations that we didn't take the event seriously.

"We take everything seriously and we want people to enjoy watching us.

"If it had worked I could have sat here like a genius – instead of with egg on my face..

"But you have to be willing to lose a couple of battles to win the war, and we have to look at the bigger picture.

"But let's give some credit to Coventry here. They played very well. I'm always upset when we lose to them but even with a full line-up we still might have lost."

20-20 Results: Qtr finals: Sheffield 5, Hull; Belfast 2, Devils 3 (pens); Newcastle 1, Edinburgh 0; Panthers 0, Coventry 6. Semi-finals: Sheffield 4, Cardiff 1; Coventry 3, Newcastle 2. Final: Sheffield 3, Coventry 2.