By Mike Appleton

EPL ICE HOCKEY: MANCHESTER Phoenix will head in to the Christmas period top of the English Premier League after thrashing Sheffield Steeldogs 7-0 on Sunday.

Curtis Huppe led the way with a brace as the weekend's hockey fixtures were decimated by the weather.

Only rivals Guildford Flames played over the two days, securing a 5-3 win at Telford which keeps them one point behind Phoenix.

Both Manchester's matches against Milton Keynes and Slough were postponed, but officials managed to persuade the Steeldogs to travel over the Pennines – bringing forward the side's January fixture.

And it was Phoenix who benefitted, hammering their opponents and giving back-up netminder Adam Summerfield more ice time.

Sheffield were understrength and it showed as goals from Marcus Kristoffersson, Pavel Gomeniuk and Huppe underlined the home side's dominance in a fiesty first period.

Andre Payette's return to Manchester brought fireworks as the former Phoenix hardman tangled with successor Andrew Sharp twice in the first 20 minutes.

But his game ended as the period hooter sounded as he was ejected for a cheap late shot on Phoenix player-coach Tony Hand.

Huppe, Ladislav Harabin, James Archer and Stephen Wallace bagged further markers in the second before a penalty strewn third disrupted the flow and Phoenix' attack.

Manchester's next match is in the New Year when they will also find out who they will face in the EPL Cup Semi Finals.