Chris Hughton has praised the performance of his Brighton players as they suffered Championship play-off heartbreak against Sheffield Wednesday. The Seagulls finished 15 points clear of their semi-final opponents but were beaten 3-1 on aggregate to end their hopes of promotion to the Premier League. The Yorkshire side held a 2-0 advantage from the first leg at Hillsborough, but despite Lewis Dunk netting for Brighton, Ross Wallace equalised for the Owls and the hosts were unable to find another reply. Manager Hughton was full of praise for his players, who missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference, and thought his side deserved more from the match.Yes, it is a tough night because I didnt think it was a correct scoreline, I thought we had the better chances, Hughton told Sky Sports following the game. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg Unfortunately for us, weve gone through a period in the last few games where things have gone against us either with decisions or injuries but Ive got a group of players in there who have been magnificent all season.They were never out of that top six and in that top three for most of the season and what they have got to do is use this as inspiration. Its tough at the moment for them but they have to use it to replicate it next season and to do that, theyve got to do what theyve done all this season.Theyve been excellent to work with, their application every day and its as good of a team spirit as Ive seen as a manager or a coach. I hope they can use that and todays events and the events during the season to be better next season. Sheffield Wednesday beat Brighton 3-1 on aggregate in the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-finals Finishing so many points clear of sixth place, its tough but thats how it is, but they will be better players for it and more experienced for it.Brighton will be joined by Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich in the Championship next season, and Hughton thinks the league will only get more difficult as those sides battle for a return to the Premier League. Brighton were knocked out on a 3-1 aggregate score against Sheffield Wednesday Hughton said: I think this division will continue to get tougher. Its tough enough as it is anyway with the amount of games that you play and the level of performance from most of the teams.We went through a big chunk of this season winning games probably by a goal which is how tight the margins were so well find it tougher but the three teams coming down will also find out how tough it is. 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On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one.MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Sam Bennett isnt accustomed to being last in anything. First among North American skaters in NHL Central Scoutings final 2014 draft rankings, the Kingston Frontenacs centre finished dead-last in one category during Saturdays fitness testing at the annual combine. Bennett couldnt do a single pull-up. "I was definitely disappointed with myself," Bennett said. "I was wanting to do the best I can in every test. But, I guess, ultimately games arent won or lost if you can do a pull-up in the gym." Bennett likely wont take much of a hit from being 12 pull-ups behind the leaders. If anything, his showing could help whichever team takes him early in the first round June 27 in Philadelphia. "The fact that he can play the game the way he plays the game, I think the teams feel that hes a pretty complete package," NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. "This is what the whole combines about: The team thats going to get Sam Bennett knows what work lies ahead and theyll be able to put him on the proper path for development." Bennett finished ahead of Barrie defenceman Aaron Ekblad, Kootenay centre Sam Reinhart and two other potential top picks, Prince Albert winger Leon Draisaitl and Oshawa winger Michael Dal Colle because of what he developed into on the ice. With his fathers favourite player, Doug Gilmour, overseeing his progress as Kingstons general manager, the Holland Landing, Ont., native had 36 goals and 55 assists in 57 OHL games this past season. But just like with pull-ups, Bennett doesnt want to be defined by numbers alone. "I think (what sets me apart) really just a combination of my hockey sense along with my compete level," he said. "I think I compete as hard, if not harder, than anyone else." Bennett isnt the only one trying to compete to go first overall, or in the top five, the first round or in the draft, period. Over a hundred fellow prospects joined him at this weeks combine with the aim of impressing NHL teams. Well before the physical grind that was Saturdays fitness testing, players gathered outside of Toronto to meet with NHL teams. Marr likened the entire process to a giant conveyor belt as these teenagers went through the mental trials of often answering the same questions over and over. Most dont mind it. Top European skater Kasperi Kapanen -- son of former NHL forward Sami -- called it "natural&quoot; to sit around and talk to people, and Draisaitl didnt want to downplay the week, either.dddddddddddd "I think its really important for them to know what kind of a guy I am and how I work off the ice," said Draisaitl, the only German-born player at the combine. "Thats a really important part of it. Its not only everything about the ice." Teams have spent countless hours watching these players on the ice, and thats not what the combine is about. Despite talk among general managers about adding on-ice testing, there is nothing of the sort, and individual teams arent allowed to invite prospects to their cities to skate. At the annual GM meeting in March, commissioner Gary Bettman said there was some discussion to see "what needs to be done to make the combine as effective as possible." After consultation with strength coaches, Marr said that new, more "dynamic" tests were put in this year to better gauge players physical abilities. One change was pull-ups replacing push-ups because it meant players had to lift their own body weight. While Bennett couldnt do one, Brandon centre Jayce Hawryluk and Czech winger David Pastrnak each did 12. Of course that doesnt necessarily mean theyll be better players, or that theyre closer to being NHL-ready. "This isnt a pass or fail type of test," Marr said. "It just allows the NHL teams to see where these players are in their current state of development." Bennett, who turns 18 in June, conceded that hell need to work on his upper-body strength in the gym this summer. As Marr knows, thats not unusual for junior-aged players. "(At age) 17, 18, 19, if you go back in history with some of the players in the game, theyll find that there was one summer that really made a difference in their physical development," he said. "So maybe at this stage he just hasnt had that summer of development, and itll come." By then, Bennett will more than likely be a top-five pick. If he goes first to the Florida Panthers -- or whoever makes that selection -- itll be clear that on-ice potential is worth tons more than a lack of pull-ups. "It would be pretty special," Bennett said. "At the end of the day it is just a number, and everyones going to be in the same spot come training camp, trying to make the team. Obviously it is every kids dream to go as high as they can get into the NHL." ' ' '