Solent Devils took three points from a double header weekend, playing away at London Raiders and home to Milton Keynes Thunder.
Photos courtesy of Dave Chapman
The game against London Raiders, at the Lee Valley Ice Centre, was a tough match up, with both teams spending the evening trying to get the better of each other. It took a full 29 minutes for the first goal to be scored, which came from the home team as Liam Chong assisted Sam Roberts to score against Christian “Chico” Cole, Devils’ number one net minder.
Prior to the goal, the game had been fairly civilised, with Raiders captain, Tom Davis, spending three penalties in the sin bin, and Devils forward, Ralfs Circenis spent just two missing the action.
Following the goal, the Devils stepped up the pressure, and Raiders put up everything they could in to defence, resulting in a further 14 minutes of penalties given to them throughout the second half of the game, where the Devils were only short a man for eight.
It was while on a power play, Devils went attacking when Mitchell Murray and Richard Facey were rewarded with assists on George Norcliffe’s fourth goal of the season, tying the game 1-1.
In addition to taking their fourth tie of the season, the Devils picked up two injuries that would see them short of players for the following evening’s match up against Milton Keynes Thunder. Ralfs Circenis and Domink Hegyi both having to sit in the crowd with the fans.
Straight from the start, the action went end to end and both net minders were forced to make some huge saves, Cole playing for the second night in a row was forced to make a huge save which stretched his 5’11” frame to its maximum, as he caught the puck in his glove, snatching it inches from the corner of the goal.
Photos courtesy of Dave Chapman
This time, the Devils got the scoring started when Steve Gosset had a shot from the blue line, which was blocked by Damien King in the Thunder goal, but George Norcliffe was heading in to the corner of the goal, and, like it was a practiced move, picked up the rebound and put it firmly in to the net.
A pair of power play goals followed early in to the second period, one from Thunder, when in a big struggle in front of the Devils crease, Cole ended up on the ice. Thomas Castle managing to take advantage.
Two minutes later, deep in the Devils zone Mason Wild and Alex Murray succeeded in getting the puck out to centre ice, where Mitchell Murray picked it up on the move, with his feet, and without slowing down got the puck out to the end of his stick, threaded his way between a pair of defenders and sent the puck high in to the net.
The second period saw three more goals, just after the 30 minute mark Harrison Goode managing to tie the game again with assists from Ross Bowers and Thunder captain, Jamie Line.
Devils, not wanting another tie took less than a minute, with Richard Brown and Mitchell Murray providing assists on a second for Norcliffe.
Pressuring hard, Devils managed to extend their lead with captain Alex Cole, and Mitchell Murray helping Brown get his first goal for the Devils and putting their fourth on the board.
Half way through the third, Thunder attempted a comeback, when Ross Bowers and Tom Mboya helped Line get a goal to go with his earlier assist.
Photos courtesy of Dave Chapman
It wasn’t enough, however, as Mitchell Murray got his third assist, Shaun Rudkin also getting an assist, and Norcliffe bagging himself a hat trick, to make the final score of the game 5-3 in favour of the Devils.
Speaking after the game, head coach Alex Murray said “It was a great weekend overall. Saturday was a tough game but the boys battled hard, we were unfortunate to have guys injured. Despite being short today, the whole team stepped up and we beat a good team with loads of experience, it’s definitely a good result.”
Devils travel to Wightlink Raiders Saturday 17th October, as they face off at 6pm for their second cup game of the season.
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