BASINGSTOKE, UK- The Basingstoke Bison suffered another set back in their bid to try and put themselves to the EPL title race after utility player Tony Redmond suffered a broken wrist last Saturday.
It was the only blot on a great night which saw the Herd skate away to a well deserved 7-3 victory against their local rivals the Slough Jets.
It was also the first time this season that the home side had won the fixture after the previous three meetings had seen the road team triumphant.
Redmond suffered his injury in the second period after he went for a shot. The Bison’s assistant/coach is unsure how it happened and the club were waiting to watch the match night video of the incident.
“He will be a huge loss to the team as he will be out for at least six weeks,” said Bison player/coach Steve Moria.
The game last Saturday was very physical encounter with Basingstoke’s leading points scorer Ondrej Lauko needing stitches to face wound, which saw ex-Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard ejected for high sticks.
However, that did not stop the Canadian continuing his scoring record against his former team this season.
The Jets were then reduced to one import when Czech defenceman Jan Krajicek had his nose broken after team mate Slava Koulikov’s clearance hit him in the face.
That had some bearing on the result as the Bison hit back three times to level with Lauko leading the scoring with 2+2.
His latest brace took his tally of league goals for Basingstoke to 89 moving him into the top 10 on the all-time scoring list.
Ollie Bronnimann also napped a couple, while their were singles for Kurt Reynolds, Viktor Kubenko and Mindy Kieras with a trademark blue line bullet.
For the second home game running captain Nicky Chinn equalled the club’s EPL record for assists for a game with another five.
He is now just one away from the magic 100 and will become only the third British player to achieve this feat after Nicky Iandoli and current injured team mate Redmond.
The Jets scoring in the game came from Ryan Watt, Sheppard and Darius Pliskauskas who was part of a very good looking forward line with Kouilkov and Dan Davies.
No doubt that will be destroyed this week after the signing of Canadian and Elite League Championship winner Adam Calder as the Jets reshuffle their lines.
The following night, the Herd minus Redmond, fellow forward Ciaran Long, defencemen Sam Oakford and Daniel Lackey were well and truly stung at the Hive against the Bracknell Bees.
To say their imports were buzzing, would be one of the under statements of the year as Jaroslav Cesky (4), Michal Pinc (3) and Peter Jasik (2) grabbed nine goals between them in 10-3 victory.
That ended the Bison’s hopes of an 11th straight league win over their local rivals and was also their worst ever reverse since joining the EPL.
The only plus point from the night was a goal from Bison’s new signing Ben Davies.
The highly talented teenager and current Great Britain under-20 international arrived from Elite League Cardiff Devils looking for some more ice time.
With the Herd’s short bench he certainly got that and did not look out of place playing alongside imports Moria and Kubenko, being a candidate for man-of-the-match in both games.
Davies a Cardiff native leant his hockey in the Welsh capital and even watching Moria from the stands when younger when the Canadian, a legend in the valleys wore a Devils’ uniform.
He made his debut in Saturday’s win over Slough setting up a goal for Kubenko and then scored in Bracknell.
“Ben is a very quick has a lot of skill and is not afraid to get his nose dirty in the corners. I am pleased he has scored his first goal for the club as that will take a lot of pressure off him,” said Moria.
This weekend, the depleted Bison face a tough trip to face the Slough Jets at the Hanger and their Berkshire rivals will be keen to close the five point gap that currently exists in the standings.
So far Basingstoke have won their twice, but only by a single goal, but with new boy Calder in the line-up most will expect a Slough win.
On Sunday night, the Herd return to play on home ice when the Swindon Wildcats are the visitors.
Only last month at the Link Centre these side played out a high scoring thriller which went the way of the ‘Cats 7-6.
That ended the Bison’s 12 game winning streak and on Sunday, Basingstoke are looking to make it 10 home wins on the trot.
Can the ‘Cats break that streak this time around?
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