LONDON, UK – The NIHL South Britton Conference reached its grand finale as Basingstoke Bison made it a double with an aggregate Play-Off final win over Peterborough Phantoms. Unlike any other season however, the Bison don’t get the last word on the season.
All smiles for the Bison (5 Hole Photography)
The build up to the weekend lingered on the elimination from the Play-Offs of the Swindon Wildcats who had beaten Peterborough in the semi-finals but were effectively knocked out due to a 5-0 forfeit for icing an ineligible player in the 1st leg.
It was a depressing situation for everyone concerned, summed up by the usual fallout on social media and forums despite a statement from the club holding their hands up to an error. This followed the change curve almost to the letter – and not just from those aggrieved from a Swindon perspective but with the usual army of online critics happy to wade in at the slightest excuse.
Shock – Is this some kind of joke? What? We are on fire at the moment!!!
Denial – They can’t do this, the guy didn’t get on the ice!
Anger – Who made that decision? They know nothing about sport.
Exploring – Oh, we didn’t read the rule book, maybe that rule is actually there for a reason that was valid in the past, but we need to change it in the summer.
Acceptance – We still have the Cup final, the season isn’t over.
Encouragement – We’ve just announced Renny Marr is returning next season, and Cardwave Services are offering to pay for a free luxury coach to Sheffield for Swindon fans wanting to attend the Cup Final first leg up in the Steel City! Boom hockey is BACK!
Great Britain under 18’s headed to Tallinn in fine voice for the upcoming World Championships where they warmed up with a challenge game against Poland before the main event. The Britton Conference has representation on the team with Lewis Davis (Cardiff), Callum Burnett (London) and Joe Hazeldine (Swindon) all in the line-up.
GB also made the headlines thanks to the inclusion of highly rated youngster Liam Kirk who was featured in The Hockey News as a participant in the upcoming NHL scouting combine in Buffalo. Kirk would do well to tap up GB u18’s coach Tony Hand for some advice as he was the first British player ever to be drafted back in 1986.
At the time of writing GB had just won their first game against the hosts 6-3 thanks to a brace each for Mason Biddulph and Jordan Buesa, plus a goal each for Richard Krogh and Patrick Larkin. Long-time British hockey fans may notice some familiar surnames amongst them.
London Raiders reflected on a relatively successful season with Sean Easton (pictured) giving an interview with the Romford Recorder.
“I am incredibly proud of the team’s achievements.” said Easton.
“Yes I’m disappointed as we got better and better week on week and would have been great to restart the season at the level we are now and it would be interesting to see the end results again.”
With two places up for grabs in the Final Four Competition at Coventry next weekend, it was down to the Britton Conference Play-Off Final to decide who would compete in the showpiece event. When it dawned on hockey fans that both finalists would make the National Finals regardless, the journey along the change curve began again.
Shock – Hang on, both teams qualify for Coventry?
Denial – That can’t be right, the South Final losers could still become National Champions? No way.
Anger – Does not compute… Does not compute… (throws laptop into nearest river)
Exploring – Ok, maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world, at least we’re not Swindon fans (before the free bus offer) and more trophies mean more happy people overall.
Acceptance – We’ve already bought a ticket, there will be a bar and there will be hockey. Simply lovely.
Bison edge Phantoms to do the double by clinching Conference Play-Offs
After a nervy 1-1 tie at Bretton Way it was down to sixty tense minutes in Hampshire to separate Peterborough and Basingstoke. In the 1st leg Euan King and Dean Skinns had put on a goaltending masterclass with only Nathan Salem and Tomas Karpov lighting the lamp for the Phantoms and Bison respectively.
In the second leg the Bison took the lead through Roman Malinik before the annual broken Zamboni scare was narrowly averted with a dry cut, following a short delay.
Ales Padelek replied for the Phantoms in the second period before Malinik fired his team ahead again to set up a perfect third period of drama. Twenty minutes of edge of the seat Play-Off hockey ended in a 3-2 aggregate win to the delight of Bison fans, none more so than Michael Chapman who also won a Papa John’s pizza at the rink.
So with the Britton Conference league title and South Play-Offs going to Basingstoke and the Autumn Cup to Swindon, it just leaves us the NIHL Cup and National Play-Offs to decide.
Who will win? Will there be more drama? Will 482 Days and Max Birbraer sit and drink wine together up in the Coventry gantry? And will we all take another journey along the change curve? Hopefully not the latter for everyone’s sanity.
Contact the author: carrsy2@gmail.com
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