SWINDON, UK – The Top Ten Charts showed a couple of changes last week with Bison’s Chris Wiggins usurping Neil Liddiard of the Flames as the leading penalty-taker. Greg Wood took over the Game Points Average Chart displacing Tony Hand who, of course, has been unable to defend that position for some weeks now. Wood also jumped to the top of the British Goals Scores Chart removing Tom Carlon of the Jets, while team mate Joe Greener now heads both EPL and Brits in assist scoring. As far as D-men go, Paul Dixon replaced his Guildford team mate Jez Lundin at the top of the Brit chart, while Phantoms’ Chris Allen still rules the EPL top ten chart. Not much change in netminders with Alex Mettam still safely ensconced at the top while Wildcats’ Tom Murdy drops a tad with Carl Ambler, Tom Annetts and Jets’ Greg Rockman all moving up a bit.
Into the week and there has been some talk, as there is periodically, about the future of the Elite League sides, this time specifically at Cardiff and Coventry which, financial troubles aside, are rumoured to be considering an application to join the EPL next season. Having seen the Bison and Phoenix make the transition without too much trauma, if such a move or moves did take place it can only be good for the EPL, while raising the question about how the Elite League will survive with just eight teams; having already lost Newcastle before the start of the current season through financial problems.
In fact, while ex-EIHL players who come to play in the Premier League pretty much all say the standard isn’t greatly different, from the British players’ viewpoint it can only be a good thing with the subsequent drop in import quotas. This isn’t to say we should gloat over any loss to the sport, but the silver lining must be the increase of around six British places per team in any such move, most of which will already be playing. So while there appears to be a dearth of suitable British players at the moment, according to some coaches, this shouldn’t exacerbate the situation too dramatically.
As expected the Phantoms saga had once again its fair share of news and comment, some of it unfair for what my opinion is worth. Following the drubbing by the Wildcats last weekend, which truth be told was a scoreline even my granny with her tea leaves was predicting for a Sunday, Coach Chris Allen said, ‘We played like we hadn’t played the game before. It was embarrassing. We cannot continue to compete with just two lines.’
Everyone knows the Phantoms were short benched, but just think what that means in terms of work rate. Put very simply, three lines and a given player has twenty minutes ice time, two lines and he gets half an hour. You have just increased his commitment by fifty per cent. Add to that mix special teams permutations, taking a knock or two and having to do it all twenty-four hours later and it is hardly surprising the second game is going to suffer, and eventually the whole weekend.
But I feel a special mention should be made of Damien King, who in some respects has an almost impossible job. On top of having a tired defence to support him he has some big skates to fill with Steve Wall having left, and here he is thrown in the deep end. He is part way along a sharply inclined learning curve, and although I think backup netminders sometimes don’t get the ice time they should – I mean, where is the experience warming a bench? – a goalie’s life is a solitary one and almost continually in the spot light, so if he is to be judged, let’s do it when the Phantoms are at to full strength.
And there’s more. Owner Phil Wing, after a few days of speculation and uncertainty, announced he would stay with the club but take a back seat and concentrate on sponsorship management side. So, with the arrival of Lauko and Tait, even away from the ice some stability at last returning to the Phantoms.
The Tigers, meanwhile, added a fifth import to their roster in the shape of Swedish forward Henrik Sahlin from Bristol Pitbulls who previously has played only in Europe.
And talking of the ENL, the Phoenix, still without Tony Hand, called on three Metros’ players for the weekend. Coach Hand, said he was pleased with their performance and ‘I will be calling on them again.’ That, of course, is both good news and bad. Good in that it is more opportunities for up-and-coming players and the Phoenix are developing that side of things further, but bad – or at least not so good – in the sense they have been forced by injuries into a position of having to enlist three new players at a desperate time rather than with structured development. Which rather neatly reminds me of something my old Grand-Pappy used to say: ‘You don’t shoot the horse just because he loses a shoe, you make a hipposandle like the Romans did.’ Huh! If that’s so clever why don’t hippos wear ‘wellies’ seeing as they like all that water?
On to Saturday and before the Bison’s game against the Steeldogs Coach Moria commented: ‘Ozolins is the most skilful player in the league. And Bowns is a player who can win games for his team.’ No argument there, but it might have been a bit of a morale booster to find the Latvian was out with a back injury sustained in the week.
Bison 4 – Steeldogs 5
In fact, the news must have been the catalyst for the almost ecstatic community singing which broke out spontaneously in Basingstoke as the visiting Steeldogs took to the ice. The rapture was led by Chris Wiggins and Andre Payette generously sharing hymn sheets which sadly caused some jealously in Steve Duncombe who felt inclined to intrude on the tête-à-tête. Amid this outpouring of bonhomie almost instantly taken up by both sides, after ten minutes, regrettably the ref didn’t see it that way and started issuing tickets by the handful.
Early in the second period the Bison took the lead, doubled it, but then thanks to the trio of Stuart Brittle, Ashley Calvert and Ben Morgan the Steeldogs ended the period in the lead. The Bison rudder was working loose and after conceding a couple more goals they will rue allowing to see the light of day, made a spirited fight back in the dying minutes before running out of time and picking up their third home loss on the trot.
Wildcats 6 – Bees 2
The Wildcats at home to the Bees started, as you might expect, with Nicky Watt and Brad Watchorn sharing a bag of jelly babies in a spirit of brotherly love which broke down over who should have all the red ones, then while the Bees started strongly enough they found themselves coming from the back to end the period on equal terms thanks to a power-play goal by Michael Bowman. Three more goals in a four-minute period around the half-way mark saw the game slipping away from the visitors who only managed another goal thanks to a Wildcats’ penalty. Jaroslav Cesky, who had opened the scoring after eight minutes sealed things up with his second in a Wildcats’ dominated final stint.
Phoenix 3 – Flames 5
In Manchester the Guildford machine went grinding onwards as the Flames took an early 2-goal lead but the ever-improving Tom Duggan got one back before the first period ended. But, two minutes into the second and the Flames were heading into the sunset with two more goals in their saddlebags and although the home side kept chipping away so that when the final period started with a goal from Cairan Long, anything was still possible until Steve Fone was pulled and the empty net loomed just too inviting for Jez Lundin not to fill.
Jets 3 – Lightning 1
What a tight game it was in Slough as the visiting Lightning managing to grab the lead but not until early in the second period through Nick Poole. Just after half-way Joe Greener was marched away for leaving the bench, I doubt it was to make a phone call as some suggested, and minutes later as the second period started Adam Calder equalised for the home side with Ryan Watt extending the lead two minutes later. In what was a hasty and huffy game with three minutes to go, and things about as tense and uncertain as the Euro but far more exciting, Darius Pliskauskas took ten minutes for abuse and Mindy Kieras slipped one in to the empty net.
Tigers 2 – Phantoms 4
Despite a much-changed Tigers’ side due to GB commitments, Coach Watkins said, ‘Every team in the league is beatable. We fear nobody.’ So all eyes were on Peterborough with the arrival of Ondrej Lauko, and he didn’t disappoint with an opening goal after eight minutes to give the Phantoms something to smile about at last. But although Jeff Glowa added a second short-handed, the Tigers were back in it before the whistle for the second break with two power-play goals through Scott McKenzie and Joe Henry, and Blais in goal stopping a kitchen sink or two. Nine minutes from time Chris Allen gave the Phantoms the lead in what was a frenetic end-to-end period which saw King earn his money and Lauko claim his second against the empty net and a short-benched Tigers who recorded their seventh loss at home in a row.
Only four games Sunday, and the most obvious one to draw attention was the Steeldogs hosting the Flames. Or to put it another way Andre Payette meeting Andrew Sharp for the first time this season. I expect we all remember the fiasco last season when Payette was blind-sided by Sharp, at the time a Phoenix player, and the confusing on again-off again suspension he received.
Steeldogs 4 – Flames 5 after PSO
So, if it was an evening of mayhem and debauchery you were expecting in Sheffield where the Flames were entertained by the Steeldogs, you would have been disappointed as not a minute in the box was shared by the reverie of these two old pals. As it happened, Greg Wood scored two quick goals, one unassisted, but the Flames kept in touch before the period ended. The middle stint saw Wood pick up a hat-trick on the half hour, while Rempel again kept the visitors close. In final period the Steeldogs pulled away again only to be reeled back in with the Flames forcing the overtime with four minutes to spare which was plenty of time for Duncombe and Melachrino to have a short tiff. The extra time proved infertile, but not so the penalty shoot-out which gave the Flames two more points and a winning run of nine games.
Phantoms 3 – Phoenix 4
In Peterborough the visiting Phoenix went a goal up after a minute, but that was it for the first period. Juraj Faith extended the lead early in the second, but the home side got one back through Richard Bentham just seconds later. The Phoenix extended their lead, partly due to the Phantoms’ defence leaving King out on a limb while at the other end Steve Fone exhibiting all the dexterity of a juggler. But the Phoenix hung on despite a Phantoms fight back which saw Bentham grab a second and ten minutes for misconduct into the bargain.
Tigers 1 – Bees 3
A James Galazzi pair got the Bees off to a strong start in Telford but seconds into the middle period McKenzie kept the Tigers in touch. The home side were supplemented by a gaggle of ENL Blaze players who all put up a brave performance and actually outshot the Bees by 41 shots to 29, and were only really sunk by an empty net goal in the dying seconds, while Ben Johnson was sunk by an accidental high stick and went to hospital for stitches to his nose.
Lightning 5 – Jets 4
Who could have predicted the course the Jets versus Lightning game would follow in Milton Keynes? The home side sprang from the blocks in devastating form and were four goals ahead by the half way point with the odds being very heavily weighed against a comeback of such magnitude. So it was more than a little surprising to see the Jets reply with four goals of their own and with fifteen minutes left, it was anyone’s game. But then nine minutes from time Juraj Gracik claimed the winner for the home side thanks to a power-play and a game penalty for checking from behind, while Adam Greener totally lost his map and direction and dived out the window carrying as many penalty minutes as he could carry, adding greatly to the total for the match which broke through the hundred minute tape.
So a weekend which finally saw the Flames go clear at the top of the table while the Steeldogs showing they are far from a spent force as yet. The games also saw the near-conclusion of the EPL Cup starting positions, or at least, who will decide where to play, so the first peak building nicely.
And to think there is lots more next week.
Can’t wait.
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Contact Bill.Collins@prohockeynews.com
