SWINDON, UK – The EPL Top Ten Charts last week saw Adam Calder replace Janis Ozolins in the points lead, but Ondrej Lauko took over the top of the game average chart, albeit with just four games under his belt, while in the Brit charts David Longstaff remains at the top and Aaron Nell continues to cement his place at the top on average chart.
Ozolins, however, still rules on goals scored while Greg Wood has been ousted from the top of the Brit chart by Lightning’s Leigh Jamieson who had an exceptional weekend. Longstaff remains at the top of assist scoring.
Phantoms’ Chris Allen, after weeks as the top D-man chart, returns after a week having been displaced by Phoenix’s Ladislav Harabin, while Paul Dixon also returns to the top of the Brit D-men chart.
The Netminders’ Chart shows little change with Alex Mettam as reliable as ever at the top.
Penalties, and Andre Payette is pulling ahead at top of the EPL chart with Adam Greener holding the top for the Brits, but on average Chris Wiggins still has the top of the EPL game average chart while Phoenix’s Andrew Sharp has leapt to the top of the British chart for the first time.
Into the week and where better to start than, as usual lately, the Phantoms with the news that the local press is suggesting Maris Ziedins, who has been out injured for a few weeks is no longer needed with the team’s fortunes on the upturn with the arrival of Ondrej Lauko. Seems like a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to a first four-point weekend to me, so we will have to wait and see.
Interestingly, Shaun Yardley, who was released last month over a disagreement with his medical status has signed for ENL Romford Raiders, while netminder Steve Wall who also left last month signed for the Bison who released Dean Skinns to make way. Coach Moria said, ‘In my opinion Stephen has been one of the top two goalies in the EPL every season.’ Damien King, who as Wall’s backup has now moved into his boots said, ‘Stephen has been a huge influence on my career and hopefully one day I will be able to reach that level myself.’
Still with the Phantoms, or at least ex-Phantoms, Rick Skene made his debut for the Bees with Coach Gareth Cox declaring, ‘He had a great weekend and was thrown in the deep end after only training once with us.’ Not so good to hear was the news that Carl Graham who injured his leg a couple of weeks ago has been diagnosed as having a hairline fracture so will be out at least until February, so unfortunately another casualty of the mounting injury list.
Further to the news last week that the GB Coach Paul Thompson had resigned the EIHA has begun looking for a replacement. No games over the holiday, of course, but Monday, or Boxing Day for non-hockey types, saw two.
Bison 2 – Phantoms 5
What better way to break the holiday fast than with a penalty and that is what Bison’s Kurt Reynolds managed with an iffy check from behind from which the Phantoms took the lead. And if that wasn’t enough Chris Wiggins trumped it minutes later with a big hit on Robbie Brown and took the long walk home making hardly worth his while leaving the Christmas pud. Brown got his own back with a goal in the second putting the visitors 2-up and then a revitalised Phantoms cruised to victory pausing just long enough for Maris Ziedins to put Chong into the boards and for Jacob Heron to also disappear from the game for intervening.
Flames 5 – Tigers 4
Meanwhile in Guildford the Flames didn’t quite go marching on because with their GB players back the Tigers were a different side from the last week or so. Well, of course they were because half the team had changed, but it the international experience must have done them some good and after a tight first period they went ahead seconds after the break. Joe Henry then added another quick pair but the home side then seemed to wake up to the fact things were sliding down the pan a bit rapidly and were back in it by the half-way mark. In a 2-minute spell in the third the Tigers restored their lead but again the Flames fought back, forced the overtime and eventually the two points.
And that was it until Tuesday. Flames 5 – Bees 3
This time the Flames definitely knew how many beans make four as they snatched two quick goals and then the inevitable happened as Andrew Sharp and Brad Watchorn tripped the light fantastic for which they both got shown the door. But that wasn’t the end of the action as Martin Masa snapped up a pair and Shaun Thompson equalised early in the second while Tom Annetts paid a visit to hospital injured. Half way and the Flames took the lead again on a power-play, adding another to ensure the win with plenty of time to spare.
Phantoms 4 – Tigers 5 after penalties
The Tigers continued where they left off last night in very determined fashion taking the lead after six minutes. But they were up against a side that has finally got all the right sized wheels on, so it was no surprise they drew level two minutes later although the Tigers went into the break 1-up. Just before half way Scott McKenzie gave the visitors a 2-goal lead and that was it for twenty minutes apart from some handbag swinging, which shows you how close it was -the game not the swinging. Then all of a sudden the Phantoms gave a squirt of oil on those new wheels and came racing back with the equaliser two minutes from time, but came up short on the shoot-out giving the Tigers a good weekend. Wildcats 1 – Bison 6
Who would have thought it was the same team that struggled the night before that could dismantle the Wildcats with such ease. To be fair the first half was tight, and then as happened in the past one goal, this time by Viktor Kubenko, seemed to trigger what must be some hormonal release that caused everyone to forget the game plan. The Wildcats paid with four goals in ten minutes, an injured Tom Murdy who missed the final period and two more goals against while the Bison went home with some Christmas cheer at last.
Phoenix 5 – Steeldogs 4 after penalties
This pair always provides value for money, and this clash was no exception, especially as the Sheffield side are now a force to be reckoned with and they duly took the lead after two minutes thanks to Ashley Calvert. Nine minutes later Edgars Bebris added a second and Pavel Gomeniuk added a misconduct penalty. The second period saw the Phoenix creep back into it with four goals, one from newly returned Steve Wallace, and with two more from the Steeldogs it all ended equal with a period to play. Well, almost, because Gomeniuk won the penalties, minutes that is, with a five-plus-match for boarding while the Phoenix went on to win the penalty shoot-out despite a couple of minutes of 5-on-3 against them in the overtime period.
While a truncated ‘weekend’ it did, however, make a difference to the table with the Bison moving up a bit and the Phoenix joining the Steeldogs on points, while the Flames strengthened their position at the top and the Bees and Wildcats looked weaker, especially with strong performances from both Phantoms and Tigers below them..
Next weekend is extended, starting Friday because of the New Year, so four days of hockey.
Can’t wait.
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Contact Bill.Collins@prohockeynews.com
