SWNDON, UK – In the EPL Top Tens Charts this week no change in Points’ leaders with Adam Calder and Leigh Jamieson both heading in total scored and on game average for EPL and Brits respectively. Interestingly, Tigers’ Scott McKenzie entered the top ten Brit chart, something he has been threatening to do for some time.
The Goal Scorer Charts remain unchanged with Steeldogs’ Janis Ozolins and Jamieson both leading, but with McKenzie and team-mate Joe Henry now both in the Brit chart.
David Longstaff still heads both Assists Scored Charts, and most productive D-men are still Chris Allen and Ben Morgan with Calder remaining the leading hat-trick scorer with 4
No change in the netminder save rates so Ben Bowns still leading and edging further apart from second placed Alex Mettam while Mark Lee still leads on shut-outs.
Andre Payette returned to the top of both Penalty-Takers’ Chart, while Ryan Watt stays the highest penalised Brit but by game average Andrew Sharp still rules despite his long ban.
The week started with Tiger’s assistant coach Greg Blais commenting on his team’s changed approach with a touch of aggression enough to defeat the Steeldogs not seen since, oh, I don’t know, the previous week when the Phantoms also delivered it to the same team. What made this encounter a bit different was the Steeldogs went into the game prepared for a rough ride and surely could not have been shocked once again at the response and in particular the lack of respect for Penalty Prince Payette. Blais said, ‘We looked like a whole new team out there,’ and singled out Daniel Croft as ‘amazing,’ who had twice gone toe-to-toe with the EPL penalty leader.
Perhaps understandably there are plenty who criticise Payette for his manner on the ice, and while he may not be the most adroit purveyor of the art he scores points more than most, is undoubtedly an inspiration to his players, and watches his team-mates’ backs. So I suppose one pretty convincing way of looking at things is, unless you are doing very well thank you very much, would you prefer him on your side or against you?
He also has some pretty good achievements under his belt on a management level like the Steeldogs doing a lot better than before his tenure started last season, building cooperation with their ‘big brother’ neighbours in the Elite League, and developing a structure for bringing on young players, particularly local ones.
And as if on cue, the Sheffield Academy Senior head Coach Mark Heron revealed five players had been selected from the juniors for training with the Steeldogs with a view to them eventually playing at the highest level in Sheffield. That lucky quintet consists of D-man Jonathan Kirk and forwards Luke Smith and Elliott Knell who can also claim eight games for the Steeldogs already. Definitely one to watch is forward Joel Aheron with one game for the ENL Senators, and last but not least netminder Brad Day also with a game for the Steeldogs. This bunch are not exactly novices having GBU18 and some ENL experience to varying degrees between them, but what a marvellous opportunity individually, inspiration for young players and investment in the future of the sport.
Over to the Phantoms and Coach Chris Allen, having beaten the Tigers 9-5, was not a happy chappie saying, ‘I was really disappointed to concede five against a struggling team.’ You can see his point because so far this season five goals would have won you around sixty games while only losing you about a quarter of that number, so on that basis the Tigers could be considered a tad unlucky not to have picked up something for their struggles.
The Lightning came out in the week with the surprise news that fan-favourite Juraj Gracik had been sent packing. Gracik is the 18th highest scoring import and 26th overall. He has scored a point-and-a-quarter a game while the highest scoring import, Adam Calder, scores a smidgeon under 2-points per game which isn’t bad compared to last season when only four players were above the 2-points mark at this time of the season. Interestingly, Gracik’s replacement, Finnish forward Tuomas Tikkanen has a lower scoring average at about a point-a-game from his truncated season in France and Finland, so clearly the Lightning believe he has a lot more to offer. Coach Poole, commenting on the swap said it, ‘improves our chances of some silverware.’ But to make that credible Tikkanen will need to be scoring at a rate that will place him in the top ten on game average, so clearly someone to follow.
Meanwhile, Coach Aldridge, having lost to the Bison in what was really a must-win game said, ‘We would like to think this game was a one-off, and that we could bounce back quickly from it. It is just one of those things.’ Unfortunately for the Wildcats it isn’t a ‘one-off’ having been beaten by the Bison more severely at 6-1 in Swindon, not to mention the two defeats in Bisonland. To make matters worse, bouncing back involves a double-header against the Steeldogs who have also beaten them home and away in their two previous games.
Talking of the Steeldogs, having played most of this season with only three imports, which highlights the level of success they have achieved so far, they finally signed a forth in Raivis Kurnigins from Latvia where he has been scoring at a rate a shade under 2-points-per game. If he continues at that rate when he joins the EPL it would place him second only to top-man Calder; and then only just. Obviously this makes for a very interesting latter part to the season especially if the guy is anything like Janis Ozolins, who just happens to be the second highest scorer in the league and came from the same neck of the woods.
Coach Payette had been trying to acquire the services of Canadian Neil Clark, currently with the Steelers, although according to the club something of a supernumerary body. Apparently the forward wasn’t prepared to risk a move to the neighbours, as long as he still believes there is a chance he will be recalled to Elite League service. Payette understandably commented he was disappointed and assumed all players wanted to play regardless of the level. In the event Kurnigins fitted the bill.
Also on the move is D-man Tim Smith who joined the Steeldogs from Invicta in the ENL last October and requested a release from his contract to enable him to return south for ‘family reasons.’ But, called up was Under18 GB D-man Shaun Wild from the Sheffield Academy who will replace Smith for the remainder of the season, and who played seven games for the Steeldogs last season and most recently with the ENL Senators.
Phoenix 3 – Steeldogs 0
Thursday saw a mid-week game between the Phoenix and Steeldogs. This was the forth encounter between this pair and has produced a win for the Phoenix in Sheffield, a win for Sheffield in Manchester and a penalty win for Manchester at home. While the Phoenix had been enjoying a run of nine out of ten games, the Steeldogs, although most recently losing to the Tigers and Phantoms, have shut-out the Lightning, beaten the Jets and only lost on penalties to the Flames and Phoenix.
A fast and furious first period produced no goals but plenty of hits and a Phoenix side firing shots on goals with both barrels. The Steeldogs came back in the second, but couldn’t sustain the pace although new-boy Kurnigins chalked up his first serious threat but was denied by Steve Fone so had to make do with his first entry on the game sheet a high-sticks call after six minutes. An eight-minute burst in the third by the Phoenix which produced three goals was enough to break the deadlock and inflict a shut-out on the visitors, something only managed by the Flames and Jets – just.
So on to Saturday.
Flames 9 – Tigers 1 – double-header 1
The Flames lost their first game against the Tigers by a respectable 4-1 at home but made up for it in their next encounter although in the third meeting only won in overtime. So the Tigers have a fair record against the leaders.
The Flames shared the honours with the Phoenix in a double-header weekend prior to this pairing but had suffered defeats by the Lightning twice and Bison in the run up. The Tigers arrived from an impressive victory over the Steeldogs and an impressive loss to the Phantoms despite scoring five times.
So, it was all a bit of a shame that the Tigers started off preparing what promised to be a succulent steak and kidney pie in the first period, which ended with them just a goal-down, but went on to dish up a bit of a pudding.
Lightning 1 – Bison 5
The Bison have yet to beat the Lightning having lost twice at home by shut-outs and twice away.
Coming into this match the mercurial Lightning shut-out the Bison after being similarly shut-out by the Steeldogs in the weekend prior to this game, while the Bison had wins against the Wildcats and Tigers but were shut-out by the Phoenix.
So all a bit of a jumble, but nothing of the kind in this game, at least after a scoreless first period, as the Bison’s Ollie Bronnimann grabbed a pair and the visitors paused only long enough for ‘Muzzy’ Wales to make an unassisted dent and Grant McPherson to collect a match penalty dent; a rare occurrence for him this season. And, with Lukas Zatopek having to retire injured, this all just left new-boy Tikkanen wondering what he’d let himself in for and the Bison clocking up their seventh consecutive away win.
Jets 5 – Phantoms 2
The Jets have won twice out of three games in Peterborough, one by 10-4 which is a record-sharing most-goals-in-a-game for the season. The forth game between this pair also went to the Jets, but at home.
After an impressive win against the Phoenix a few weeks ago, the Jets have since lost to them and swapped wins with the Wildcats, and while beating the Flames lost to the Steeldogs, so another team up-and-down although with two wins their latest results. The Phantoms, however, have wins against the Steeldogs and Tigers coming into this game.
The Jets’ dominated from the start, although Damien King was up to the challenge until things started to falter in the second period. The Phantoms appeared to have lost some of their recent momentum until early in the third when Ondrej Lauko picked up a pair that put the visitors within a goal’s reach. But the Jets stamped on any thoughts of a comeback with Aaron Connolly and Dan Davies both grabbing a second apiece with five minutes to spare.
Bees 4 – Phoenix 3 after Overtime
The Phoenix have won all three games between these two with the last game, in Manchester, the closest and ending after overtime.
In their last six games the Bees have only manage a couple of overtime points against the Wildcats and Phoenix, who are currently sweeping all astride apart from shared honours last weekend against the Flames.
Perhaps surprisingly, then, it was the Bees who got things rolling through Lukas Smital after just three minutes and smack at the end of a power-play in a first period that saw the Bees outshoot their opponents comfortably. In the second things swung the other way with two Phoenix power-play goals in a minute, one while Brad Watchorn was sitting in the box for fourteen minutes doing his knitting. But the Bees were even again by the end of the second period. Watchorn gave the Bees a lead at the start of the final stint and it was only a penalty shot that forced the overtime where Smital wrapped it up. So, with four even-hand goals (according to the game sheet) to 2 power-play goals and a penalty shot goal and the shots virtually even, not a bad display by the Bees. Wildcats 3 – Steeldogs 4 after Penalty Shoot-Out – double-header 1
Wildcats lost their first game of the season in overtime at home to the Steeldogs, and subsequently went down more easily in Sheffield.
The Wildcats have picked up six points from their last five games most notably against the Flames while the Steeldogs although losing to the Tigers and Phantoms, are still rolling but a bit lumpier as they also lost out to the Phoenix mid-week.
As often seems to be the case, the Wildcats started strongly and although allowing a Janis Ozolins short-handed goal mid-first period, were actually in a commanding 3-1 position by the half-way mark. And then things started to go wrong as Nicky Watt collided with a fast-moving puck from a Steve Duncombe slapshot and was taken to hospital for an x-ray to his leg which, thankfully, showed nothing broken, and Ozolins chalked up a hat-trick which led to the Steeldogs winning in the penalty shoot-out. Oh yes, did I mention Ryan Aldridge and Andre Payette got sent to the headmaster’s study for rowing in class, which concluded another game the Wildcats, now with three losses on the trot, would have preferred no to have happened.
Sunday, and off we go again.
Steeldogs 4 – Wildcats 2 – double-header 2
But happen it must because there was another leg to play, this time in Sheffield.
So the Steeldogs, tails up and having shown just what they can do when their backs are to the wall, must have been thinking a return match on home ice would be easier passage to a 4-point weekend. Maybe ‘easier’ is not the right word going by the skirmishing and physical engagements which kicked off after a few minutes when Wildcats’ netminder Dean Skinns encountered Craig Elliott and peaked in the third period with a general uprising and Swindon hitting the post. But the game itself can be summed up as frenetic, punctuated by some big saves and a missed penalty shot which might have given the Wildcats a chance, but other than that it was all Steeldogs as the Wildcats slipped rudderless onto the rocks.
Tigers 5 – Flames 4 after Penalty Shoot-Out – doubleheader 2
Said it before, but what a difference a day makes. After the previous evening’s effort which was a bit of a David and Goliath affair with the Big Guy winning, the question was could ‘David’ perform better at home? And the answer turned out to be, you bet! It might have taken the home side a little while to break through their opponent’s armour but two goals sneaked in before the first break certainly made a dent. The Flames kept things in check for a period and then in an excellent final twenty-minutes hockey the Tigers began to edge away again with a power-play goal from Tomas Janak consolidated by Scott McKenzie, only for the Flames to fight back in the dying minutes for a point. Despite this resurgence, the Tigers kept their cool and for an amazing EPL record seven times won on penalties.
Bison 5 – jets 4 after Penalty Shoot-Out
The Jets have beaten the Bison in Basingstoke, but the Bison returned the compliment. After last night the Jets moved into second place in the league table, but the Bison with their current promising run suggested a game to remember. And it was.
The Jets took the lead through Darius Pliskauskas, but lost it by the break. The Jets then took the lead through Ryan Watt and lost it almost immediately. By now you get the idea: the Jets take the lead and the Bison haul them back in. That is until six minutes from time when the Bison said ‘enough’ and it was off to overtime and penalties where things reversed and the Jets collected the points.
Phantoms 3 – Bees 2 after Penalty Shoot-Out
When these two met before the Phantoms won on penalties in Bracknell then lost at home in the return and again on Bees’ home soil.
Last night the Phantoms lost, while the Bees pulled off an impressive win against title-chasing Phoenix. The Phantoms had vowed to play hard at home, and the Bees must be feeling the pull of the security of a play-off place, so there was plenty to play for.
Still even after a goal apiece and three minutes into the game created the impression this was going to be a goalfest, but in fact things were too close for that with both goalies keeping things neat and tidy. Phantoms went into the first break a goal up, and that was how it stayed until a short-handed goal by Lukas Smital a minute into the final period tightened things again for yet more Bee’s overtime play where, for a record seventh time, they lost the penalty shoot-out.
While that is it for the games, to end on some good news, Bees’ Czech forward Lukas Smital clocked up 500 EPL points this week from his four years with the Flames and in Bracknell. Not only that but the Slough rink was declared fit for human consumption following a problem in its tubes which caused the cancellation of last week’s home game. And finally, the second set of EPL Cup semi-final dates was announced making next month even busier for the Flames and Phoenix and the Lightning and Steeldogs.
So this week produced some changes in the table with the Phoenix moving into second place and the Jets into third, only to swap after Sunday’s games on goal difference. The Flames still rule, now by an extra point but the Bison, Lightning and Steeldogs are all still looking capable. And there is still plenty going on at the other end of the table. The Phantoms and Tigers both collected two points, but the Bees managed three and with the Wildcats gaining only a point the eighth play-off place is looking like it could be a four-way battle its own right.
And to think we do it all against next week. Can’t wait.
For more EPL facts and figures, stats news and more take a look at www.iceman-epl.com
Contact Bill.Collins@prohockeynews.com
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