BASINGSTOKE UK: Saturday was a special night for the Bison, as they raised their league and play-off winning banners to the ceiling.
Five of last season’s Bison were in the Basingstoke line-up, while the visiting Raiders team included former captain Aaron Connolly and Dan Scott helped out with ceremony
The Herd then turned in their best 20 minutes on home ice this season, as they out shot the visitors 19-6 and only the skills of goaltender Michael Gray kept them in the contest.
However, the Bison did lead 2-0 as Russ Cowley and Liam Morris both scored.
The Raiders levelled things, thanks to a brace of powerplay goals scored on a high sticking major, incurred by George Norcliffe as he caught Scott in the face accidentally and drew blood.
Connolly and Jake Sylvester were the men on the target.
The Herd retook the lead from man of the match Alex Sampford on another man advantage and then they netted two more in the final 20 minutes from Ashley Tait and Sampford.
“It was great to open the league campaign with a win especially on the night we raised the banners,” said Tait.
On Sunday night, the Bison made the trip to Kent to take on Invicta Dynamos.
After no goal in the first session, five goals came in the second period.
Grant Bartlett and Callum Best scored for the home side, while Sampford made it three for the weekend for the Herd and Tait and Richard Bordowski also netted.
The final 20 minutes saw Norcliffe and a Michal Klejna penalty shot win the game, before Martins Susters scored nine seconds before the final buzzer.
“We took time to adjust to the rink, but in the end I was happy to see us take the win,” said Tait.
Two wins in the opening weekend, saw the Bison move up to third in the South One table.
This weekend, they are back in Autumn Cup action with their final group games which is a double header with Telford.
This will see Ashley Tait play against his brother Warren for the first time in many years and for Bison Adam Jones, he will face the side he signed from in the summer.
Image courtesy of David Trevallion
You must be logged in to post a comment.