LONDON, UK- The league moved a step closer to its conclusion, while questions much wider than hockey began to take over the discourse.
Brittle bonus for Streatham
The week’s news on and off the ice was of course dominated by the coronavirus, or Covid-19 as it’s now referred as.
The EIHA, Scottish Ice Hockey and Ice Hockey UK issued a joint statement on the steps that should be taken by all players and clubs to try and stop the spread of the virus.
Most of it followed the general guidance from the NHS, however avoiding shaking hands and sharing drinks bottles were probably the key behaviour changes for hockey. Also listed was a bullet point advising players to clean and disinfect equipment, which could be a first in some quarters.
Gloved fist pumps were also recommended, suggesting that Coach Bombay and the Mighty Ducks were well ahead of the game when it comes to keeping diseases at bay. Could we see Mighty Ducks 4 feature Emilio Estevez and Charlie Conway defeating Covid-19 thanks to impeccable health and safety? A finale of Fulton Reed slapping a puck laden with the final traces of the virus into space would be a fitting final scene.
On a serious note, concerns about the virus have already cancelled high profile events including the Women’s World Championships in Canada later this month. This is of course a devastating outcome for all the competitors, officials and residents of Nova Scotia who will have put in unbelievable preparation only to see it go up in smoke.
Quite what lies ahead for UK hockey remains to be seen, but with the population already hoarding toilet roll and hand gel, there’s a possibility things won’t end well. Who has ever laid a pipe in a UK ice rink and discovered no toilet roll in sight? Most people would say yes, and that could become the norm everywhere!
Mike in shades
The most impressive photographic images to emerge from Bristol since the balloon festival emerged online, as Pitbulls player Mike Hargreaves was pictured observing the building of the new ice rink in the city wearing sunglasses.
As if one Hargreaves in the media wasn’t enough for one week, brother Richie AKA Jackie Moon sat down for a podcast with 4000 and Counting. You can listen to it here.
When Bristol do finally skate out on home ice next year it will be one of the best hockey related storylines the UK has seen in many a year.
Oxford City Stars took the decision to release forward David Manning after he was ejected on a match penalty in the previous weekend loss to MK Thunder. Ever since Bracknell Bees star Frankie Bakrlik was handed a huge checking to the head suspension a year or so ago, the EIHA have really ramped up their punishment for the offence so Manning was clearly going to miss a number of games in the remainder of the season – if not all.
The Stars press release regarding Manning’s departure was short and neither sweet nor sour, however the EIHA had yet to determine the length of sentence in their disciplinary update, which read:
“The disciplinary committee are looking to invoke the ‘hits to the head’ protocol for this second offence and are taking additional reports before making their final decision. This will be announced as soon as the decision is made.”
The update also revealed that Streatham’s Adam Wood’s ban had been reduced and he would return to action after serving two games for his incident against Solent.
Saturday review
Solent Devils showed their resilience as they overcame a spirited Invicta Dynamos to pick up a valuable two points in Kent.
Richard Facey moved to the top of the league scoring charts with a brace in a 5-3 win on the night, that also saw Ralfs Circenis score twice and Steven Osman once for the Devils.
Juraj Huska scored two goals for the Mo’s adding to a lone effort from Tomas Banovsky.
Dynamos blueliner Arran Strawson got the consolation of guaranteed hot water in the showers as he was ejected for abuse of official in the third period. You can watch all the goals and highlights of the game here.
The result kept the Devils in the hunt for the league title, and they would have been heartened with news that Slough Jets had taken an early lead against leaders Streatham at the Hangar.
Lukas Smital’s side were level at 3-3 going into the final period, before the Londoners eased ahead in the third to win 7-4, peppering Matt Smital’s goal with 35 shots in the last twenty minutes.
Luke Brittle scored a hat trick for the visitors, with Ben Paynter scoring twice and Adam Carr and Ryan Watt getting the others. For Slough it was Juha Lindgren, Brad Hildreth, Jacob Soper and Harry Harcup with their goals.
RedHawks Scott Bailey and Jets Captain Dan Rose were ejected in the first period for fighting and resisting officials to add to the drama.
Hornets edge out Raiders in Romford (Nicola Day)
Raiders Junior and Bracknell Hornets played out a 14 goal thriller at the Sapphire in Romford as the visitors took an 8-6 win.
Man of the match Bailey Hind-Pitcher scored twice for Bracknell adding to goals from Connor Hutchison, Matt Foord, Tamas Elias, Dom Hopkins and Ben Ealey-Newman.
Lithuanian youngster Vilius Krakauskas bagged a hat trick for the Raiders with Sam Austin netting twice and Jan Marcilis getting the other.
The result marked a fifth loss in a row for the Raiders, while the Hornets made it their fourth win in five games.
The final game of the evening took place in Cardiff as the Fire looked to continue their good results against MK Thunder. The Thunder had been rocked during the week with a 5-0 forfeit for icing an ineligible player in their win over the Raiders last month, but regained two points thanks to a 3-1 win in South Wales.
Sam Prosser scored twice for the visitors with Julien Baemlin also on target. Kristians Kasjanovs got the consolation for the Fire.
To make matters worse for Mark Cuddihy’s side, Cedric Racine was ejected in the first period on a game misconduct for leaving the penalty box.
Sunday review
Invicta eased early nerves in their game at Milton Keynes by scoring with just 15 seconds on the clock through player coach Anthony Leone. The Mo’s went on to win 5-2 thanks to further goals from Harrison Lillis, Juraj Huska, Brandon Webster and Tomas Banovsky.
Thunder scorers were Harrison Goode and Alex Whyte.
Streatham edged past a well organised Bracknell side in South London with a 4-2 win.
Captain Michael Farn led from the front with two goals to add to efforts from Danny Ingoldsby and Luke Brittle.
David Millner opened the scoring for Bracknell with Tamas Elias also on target.
City Stars bang in seven
Oxford City Stars avenged their defeat to Cardiff last month with a 7-1 win at Oxpens Road.
Four Stars goals in the last six minutes gave the match a high scoreline, with Josh Oliver, Joe Edwards and Mike Whillock scoring a brace each. Matt Lawday completed the scoring to the delight of the home crowd. Elis Sheppard scored the consolation for the Fire.
The results mean that Streatham can now win the league if they beat Solent in Gosport next weekend.
Results
Saturday 7th March 2020
Slough Jets 4-7 Streatham IHC
Invicta Dynamos 3-5 Solent Devils
Cardiff Fire 1-3 MK Thunder
Raiders Jnr 6-8 Bracknell Hornets
Sunday 8th March 2020
Streatham IHC 4-2 Bracknell Hornets
Oxford City Stars 7-1 Cardiff Fire
MK Thunder 2-5 Invicta Dynamos
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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