The magic 8, controlling Cats and late season controversy

LONDON, UK – With the league title race a foregone conclusion and no relegation battle to focus on, some fans could be forgiven for thinking the NIHL South 1 may go quiet ahead of the Play-Offs in a few weeks. They’d be wrong.

Phantoms and RedHawks serve up goals (Fusional)

It has been a relatively quiet year in the NIHL South 1 as far as off-ice drama is concerned, so with the end of the season just a few weeks away, the gong for controversial moment of the year is arguably still up for grabs.

Stepping up with a late entry is Bracknell Bees forward Ryan Watt, whose 21 game ban resulting from fracas against Peterborough Phantoms ten days ago was not taken lightly by the player.

In a Facebook statement posted during the week, Watt accepted his punishment for his on-ice antics, but was clearly incensed at the 10 games added for an altercation with a Phantoms fan off the ice. Making waves on social media can also add extra games to any ban so Watt is clearly throwing caution to the wind with this action. More wise counsel may have suggested a few well-placed threatening emails up top as a first course of action given its past success rate on far worse off-ice incidents, but there you go.

The 4000 and counting podcast were also unhappy with the decision but in fairness opinions varied across the hockey sphere, with some fans finding Watt’s statement unhelpful. It is this columns view that the additional 10 game ban seemed harsh given the available evidence in the public domain, however we do believe there could be other footage as yet not in circulation. To be fair to the EIHA they do at least have science/guidance behind the length of suspensions.

The lesson we can all learn as hockey lovers is that players should be left alone when they are ejected from the ice, even if you have good intentions and want their autograph on your chest, a kiss or something more. Save it for a meet and greet or in the bar.

Canada? Who are they?

The GB Universities Men’s hockey team flew out to the Winter Universiade Games in Siberia featuring a few NIHL stars among their number.

Basingstoke Bison blueliner and GB captain Chris Cooke spoke with the media before an opening ceremony that featured President Vladimir Putin, some aesthetically pleasing Russian dancers and two bearded DJs that looked like they’d escaped from Shoreditch. Say what you like about Russia but in our opinion they always put on a show.

The first game for the GB men’s team ended up with a 12-0 loss to a strong Canada team, and they face Switzerland next.

An organic #keepiceinbasingstoke campaign started on Twitter with an appeal to the council for a temporary rink in the town. The Bison also revealed that their backroom team of Equipment Gary Mitchell, Sports Therapist Phil Barratt of Physique Bodyworks and Head Medic Glenn Wells would be returning for the 2019/20 season.

News on whether team social media guru and Banners on the Wall leader Anthony Russell would return were curiously missing from the detail. Rumours are already bubbling that Russell has been offered a role with the Bracknell Bees with free wrestling tickets as a sweetener.

Thunder v Dynamos (Lucy McGill)

MK Thunder goalie Jordan Lawday gave an interview with the Chasing the Puck website in which he revealed he will be raffling off his mask at the end of the season for charity.

Keen followers of world cinema may remember Charles Russell’s 1994 masterpiece ‘The Mask’ in which those wearing an ancient mask obtain superhuman powers. This also applied to a loveable dog called ‘Milo’.

Currently rocking a 91.35% save average on a team that has so far conceded just shy of 1300 shots, Lawday’s mask certainly has an effect that many netties could benefit from.

So whether you fancy bagging it to improve your game, use as a bedroom prop or even as part of your very own Jordan Lawday shrine, you need to be in it to win it! Click here to enter the raffle.

Phantoms take early advantage in the Cup

The first leg of the NIHL South Cup final first leg took place in Basingstoke as the Phantoms visited the Bison looking to keep things tight on the road.

A pre-game poll of PHN readers predicted that the Phantoms would lift the trophy with a whopping 70% backing Slava Koulikov’s men. Surprising given their recent stutter in the league.

In a nervy encounter the Bison outshot their opponents but just couldn’t take advantage of the pressure, eventually going down 2-1 on the night. Corey McEwan and Ales Padelek scored for the Phantoms with Ashley Tait notching in response.

At this point we would normally link to a Banners on the Wall summary piece but alas it is not available. Has the Bison related podcast/website already headed up the M3 with his Lycra suit? We can only wait to see.

The 2^nd leg of the final takes place on the 13^th March in Peterborough.

Saturday review

It was a weekend that had the potential to crown Swindon Wildcats as league champions, but their challengers doggedly resisted by digging out results against lower ranked teams.

The first game of the evening actually took place between the two sides at the bottom of the league. Milton Keynes Thunder making it three wins in their last five games by beating the Invicta Dynamos 5-3 in Kent.

Basingstoke or baby..
Basingstoke or baby..
BABY !

The effervescent Ross Bowers notched two late goals to seal the points for MK with Trevor LeBlanc bagging a brace and Rio Grinell-Parke also on target. For the Dynamos the goals came from Andy Munroe, Anthony Leone and Ondrej Zosiak.

In South London a near capacity crowd saw Streatham end up on the wrong end of a 10-5 scoreline against Peterborough.

Fans were still pouring into the arena like a well-earned ice cold Peroni on a hot day as the game faced off, which would have been welcome news to the RedHawks management. The depleted home team did its best to live up to the occasion but the Phantoms showed their class with Ales Padelek firing in a hat trick, Glenn Billing scoring two and Petr Stepanek, James Ferrara, Taylor Romeo, Tom Norton and Martin Susters all bagging one each.

Leigh Jamieson was ejected on an unlucky checking from behind call in the 2^nd period to make life more difficult for Jeremy Cornish’s men.

Bison belt for Dewey

In Basingstoke another big crowd enjoyed watching their team shut out the Raiders 6-0.

The Bison were 4-0 up at the end of the first period and never looked back as Ashley Tait, George Norcliffe, Adam Harding, Liam Morris and Michal Klejna scored lone goals for a 6-0 finish.

Bison goalie Alex Mettam enjoyed a 17 shot shut out in a strangely muted road performance by the Raiders.

The Raiders were missing power forward Mason Webster for the game as he attended the birth of his daughter Olivia alongside partner Hollie. Congratulations Mason from everyone at Pro Hockey News.

Sunday review

Swindon hosted Basingstoke knowing one hand was already on the league title even if it couldn’t be confirmed on the night. The Cats now have to beat Streatham at the Link Centre to lift the trophy next Saturday, after beating the Bison 5-4 in a hard fought encounter, despite being 3-1 down at one stage.

Wildcats goals came courtesy of a brace from Sam Jones and lone efforts from Chris Jones, Edgars Bebris and Toms Rutkis. Bison scorers were George Norcliffe and Tommy Ralph with one each and Michal Klejna with two.

Streatham edged their road fixture against Bracknell with a 2-1 win at the Hive. Alex Roberts and Jacob Ranson both scored to give the RedHawks a much needed win, with Shaun Thompson replying for the Bees.

Damien King proved his worth between the pipes with a big man of the match display for the Jeremy Cornish’s men who have been playing well recently but not getting results.

Magic 8 for Mos (Jason Lines)

A difficult season reached a new low for Invicta as they travelled to Peterborough with only seven skaters and a goalie. The Mo’s were given special dispensation to play the game so that it was not forfeited, however the fans attending likely didn’t feel they received value for money on the admission price.

It’s hard to understand quite how a club that won the NIHL Play-Offs just a couple of years ago could end up in a situation like this, but in fairness to Coach Kevin Parrish, he is the one who had to front it on the bench, and the players that did turn up deserve credit.

The Phantoms skated off with an easy 15-0 win and several players padded out their stats as a result.

Ales Padelek and Nathan Pollard both scored a hat trick, Petr Stepanek hit a brace, local youngster Ross Clarke got his first senior goal and Taylor Romeo, James White, Martin Susters, Corey McEwan and Jarvis Hunt got one each.

Phantoms goalie Ryan Bainborough enjoying a quiet 20 shot shutout between the pipes, while his opposite number Conor Morris had more shots than a Krakow stag party as he totalled 117 for the weekend, with 70 on the night.

The final game of the evening took place in Milton Keynes as the Thunder hosted the visiting Raiders. Lewis Clifford and his team completed a superb 4 point weekend as they survived a late comeback to win 4-3.

Joe Edwards scored two for the Thunder to add to goals from Tomas Rubes and Sam Talbot. For the Raiders Filip Sedivy, Brandon Ayliffe and Juraj Huska got the goals.

After a number of comments about our stars of the week feature we thought it best to clarify a few things. Firstly our colour scheme is going nowhere. Secondly we fly in the face of convention by awarding three stars as a higher ranking than one, as is the case in the NHL. This is the NIHL and we do things our own way. To ram home the point we have awarded an additional star this week… because we want to.