LONDON, UK – The National Ice Hockey League South 1 2018/19 season began with a bang as the league, cup and Autumn Cup all faced off.
Welcome to Streatham Alex Roberts (Fusional)
It had been a busy couple of weeks in the build up to the game with pre-season friendlies, marketing efforts and last minute roster changes all taking place across the eight teams that will compete in the NIHL South 1 this season.
Peterborough Phantoms went back to school as Scott Robson, Jordan Marr and Head Coach Slava Koulikov arrived at Welland Academy to deliver an assembly based on the mind-set of the Peterborough Phantoms and their personal goals as sportsmen.
“Shoot, pass, kick some ass” has sadly disappeared from hockey lingo in recent years so wasn’t mentioned as a motto, and mascot Hockey Dog was also in attendance to fill in the blanks to any tough questions for the trio.
“We want Minotaur”
The Phantoms have been extremely busy this year in the local area with some season ticket holders getting personal ticket deliveries from players over the summer. It’s certainly a ballsy strategy from the Phantoms given the perils of door knocking in 2018.
When the doorbell rings in the UK these days, the usual strategy is to pretend not to be in. With TV licence inspectors, religious preachers, dishcloth sellers, tarmac experts and postcode lottery characters all lurking around, it’s no wonder.
Who’s that knocking at the door?
Who’s that ringing the bell?
It’s me James Ferrara with your season ticket.
Did you read my interview in Pro Hockey News last week?
Open up.. it’s really me!
Rumours continued to swirl around Bracknell as to who their new import could be following the release of Karel Richter. Names mentioned so far included a u-turn from Tomas Karpov, an eventual return of Frankie Bakrlik following his ban, plus Edmund Piacka from the Invicta Dynamos.
Leave me off the powerplay but don’t take the car Coach
Who will get the keys to the swanky new team cars from Thames Motor Group and who will get the mountain bike from sponsors Berkshire cycles? Head Coach Doug Sheppard knows the answers and no doubt we all will soon too.
The NIHL media stirred into action with Banners on the Wall posting a season preview podcast you can listen to HERE and 482 days posted their excellent annual 10 by 10 series of player interviews HERE . For an update on all the updated rosters and transfers fans can also visit the excellent NIHL Rosters page HERE
To save any future recriminations, the EIHA published their updated rules of competition. The main changes for the new season centre around discipline where a suspension is carried forward on a non-EIHA trained player from one season to another, clearer guidance on cancellations due to weather conditions, awarded games and new anti-discrimination rules.
There is no doubting that a rule book rarely makes for light reading but it’s probably worth everyone cracking through it to save drama later in the season.
Last but not least, the MK Thunder supporters club continue their crowdfunding efforts to help assist the team in their additional Cup fixtures. The Thunder agreed to play in the Cup to relieve the financial hit on other clubs due to the loss of Cardiff Fire from the league. Donations are welcome HERE
Saturday review
A slow start for the new look Raiders saw them 3-0 down after only 17 minutes at the newly refurbished Hive as a decent crowd watched the highly fancied Bees eventually run out 6-4 winners.
Ivan Antonov scored twice on his return for the Bees with Aidan Doughty, Roman Malinik, Shaun Thompson and Josh Smith also on target. For the Raiders Mason Webster, Blaho Novak, Liam Chong and Matt Turner all lit the lamp.
Hands up if you love the paint job? (Kev Slyfield)
Streatham and MK Thunder served up a treat for the hockey fans in South London as they went to sudden death overtime at 2-2 before Michael Farn fired in the winner for the RedHawks. New import Alex Roberts had earlier notched a brace for the hosts, with Alex Whyte and Tomas Rubes on target for the Thunder.
The 482 days media team were in attendance in South London and started the season with a bang by pushing the ‘close doors’ button whilst inside the lift to the balcony, leaving a small child on crutches waiting for 1 minute 30 seconds for the lift to return to base.
There were three games in the Autumn Cup to start the season. In the first, Swindon Wildcats beat Hull Pirates 8-2 in a feisty affair at the Link Centre. Adam Harding led the scoring for the Cats with a hat trick to add to goals from Chris Jones, Sam Jones, Aaron Nell, Loris Taylor and Edgar Bebris. For Hull Sam Towner and Jason Hewitt scored.
Referee Tim Pickett had a busy night dishing out a game penalty to Matty Davies and dealing with numerous fights over the 60 minutes. Unsurprisingly in a game with lots of goals and incidents, the large home crowd enjoyed their evening.
Peterborough Phantoms beat Telford Tigers 3-1 at Bretton Way thanks to a brace from Corey McEwen and a nice finish from Glenn Billing. The Tigers lone goal came from Scott McKenzie.
Basingstoke Bison beat Sheffield Steeldogs 6-2 in Hampshire with Richard Bordowski scoring two to add to efforts from Player Coach Ashley Tait, Dr Russ Cowley, Hallam Wilson and Liam Morris. Steeldogs’ goals came from Nathan Salem and Duncan Spiers.
There was controversy towards the end of the game as Bison debutant Morris was handed a match for butt ending, while Dog’s Tim Smith also got an early shower for seeking retribution.
Sunday review
The Raiders ended the weekend on a high with a hard fought 3-2 win over Streatham in Romford. Liam Chong, Blaho Novak and Filip Sedivy put the hosts into a 3-0 lead, before Adam Carr and Tom Soar pulled the game within reach for the RedHawks.
Leigh Jamieson and Mason Webster dropped the gloves to add to the drama in the third period.
Bracknell Bees travelled to Kent missing some key players but managed to edge out the Invicta Dynamos 3-2. The Bees raced into a 3-0 lead through a brace from Josh Martin and a goal from Stuart Mogg, however Ondrej Zosiak and Grant Bartlett put the Mo’s back in contention,but to no avail.
Novak celebrates (Kev Slyfield)
Peterborough made it a four point Autumn Cup weekend thanks to a 4-3 win in Shropshire. Petr Stepanek, Corey McEwen and Glenn Billing scored for the Phantoms. Tigers scorers were Rick Plant, Jason Silverthorn and Warren Tait.
Phantoms Harry Ferguson got a shower five minutes early thanks to a high sticks call.
Hull gained revenge over Swindon in the return leg of their clash with a dramatic 3-2 win in the former City of Culture.
The Pirates were 2-0 down with just ten minutes remaining after Adam Harding and Edgar Bebris put the Wildcats ahead before Jason Hewitt, James Archer and Bobby Chamberlain goals earned a stunning win for the hosts.
Wildcats goalie Renny Marr was ejected for fighting with nine minutes to go and this helped spark the Pirates revival. Also dropping the gloves were Sam Bullas and Bobby Chamberlain.
In Sheffield the North/Midlands also got its revenge as the Steeldogs beat Basingstoke 5-4 in overtime thanks to a hat trick goal from Nathan Salem. Ashley Calvert also notched a brace for the Dogs, whilst Richard Bordowski did likewise for the Bison to add to goals from George Norcliffe and Michal Klejna.
So all in all an entertaining opening weekend of hockey with some close, games, scraps and excellent goals.
Results
Saturday 15 September 2018
Streatham IHC 3 MK Thunder 2 (after overtime)
Bracknell Bees 6 Raiders 4
Swindon Wildcats 8 Hull Pirates 2 – Autumn Cup
Basingstoke Bison 6 Sheffield Steeldogs 2 – Autumn Cup
Peterborough Phantoms 3 Telford Tigers 1 – Autumn Cup
Sunday 16 September 2018
Raiders 3 Streatham IHC 2
Invicta Dynamos 2 Bracknell Bees 3
Telford Tigers 3 Peterborough Phantoms 4 – Autumn Cup
Sheffield Steeldogs 5 Basingstoke Bison 4 – Autumn Cup
Hull Pirates 3 Swindon Wildcats 2 – Autumn Cup
Contact the author: carrsy2@gmail.com
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