JOHANNESBURG – SA.The season opener kicked off on Sunday 2nd May with the reigning champions, Scorpions from Kempton Park taking on Warriors who hail out of Pretoria. A lot of smack talk between the players in the build up to the game built up quite an intense rivalry right from the drop of the first puck. Warriors got off to the best possible start with their first line of Zayne Du Plessis, Andre Marais and Cameron Birrel netting 3 quick goals within the first ten minutes to rattle the Scorpions. Warriors then scored again to make it 4-0 at the end of the first period.
The second period was fast paced and action packed with end to end action and the two keepers, Ashley Bock from Warriors and David Berger from Scorpions having to be at their best to keep the game close. The third period saw a bit more action down the Warriors end of the ice and the Scorpions players peppered Bock with a lot of shots. Their pressure finally paid off and they got one past and with 15minutes left the score was now 4-1. 10 Minutes to go and a fight breaks out, Scorpions forward Damian Cardoso slashes the netminders hand after a save has been made and throws the first punch; Bock, forced to take matters into his own hands and does, the fight is over and its back to the game. This fight seemed to spur on the scorpions players as they put another past Bock. This was to be the final onslaught as the game ends 4-2 in favour of Warriors.
The second game of the season saw Scorpions taking on the Wildcats. The Wildcats had a tough season last year as they struggled to maintain players, this year however got off to a different start with a lot of past players returning to the game they love so much and saw Wildcats with a full bench. This game had a lot riding on it as Wildcats were out to prove a point. Their first line of Jack Valadas, George Lyon and Chris Engelbrecht maintained the pressure on the Scorpions net in the early stages of the game. The rookies on the team had their chance to show what they could do and the line of Russel Van Heyningan, Marcellus Blaenau and Ian Ashworth did just that. A 2 on 1 developed and great pass from Van Heyningan to Blaenau who one times the shot to send the 1-0 up. The Scorpions players peppered the Wildcats keeper, Gary Bock, but he was up to the task making some fantastic saves and denying anything and everything that came his way frustrating the Scorpions players. End of the first period saw it at 1-0 in favour of Wildcats.
The second period was marred by turnovers in both ends but once again G Bock was up to the task and the Wildcats only managed to score 1 more this period. Scorpions did not give up and fought back hard but could still not find a way past G Bock who was having a stellar game in net. Scorpions had found a renewed energy and came out fighting in the 3rd peppering G Bock every time they got the opportunity. A few great saves kept the game at 2-0. In the 1st minute Jack Valadas found the back of the Scorpions net to make it 3-0. 10 minutes later and Valadas found the net off a great pass from Engelbrecht. Scorpions once again fought back and eventually broke through with a deflection from in front of the net on a shot that seemed to be going nowhere. The scorpions player L Coetzee deflected the puck passed Bock on the far side and in off the inside of the post. 4-1 it was and Scorpions got a quick second one with goalmouth scramble, Michael Loneon scoring to make it a 4-2 game. A breakaway by team captain Jack Valadas saw him beat Berger in the Scorpions goal to make the final score 5-2. Gary Bock was rewarded for his efforts with the player of the game for his side.
The following weekend on Sunday 16th May saw the Warriors take on Wildcats. This pitted the 2 Bock brothers against one another. Ashley in goals for Warriors and Gary in goals for Wildcats. The game got off to a fast pace with both teams hungry for the win, Wildcats scored early to make it 1-0. With 3 minutes left in the first period Wildcats conceded a penalty thus giving the power play of Warriors the opportunity to answer back. Zayne Du Plessis took the puck behind the net and was looking to pass it out front, Wildcats defender Ryan Marsh tried to cut off the pass but it deflected off his shin and passed G Bock to make it 1-1 at the end of the first.
The second period saw a few more penalties taken from Wildcats and the Warriors team had a renewed energy. They scored 3 quick goals to take a 4-1 lead. Wildcats seemed to lose their way in the second period, throwing pucks away in the neutral and defensive zones and offering Warriors golden opportunities. Warriors had a great opportunity on a breakaway created by a poor line change from Wildcats. The warriors player skated in on G Bock, faked the deke and went for a shot, G.Bock made the blocker save to rob the player, the puck ended up behind the net and Warriors picked it up, the pass came out and the player who just missed the breakaway received the pass and with a wide open net he fired high to the blocker side once again, but G Bock managed to get his arm in the way and make the save. With a picked off pass in the neutral zone Warriors captain Andre Marais broke in on G Bock and went for a deke. G Bock was up to the task and extended his leg while going down to make the save. The defence picked the puck up but couldn’t clear the zone, they passed it right back to Marais who was fired up after missing his breakaway, he one times the shot and this time gave G Bock no chance. 5-1 was the score at the end of the second.
The Wildcats seemed to catch a wakeup call and in the third period did everything in their power to fight back. Chris Engelbrecht had a great opportunity on a breakaway but a great save by A Bock kept it at 5-1. Engelbrecht broke in from the left and cut across the goals, firing the puck at the opposite corner, A Bock didn’t follow as Engelbrecht expected. A great save none the less. 10 Minutes in and a power play for Warriors once again saw them take advantage. A pass form the boards to the high slot found a wide open player. He one timed the shot over G Bocks glove into the top corner to make it 6-1. 15minutes in and Jack Valadas beat the defence round the outside, he stepped in and fried a shot into the roof of the net over A Bock’s glove. This was to be the last action of the game as it ended 6-2 in favour of the Warriors.
Standings see it as follows:
Position Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points
1 Warriors 2 2 0 0 6
2 Wildcats 2 1 1 0 3
3 Scorpions 2 0 2 0 0
Contact: gary.bock@prohockeynews.com
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