The 2011/12 EPL season is nearly over! Sad to say but last weekends games signalled the penultimate weekend of league hockey for this season. With the league title gone to Guildford the Phoenix went into the weekend looking to sure up 2nd spot. An easy weekend for the Phoenix hey? A not so insignificant trip to Swindon saturday night, a place where the Phoenix have not won this season and a home game versus the newly crowned Guildford Flames. See an easy weekend!
The Phoenix had been faltering a little of late, so the result saturday night was pleasing as it showed the Phoenix could go into a tough rink and get a result. A tight 5-4 victory ensure the Phoenix got the weekend off to a good start. With Sheffield and Slough winning, two points in Swindon were a must. The Flames slipped up and lost at home to the Bees, bit of a championship hangover? Possibly, but probably more the Bees desire to secure that last playoff spot!
Going into sundays game the Phoenix were within 6 points of the Flames, the tantalising proposition was, beat the Flames and the Phoenix could.....could end the season tied at the top! Only if the Flames continued their loosing run.....unlikely! A sunny sunday saw a bumper crowd turn out at the Ice Dome for another instalment of Phoenix/Flames hockey. For the rest of this review, I want you to be humming 'Through the Fire and Flames' by DragonForce!
First Period: The game kicked off with a recognition and a big cheer for the Flames becoming EPL champions, a classy move and, with the way the Phoenix faithful responded, one that makes me proud to be a Phoenix fan! Throughout the initial exchanges the Phoenix looked good, a glimpse of what may have been had we a full roster all season! They were quick, passes were crisp and the home side managed to carve out the majority of chances throughout the period. Only to find Mark Lee in bloody good form in the Flames goal. That being said, Guildford were not out of it, they showed how dangerous they can be on the break and their superior strength in depth. No goals came from the period, but the fast paced hockey was a joy to watch.
Second Period: For the Phoenix it was a case of, do what you did in the first, the goals will come! The home faithful were rewarded when Juraj Faith got the scoreboard moving with a sweet goal at 27min 07sec. That lead was doubled 90sec later when the hard working Josh Ward persevered around the net to score the Phoenix second, that one coming at 28min 44sec. The Phoenix third came on a powerplay, after a few false starts the Phoenix got set up in the Flames zone and began to cycle the puck. Eventually it made it back to Spelda on the point who unleashed a bomb on Lee and the puck just went right through him! That goal timed at 35min 03sec. With the score 3-0 Phoenix the Flames woke up and found their scoring boots! Both times capitalising on powerplay opportunities, in the space of 2 minutes spanning the period break the Flames were right back in it, and the Phoenix fans were wondering how the Phoenix grip on the game had been loosened. The Flames first came from Kohut at 38min 27sec and..........
Third Period: .....their second came 42sec into the third period when Melicherik capitalised on some poor Phoenix defense. So a 3-2 hockey game with the majority of the third period to go. Game on! With Sheffield and Slough both staring losses in the face this was an ideal game for the Phoenix to lock up second place. thankfully calm heads were found on the Phoenix bench and the next goal would come for the home side. Martin Cingel getting a powerplay goal at 42min 15sec to calm frayed nerves. The insurance goal came midway through the session when Cingel, again, scored to make it 5-2 Phoenix at 49min 45sec. It was this point where the game began to ease off, the game won, thoughts in both camps started to look towards the playoffs.
Verdict: My view on the game can be summed up by, what I said on the podcast and on twitter, 'I so enjoy these games of HOCKEY'! In truth the motivation wasn't there for the Flames...they didn't 'need' the win but the Phoenix did! That being said the Phoenix deserved the two points, I just hope the newbies in the big crowd were sold on hockey! That game was a great advert for it!
Attendance: Biggest crowd of the season, i'd say around 1,800 in the Ice Dome.
Phoenix 5 Guildford 2 - Phoenix Article
Phoenix 5 Guildford 2 - Flames Article
Phoenix 5 Guildford 2 - CB Sport
This game was the second leg of our Knockout Cup quarter final against the Stingrays, so on the ‘most’ romantic of days what could be better than a trip across the M62 to Hull! With a 4-0 lead from the first leg most of the 50-60 travelling Phoenix fans will have been in confident mood. I was of the opinion that if we scored first we should win! However Hull are no pushover and, depending on what mood Cruickshank, was in it could be difficult.First Period: In the end we need’nt have worried, the Phoenix controlled the game from the first period, limiting the chances the Stingray’s had on Smurf. The Phoenix got on the board first at 13min 49sec when Kyle Bruce slammed the puck home. The Phoenix faithful were on their feet again less than two minutes later when our captain Kenton Smith doubled the lead at 15min 24sec to make it 0-6 on aggregate. The Phoenix closed out the period in control and leaving the Phoenix travelling support in fine voice.Second Period: More of the same this period, the only difference being we missed out any action in the far corner due to the sight lines from the away block. Though I cant really comment as the Dome is not the shining beacon of rink design! More control from the Phoenix, more noise from the fans though none from the home support. I know the team was 0-6 down but come on sing for your team? Anyway the lead was extended at 25min 52sec when Fulgham lit the light. The Stingrays finally got on the board at 32min 20sec when Kalmikov (who was the Rays best player of the night!) netted.Third Period: I may be wrong but I think at the start of the third, or near the start both teams replaced their starting net minders. With Andrew Jaszczyk replacing the excellent Cruickshank and Adam Summerfield coming in for the Phoenix. The next goal came at 52min 48sec when Beauregard rounded Jaszczyk to score the Phoenix 4th goal. The Stingrays were not to be outdone and in a minutes spell brought the score line a bit more respectability. Firstly Glowa at 57min 49sec and 58min 42sec saw Mitchell bring the Stingrays to within one on the night.Verdict: A potentially tricky encounter on Humberside, thankfully the Phoenix controlled the game from start to finish, with the added bonus of Summerfield getting decent run out in the net. Great turn out from the Phoenix fans who were in full voice from start to finish.Attendance: Probably around 500 in the Ice Arena Saturday night. With 50-60 of those being the travelling Phoenix support. MEN article.Am still working on my game review for the Basingstoke game from last night (sunday) that should appear, hopefully, tomorrow evening!
A cold Thursday night saw the Stingrays come to the Ice Dome for the first leg of our Knockout Cup game. As mentioned in Wednesday’s post this game is actually an important game for both teams. As the cup competitions offer the more realistic shot at some silverware for each team. With that in mind, despite Hull suffering a number of injuries, the Phoenix could not take the game lightly. With being the first leg too, it was important for the Phoenix to win the game and post a good first leg score to take to Hull on Valentines Day. As with the game against the Devils last Sunday youngster Bed Wood dressed and wore the number 1 jersey! I hope this lad gets some ice time, he looks a very good player! Tall, good skater, good stick handler and not a bad shot either!
First Period: The first period saw the Phoenix take control, but as with every game against the Stingray’s the Phoenix were made to work hard! I can’t say it was pretty either; the term workmanlike comes to mind! Having said that the Phoenix were able to carve out a number of opportunities, only to come up against a determined Cruickshank in the Stingrays net. The Phoenix made the breakthrough at 17min 38seconds when Kyle Bruce rounded the net and slid the puck out, from behind the net, through the crease to a waiting Kenton Smith. A well placed shot from the Phoenix captain saw the Phoenix get on the board.
Second Period: A pretty similar period to the first, the Phoenix controlling most of the play and coming up against Cruickshank. Thankfully it was the Phoenix who scored the only goal of the period. The goal came at 35min and 24sec when Tony Hand picked up the puck and skated down the right wing, Brett Clouthier drove hard to the net, and somehow Tony threaded a pass through and the big man slotted home! I was really happy Brett scored, over recent games he was worked very hard, got into scoring positions only for a spectacular save, or for the puck to bounce awkwardly. Well-done Brett great goal!
Third Period: The main aim for this period, for me would be to stop Hull from scoring! A two goal lead is pretty good, but 2-1 or 2-2 would be completely different! Well the Phoenix had other ideas, another strong period from the guys saw them extend the lead to 4-0! The third goal came from Tony Hand at 46min 42sec with an assist to David Beauregard. You may be shocked as this means Tony Hand took a shot J ! The fourth goal came at 56min 28sec when Kyle Bruce topped of a fine display for him with the final goal of the game.
Verdict: Just what the Phoenix needed to do in the first leg,4 goals is good but to get the shutout is even better! Well done to Smurf on that count too by the way! In the end it was a tricky game negotiated well by the Phoenix. They dealt well with the Stingray threat throughout the game!
One thing did stand out for me, the Phoenix had at least 4 breakout opportunities on the Hulll net while on the penalty kill. Against clubs around us in the table it can be excused but if the club want to move up the table we must start putting away these chances! That would be my only negative comment from last nights game.
Attendance: Crikey a couple of events conspired to produce the smallest crowd of the season. A fixture change, midweek game, the credit crunch and a seemingly pointless (in some eyes) competition saw around 600 people make it to the Dome.The Manchester Evening News Article for this game can be found here.
