Phoenix Rolling - 21st March Bracknell Bees

Fresh from playing the Phoenix just 6 days earlier, the Bees came back to Altrincham on saturday night for their last visit to the Ice Dome. After a tough 5-4 victory, the Phoenix knew this game would be another tough one. The Bees are stacked with talented young players, turning them into an effective team will be next seasons priority. 

For the Phoenix, they were without Luke Boothroyd, Jacob Corson-Heron, Adam Walker, Joe Graham, and Michal Psurny. Possibly the shortest bench the Phoenix have ever iced at home. 

First Period: Bracknell were icing without a few of their more senior players and, this had a big effect on their play. There was still the pace and stickhandling but, the Bees did not have nearly the same level of craft in this game. The home team really dominated this first period, with the majority of shots (21 to 7) and the only goals of the period. The large crowd saw the Phoenix take the lead after just 2min 32sec when Kovar scored on the powerplay with Harvey Pitcher in the penalty box on a holding call. Tom Annetts was facing alot of rubber in the period and, the home side doubled their lead just a few minutes later at 5min 58sec. Shaun Thompson passed to Frankie Bakrlik who unleashed a bomb past Annetts give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. 

Second Period: Bees upped their intensity in the second period and began to test Ryan in the Phoenix net. Phoenix scored the first goal of the period with a fantastic move from one end of the ice to the other. Robin Kovar found James Archer who raced clear down the near boards, who then crossed the puck to an unmarked Tony Hand who slotted home, goal timed at 29min 25sec. Bees hit back with their first goal of the game through Matt Foord scoring at 36min 19sec. As the period wound down the Phoenix would score another goal in the last minute through an unlikely source. Johan Burlin had the puck on the side boards, he threw the puck on nett through a sea of players and into the goal. His first goal on home ice sent the Phoenix fans delirious! Goal timed at 39min 06sec #IwastherewhenBurlinscored 

Third Period: The third period passed with little incident, but for a couple of goals to the home side. With little riding on the game the game did begin to wind down as both teams looked to avoid any serious injuries. Phoenix added their 5th goal of the game when Shaun Thompson scored against his old club at 49min 34sec. Remarkably a 6th goal followed just before the final buzzer. Hand passed to Kovar who slipped the puck to the hashmarks for #Burlinscoringmachine to score the Phoenix 6th with a pinpoint shot. That goal timed at 59min 33sec. 

Verdict: A strange game in a way, one that had the feel of a pre-season matchup. Bees did suffer for lacking some experienced heads in Spearing, Glazzi and Hubacek. The Phoenix were able to cope with their shortened bench and got the comfortable win. 

Attendance: I will say 1,200 in the Ice Dome. 

Phoenix 6 Bees 1 - Phoenix Article
Phoenix 6 Bees 1 - Bees Article

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Phoenix v Basingstoke Bison 21st February Game Review

The Bison came to town last night, a match up of two ex Elite League teams. The Bison came into this game on a fine run of form, the Phoenix on a pretty poor run of form. The game would see the Phoenix either:

A) Snap back into life or....
B) Continue to frustrate those fans in the stands.

So on to the game.....

First Period: As the Phoenix and Bison occupy 4th & 5th position in the league the early stages of the game proved to be quite close. The Phoenix visibly upping their game and putting much more effort into their play. Which was not that hard given the rubbish of the previous two games! Despite the early optimism for Phoenix fans, it would be the Bison who scored first. After 9min 2sec Steve Moria would get the Bison rolling, on the powerplay. The Bison went 2-0 up after 17min 29sec when Ondrej Lauko scored a short handed goal! Something that is in-excusable in my eyes! The two goals capped a poor finish to the period for the Phoenix.

Second Period: Whatever Tony Hand said in the interval made an impression! The Phoenix came out and applied themselves much better in this period. Still not up to their pre-christmas form but an improvement! The Bison would get the first goal of the period however, when the Phoenix decided to let Steve Moria skate the length of the ice to score, not clever! What came next highlights what is so frustrating about Ed Courtenay. He faf's around and looks like he puts no effort in, then in the space of 3minutes single handily hauls the Phoenix back into the game. On the powerplay after 34min 05sec Ed got his first, then on 37min 44sec he got his second.

Third Period: The mini revival was snuffed out in the third period when the Bison got the important next goal. After 44min 55sec Thompson got the goal. The Bison then continued to disrupt the play of the Phoenix, and Tom Annetts in the Bison goal kept the Phoenix at bay!

Verdict: Sadly a good 10min period in a game does not spark a recovery! Having said that there was a marked improvement in effort when compared to the Guildford and MK games. Though that wouldn't be hard given how poor the Phoenix were in those games! Even so this is a worrying time for the Phoenix, confidence is obviously low, its low in the stands too, and its hard to see where the recovery will come from. The Phoenix also missed Hagelberg last night, he provides so much energy to the Phoenix it was obvious we missed him! The tough games don't let up just yet, the Phoenix have the second leg of the EPL Cup on wednesday against MK, then away in MK for the league game next saturday, then see the Jets come to the Ice Dome on sunday!! It must also be said that Ben Wood, yet again, got no ice time!

Attendance: Some poor weather, and recent home games did have an effect on the attendance, not a poor crowd though! Ill say around 8-900 in the Ice Dome.

Phoenix TV Highlights:


Phoenix 2 Basingstoke 4 - Phoenix Article

Phoenix 2 Basingstoke 4 - MEN Article