Photo (C) Jo Loat
FINAL SCORE : Wildcats 2 Bison 6 (0-1,1-4,1-1)
Friday 23rd October 2022
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Brooks & Mr Matthews
Lino’s : Mr Pullar & Mr Sore
Unusually, a Friday evening game for your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, as they made the trip along the M4 to Wiltshire, to face high-flying Swindon Wildcats, boosted by their new signing, Russ Cowley… Oh, I really wish we could’ve signed him…
The Bison, missing Adam Jones, Hallam Wilson & Jordan Lawday. Matt Friend stepping in to cover for Jordan. However, some good news… Edgars Landsbergs was back, after missing last Sunday’s game & the roster was boosted by Oli Hemmings-Maher & Roman Cathcart, making another appearance.
Rene Marr & Alex Mettam would both start in nets, for their respective teams.
From the drop of the puck it was going to be a fast & furious first few minutes. Alex Mettam & Rene Marr both seeing action early, but both making good saves.
Wildcats Chris Jones, would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when he was awarded a Hooking call (6.31). Bison had good chances, but Marr would be equal to those and Swindon killed the penalty.
The home side had a great chance to open the scoring, when Cowley got on the end of great pass by Pakozdi, but Mettam somehow got across to deny him.
Lubwele, Norcliffe and Milton all having good chances, but Marr was standing firm in nets.
Paul Petts would pick up a Holding call (14.56), but Mettam & his defence were looking very strong and managed to see off the penalty successfully.
Into the final minute of the period and just as time was running down, a poor turnover in the Wildcats zone, saw MoM Gaël Lubwele’s pass set Zack Milton free and he outdeked Marr, to finish top shelf (19.16).
A few seconds later and Wildcats Captain Sam Bullas, picked up a Roughing call (19.40). Bison managed one last chance, but couldn’t add to their one goal lead, at the first interval.
Bison started the 2nd period with 1.41 left on Bullas’s penalty and they didn’t take long to make it count, although they were helped by a good stroke of good luck.. George Norcliffe fired the puck in around the boards & it took a very fortunate bounce off the board and the puck landed in front of the net & of all places, right on the stick of Aidan Doughty, who with a swift backhander, shot the puck into the net, past Marr to double the visitors lead (20.44).
Bison thought they had added another soon after, as Lubwele finished a really good move at close range, but Ref Mr Brooks washed it out, as he said the goal had come off it’s moorings, before the puck entered the net.
The Bison went back on the powerplay, after Stevie Whitfield was awarded a Hooking call (24.04), but sadly the visitors couldn’t beat Marr and Wildcats got back to full strength.
Bison continued to press forward & the Swindon goal was seeing alot of action around it. Bison had a couple of chances, but somehow they couldn’t find the net.. then another surge forward, bought a return.. great work by Doughty, who set up Lubwele, who saw his shot well saved, but the puck fell in the path of Brendan Baird, whose shot manage to wriggle through a stack of bodies and trickle over the line (27.12).
Jay King, was next to visit the sinbin, when he picked up a Tripping call (28.01). But Bison were very well organised and successfully killed the penalty.
Sam Bullas would get involved again, as he got called for Tripping (32.51), but he let his mouth run off and duly picked up a 10min Misconduct penalty too, as Mr Matthews sent him to the locker room
It was all Bison now and they were smelling blood, like ravenous sharks on a feeding frenzy..
From the resulting powerplay, Bison scored again (33.55). Zack Milton fed Lubwele, whose shot on target, got a slight touch by Bison skipper George Norcliffe & it flew past Marr, to give the visitors an incredible 4-0 lead,
But amazingly, it was going to get better for the Bison. Unfortunately, Jay King picked up another penalty (35.02), a Roughing call this time.
Another uncharacteristic turn over by Wildcats, saw the ever impressive Lubwele, pick up the puck in the neutral zone and he was off up ice. His speed is explosive and he outfoxed Marr into making a move & despatched the puck behind him, to give the Bison an unbelievable 5-0 lead (36.28). The travelling Bison fans, who were vocal all night, were probably like me, a little stunned/shocked, but delirious with joy with what they were witnessing… I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely flabbergasted !
Bison managed kill the penalty & returned to full strength.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard Swindon so quiet on a match night. Their fans couldn’t fathom out what was unfolding in front of their eyes.
Into the final minute of the period and just as it looked like Bison would go in with the 5 goal advantage, Wildcats scored, very much against the run of play and pretty much out of nowhere. Russ Cowley & Colby Tower, setting up Balint Pakozdi & he scored from the tightest of angles, managing to beat Mettam (39.44), to finally get Swindon on the board.
That may have given Swindon some momentum to go into the 3rd period, but I’d imagine that Wildcats locker room was not the place to be, after that periods play. Ooh, to be a fly on the wall !
At the start of the 3rd period there was a change of netminder for the Wildcats, as Dean Skinns replaced Marr.. Personally, coudn’t blame him for any of the goals, but Wildcats just needed something to maybe change their fortune.
A few minutes in and Swindon picked up a penalty. Loris Taylor with an Interference call (45.24), but Wildcats would kill that one ok, although Malasinski nearly scored shorthanded, but Mettam made a great save to deny him. A few minutes later and Wildcats got called again. This time, ex-Bison player Ollie Stone, guilty of a Tripping call (49.06).
Bison, back on the powerplay again, but sadly, Wildcats would score shorthanded, when their new forward Colby Tower, fired home from the point, after good set up play by Tyler Plews & Edgars Bebris (49.51).
Thankfully, Bison didn’t take long to respond and opened up the 4 goal lead again. Aidan Doughty getting a deft tip on a shot by Edgars Landbergs, with Jay King also assisting (50.58).
Gaël Lubwele picked up a Hooking penalty (52.14), but the Bison PK unit saw off the penalty.
Into the final two minutes and there was an altercation between Plews & Marcel Balaz, which had been brewing most of the night, after Marcel had motioned to Plews earlier in the game, that he wasn’t happy with how high Plews used his stick.
Anyways, Plews received a 2 min Holding call & Balaz got 2 min Holding + 2 min for Illegal Equipment call (not sure why though ?)
Wildcats choose to pull Skinns, in favour of an extra player on the ice.
Alex Mettam making a couple of brilliant saves to keep them out & Bison just missing out on the empty netter, as a Milton shot up ice went slightly wide.
Then, Jay King again, who must of felt he was being picked on, got called for Slashing (59.11), giving Swindon a 3 man advantage now.
The Bison D & Mettam would see out the last remaining time and at the final buzzer, Bison would leave Swindon with an outstanding victory, against a strong Wildcats line-up.
It was a very impressive team performance by the Bison. Long may that continue.
Also, a special mention to all the awesome travelling Bison fans last night.. You were Loud… Louder… Loudest !!
Match Stats:
Wildcats Stats : Tower 1+1, Pakozdi 1+0, Bebris 0+1, Cowley 0+1, Plews 0+1.
Nets : Marr (29/5) Skinns (13/1)
Bison Stats : Doughty 2+1, Lubwele 1+3, Milton 1+1, Norcliffe 1+1, Baird 1+0, King 0+1, Landsbergs 0+1.
Nets : Mettam (32/2)
PiMs : Wildcats 24 Bison 14
SoG : Wildcats 32 Bison 42
MoM Wildcats : Colby Tower
MoM Bison : Gaël Lubwele
The GalxC Cooling Services Bison are back in action on Saturday night, when Swindon Wildcats visit the Silverdome, trying to gain quick revenge for last nights brutal loss to the Bison.
Next weekend the Herd welcome last seasons league champions the Telford Tigers for our third game in The Planet Ice National Division (Face off 6.30pm), followed by a trip north on Sunday to play one of the leagues new boys Hull Seahawks (Face Off 5.30pm)
Tickets for Saturday’s game against the leagues reigning champions, the Tigers are available to purchase by clicking the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
