Photo (C) Flyerfifer Photography
FINAL SCORE : Bees 6 Bison 3 (1-0, 3-1, 2-2)
By Nigel Simmonds.
Refs : Mr Ions & Mr Poulton
Lino’s : Mr Edwards & Mr Sore
After Saturday evenings disappointing defeat against the Peterborough Phantoms, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the short trip along the M4, to face the old foe, the Bees IHC, having now relocated to Slough, following the closure of their old rink, in John Nike Way.
The Bison, still missing Adam Jones (Injured) & the talented young duo of Oli Hemmings-Maher & Roman Cathcart (playing for Slough). Edgars Landsbergs was also a scratch, due to picking up an injury the previous evening.
Adam Goss & Jordan Lawday would both get the nod, for their respective teams, as starters in net.
After a pretty strong start by both teams, with both netminders seeing the puck early doors. Bison would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when a complete mismatch, saw 6’3″ Thomas Banner given an minor call for Elbowing (3.03), as he was adjudged to have caught Bees ‘pint size’ forward Alan Lack. Thankfully, the Bees would not prosper from the extra body on the ice and Bison would see off the penalty.
A few minutes later and Bison would get called again. Brendan Baird this time, as he received a Cross-Checking penalty (8.30).
The Bees PP unit would come out again, but the Bison defence held firm, with Jordan Lawday pulling off a couple of good close range saves.
Just before their powerplay had ended, Bees would get penalised with a Bench minor penalty, for ‘Too Many Men’ call (10.26).
Within seconds, Bison returned to full strength and found themselves of a powerplay of their own. But however hard they tried, they just could not beat Goss in the Bees net.
He made a couple of good saves and if any rebounds, it found it’s way to safety, sadly not a waiting Bison players stick. Bees would kill off the penalty and returned to full strength.
Bees Alan Lack, would take another trip to the penalty box, when he was given an Interference call (13.59), but again Bison just could not get the powerplay firing and Bees once again killed the penalty. Bison netminder Jordan Lawday would get called for Interference (16.40), as he took exception to having a Bees player so close to his crease.
This time it would be the Bison PK unit, that would work hard to see off the penalty successfully.
It looked like we were heading for a scoreless period, but a mistimed challenge on the boards, saw talented youngster Juha Lindgren get free to skate in and his cross ice pass found Brendan Walkom all alone at the back post, for an easy tap in, to give Bees the lead (19.19). Dominik Gabaj also assisting the goal.
There was still time for a penalty, when Bees Ryan Webb, picked up a Slashing call (19.39).
That would be all for a close first period, with Bees taking a 1-0 lead into the first interval.
The Bison started the 2nd period, still with 1.39 left remaining of Webb’s penalty. Again, as much as Bison created good scoring chances, they were thwarted by Goss and his sturdy defence.
Hallam Wilson would get called for Cross-Checking (22.48). It was a bit harsh, as the officials had missed a very similar incident, a few seconds earlier, when a Bees player had done exactly the same thing. The inconsistencies that appear from week to week, with some refererees.
Unfortunately for the Bison, this call would prove costly, as Alan Lack (Gabaj) finished a move, with a top shelf finish, past Lawday for the powerplay goal (24.06).
Bees JJ Pitchley, was next to receive a penalty, when he got called for Roughing (25.14). Bison almost scored, when Ryan Sutton saw his shot saved by Goss at close range.
Gaël Lubwele also had a couple of shots saved, but the Bison PP unit were just not firing at full strength.
Bees killed the penalty soon after.
The Bees powerplay would get another opportunity, when Ryan Sutton picked up a Cross-Checking call (30.52). Unlike the Bison PP unit failing, the Bees unit was producing the goals and they scored again, when Bees top guy Gabaj (Lindgren, W Stead) fired past Lawday with a wrist shot (31.40) to send Bees into a 3-0 lead and with that, pretty much silenced the travelling Bison fans.
A minute later and Bees Captain Stuart Mogg, was given an Interference call (32.41), as he clashed with Lubwele in front of the Bees net.
From the resulting penalty, Bison finally found the net. Imports Gaël Lubwele & Marcel Balaz combined well, with Balaz skating around the back of the net, to set up Aidan Doughty to fire home past Goss, for a powerplay goal (33.08). Was this the start of the comeback ? … Sadly not .. !
Lubwele was awarded a Tripping call (33.38) and Bees quickly restored the 3 goal lead. Alan Lack (Walkom, W Stead) scoring again, taking full advantage after the puck fell kindly, after a deflection off a Bison D-man (34.47).
Bees defenceman Harvey Stead, was given a minor Check to Head penalty (34.55). Again, this usually gets a major call, but the inconsistency of this offence, appears to change weekly !
During the Bison powerplay, there was an incident that clearly annoyed the Bison bench and sadly, it ended with them picking up an ‘Abuse of Official’ call (36.19). Both penalties were successfully killed off though.
That was all the action for the 2nd period and at the buzzer, Bees went in with a healthy 4-1 scoreline.
Into the 3rd period we go and Bison really needed to get the next goal, if they had any chance of getting back into the game. They were given the perfect chance, when Bees Josh Smith flipped the puck out of play, from the Bees zone, earning him a Delay of Game penalty (42.15).
Bison set out to use the man advantage well. Marcel Balaz got the Bison fans back on their feet, when he picked up a loose puck and fired home unassisted, over Goss’s shoulder (43.49), to bring the visitors within two goals.
Into the final ten minutes now and Bison kept testing the Bees net, trying to get back into the game.
However, Jordan Lawday would fall foul of the officials again, when he was handed a Tripping call (52.32), as Jordan caught the Bees player that skated right through his goal crease.. a bit harsh really..
Once again though, the Bees PP unit took full advantage, as they scored again. Lindgren feeding Gabaj on the point and his shot was goalbound, until Alan Lack got the slightest of tips on the puck, as it sailed past Lawday (52.57), completing a “Lack-Trick” .. as Bees fans later named it. That reinforced the 3 goal lead for Bees.
But Bison weren’t quite finished yet as new signing Adrian Dusznik (Baird, Lubwele) opened his Bison account, when he scored an almost identical goal as Balaz, earlier in the period, with a shot that beat Goss over his left shoulder (54.39).
Just before the 2 minute warning, Bison used their ‘Time Out’. Coach Tait, pulled Lawday at the same time, giving Bison the extra player, with the hope of scoring again.
An incident on the boards by the Bees bench involving Lack & Lubwele, ended with both players sitting out the final minutes. Lack receiving a Holding penalty & Lubwele picked up a Tripping call (58.50).
Bison carried on with Jordan Lawday sitting out, but that would be their downfall, as Juha Lindgren (Walkom, W Stead) finally nailed the Bison coffin shut, with an empty net goal (59.45).
The remaining few seconds ran down and at the buzzer, the Bees ran out comfortable winners, with a 6-3 final scoreline.
It was a very disappointing zero point weekend for the Bison, after such a really encouraging Pre-Season showing. Still early days yet and plenty of time for improvement, which I’ve no doubt there will be.
Match Stats:
Bees Stats : Lack 3+0, Gabaj 1+3, Lindgren 1+3, Walkom 1+2, W Stead 0+3.
Nets : Goss 60.00 (41/3)
Bison Stats : Balaz 1+1, Doughty 1+0, Dusznik 1+0, Lubwele 0+2, B Baird 0+1.
Nets : Lawday 58.10 (36/5) Empty Net 1.50 (1/1)
MoM Bees : Alan Lack
MoM Bison : Jordan Lawday
PiMs : Bees 14 Bison 18
SoG : Bees 37 Bison 41
The GalxC Cooling Services Bison are next in action this coming Friday, when they travel to Wiltshire, to take on the unbeaten Swindon Wildcats.
The following day, Swindon visit the Silverdome Arena, in the first back to back weekend, for the Bison this season.
