Image (C) Jo Loat
FINAL SCORE : STEELDOGS 6 BISON 4 (4-0, 1-1, 1-3)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Jarvie & Mr Poulton
Lino’s : Miss Andrews & Mr Staniforth
After Saturday evenings, disappointing loss to the Raiders IHC, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the long trip up to South Yorkshire, to face the Sheffield Steeldogs.
The Bison still without Josh Kelly (injured) & Liam Morris (Suspended), were also missing Carl Graham, who had suited up the previous evening.
Dmitri Zimozdra & Alex Mettam would both get the nod to start between the pipes.
It was a pretty uneventful first few minutes of the game, with both teams just testing each others defences and a lot of the game being played in the neutral zone.
The visitors would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when Marcus Mitchell was called for Hooking (7.49). The Bison penalty killers almost saw off the penalty, but then Thomas Banner picked up a Tripping call (9.40), thus giving Steeldogs a very short two man advantage, but Mitchell would soon return to the ice after his penalty expired. But sadly, a minute into Banners penalty, the Bison failed to clear their zone and paid the price, when James Spurr (Kirk, Buesa) tapped in at the far post, for a powerplay goal (10.40).
From the face off, the Bison would hit more penalty trouble, when Hallam Wilson earned himself a Tripping call (11.05), although he felt it was a soft call & I would fully agree, it was. But again, the home side would use the man advantage and make the Bison suffer. Alex Mettam making a great pad save, but Vladislavs Vulkanovs, was on hand to pick up the loose puck and slot it under a sprawling Mettam, into the net (11.18).
It really wasn’t the start I sure the Bison team & more importantly, the Coach, Ashley Tait would’ve wanted, but Steeldogs were just too clinical.
Marcel Balaz would pick up a Delay of Game penalty, when he flipped the puck over the glass, trying to clear the zone (11.51). This time however, the visitors would successfully kill the penalty.
Balaz would be involved again a few minutes later, when he and Steeldogs Ben Morgan both exchanged punches, after the play was blown dead. Both received minor Roughing calls (17.00) for their troubles.
However, 30 secs later and the home side would extend their lead, when Jordan Buesa (Kirk) picked up the puck and skated in and outdeked Mettam to finish coolly (17.29). Then, some very unnecessary celebrating in Mettams face by Lee Haywood, earned the Steeldogs player, a 2 min Unsportsmanlike penalty, at same time.
But, as the Bison’s night was going, you knew what was coming.
The Bison powerplay were in the Sheffield zone and Gaël Lubwele was just about to unleash a wrist shot, when sadly his stick snapped and Steeldogs broke out on a two-on-one, with Jonathan Kirk finding Matt Bissonnette with a perfect pass and he despatched the puck past Mettam for a short-handed goal (18.24). Steeldogs killed off the remaining penalty and returned to full strength.
That was how it ended at the first period break, with Steeldogs taking a healthy 4-0 lead into the locker room.
Bison came out knowing they had to get the next goal, if they we’re going to make a game of it….. but sadly it wasn’t to be. Steeldogs recent signing Jordan Buesa (Brownley) netted again (20.58) pretty much blowing away any plans the Bison had made, during the period break.
Uncharacteristically, Thomas Banner would pick up another penalty, when he was called for High Sticks (22.38), but the Bison PK units would see off the penalty successfully.
Bison were really falling foul of the officials and Hallam Wilson would pick up another really soft penalty, this time a Tripping call (27.31) and he made his feelings quite clear to the ref with his protestations, but they were just waved away.
Again, the penalty killers would successfully kill the penalty.
Into the second half of the period and Bison kept toiling away, trying to find a break through… and they did finally break Zimozdras shut out, with a really pretty goal.
Alex Sampford (Lubwele, Milton) skated onto a pass and finished with aplomb (34.04), up were grandma keeps the cookie jar, top shelf.. !!
That would be all the action for the second period and it was a much better period for the visitors, although the scoreboard didn’t really back that up, with Sheffield leading 5-1.
Into the final period now and the visitors would need to keep up the pressure of the second period, if they could somehow pull off any chance of possibly getting something out of the game.
Once again though, an early penalty for the Bison, would give the home team a great opportunity to extend their lead. Marcus Mitchell picking up a Delay of Game penalty, when he was really unlucky as his attempt to clear the zone, unfortunately sliced off his stick and over the plexi glass (40.57).
I’m pretty sure he was grateful to his teammates, as they were able to kill the penalty.
A little later, the home side would take full advantage of another Bison defensive error, when Cam Brownley (Brammer, Bonner) netted past Mettam (43.36).
With this, the Steeldogs decided to give their young back up netminder some ice time, as Charlie Henry replaced Zimozdra. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t expecting to see a lot of action, but the Bison would have other ideas on that…
It would be Steeldogs turn to take some trips to the penalty box. First up, youngster Ollie Turner picking up a much deserved Cross-Checking penalty (44.03).
I’m really not a fan of full face caged youngsters, going around committing penalties, thinking they’re untouchable… let’s see how brave you are, when the face cage comes off !
Anyways, Bison would score on the powerplay, when Brendan Baird (Balaz) saw his shot from the point, sail past Henry and ripple the twine (45.13). For many, it was probably seen as a consolation goal by many, but Bison weren’t actually finished yet.
A couple of minutes later and Bison found themselves on the powerplay again, when James Spurr picked up a Roughing call (47.09).
Almost instantly, the visitors netted again, when Paul Petts (Baird, Balaz) got a good tip on a shot from the point and re-directed the puck past Henry (47.31).
The scoreline now read 6-3 in Sheffields favour, but can’t imagine they were too worried about a Bison comeback.
Into the last 10 minutes of the game now and Bison would get another powerplay opportunity. This time Jordan Buesa would be the offender, when he picked up a Hooking call (54.45). From the resulting face off, the puck would find its way onto Gaël Lubwele’s stick, from Zack Miltons pass and with a flick of the wrist, the Canadian sniper, beat Henry over his blocker side (54.51). This did give the small amount of travelling Bison fans, something finally to cheer about.
Steeldogs Coach Greg Wood, starting to sense the Bison were finding the net with ease, decided to pull Henry & put first choice nettie Zimozdra, back between the pipes, for the remaining time in the game.
Jay King wouldn’t help the Bison cause, when he was called for Hooking (56.57), but being honest, it was a penalty he took for the team, as he clearly stopped an odd man rush in Steeldogs favour.
Within a few seconds, Lee Bonner joined King in the sin bin, when he threw unnecessary punches at Marcus Mitchell, way after the whistle had blown (57.16).
Into the final 2 minutes of the game now and just as Bison returned to full strength, Alex Mettam was pulled in favour of an extra attacker in the ice.
Steeldogs almost scored an empty netter, but the shot went just past the post and icing was called, as Bonners penalty had expired just before.
Bison coach Ashley Tait, decided to call his ‘Time Out’, with the face off in the Steeldogs zone.
Bison had a couple more opportunities, but Zimozdra made a couple of frantic saves, to keep the puck out. The remaining few seconds ran down and at the final buzzer, the Steeldogs had won the game 6-4, but the scoreline could’ve been slightly different, if the home side hadn’t returned Zimozdra back in between the pipes, when Bison were making a good go of a comeback.
The beers went to Jordan Buesa for the home side, whilst Roman Cathcart was deservedly named as Bison’s MoM.
Roman & Oli (Hemmings-Maher) again saw plenty of ice time sometimes together on third line and occasionally, individually on separate lines.
These two young lads have very bright futures in front of them.
I just really hope they will both be in Bison jerseys for years to come..
Match Stats:
Steeldogs Stats : Buesa 2+1, Brownley 1+1, Bissonnette 1+0, Spurr 1+0, Vulkanovs 1+0, Kirk 0+3, Bonner 0+1, Brammer 0+1.
Nets : Zimozdra (26/1) Henry (6/3)
Bison Stats : Baird 1+1, Lubwele 1+1, Petts 1+0, Sampford 1+0, Balaz 0+2, Milton 0+2, Wilson 0+1.
Nets : Mettam (38/6)
PiMs : Steeldogs 12 Bison 18
SoG : Steeldogs 38 Bison 32
MoM Steeldogs : Jordan Buesa
MoM Bison : Roman Cathcart
The Bison are back in action this coming Saturday (17th Dec), when the Peterborough Phantoms visit the Bison Arena, this being the last home game before Christmas.
Good seats are still available and tickets are available to purchase from the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
