Photo (C) Jo Loat
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Matthews & Mr Poulton
Lino’s : Mr Lalonde & Mr Sore
After Saturday evenings excruciating OT loss, at the hands of the Leeds Knights, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the short trip to Slough, to face the Bees IHC, for the final game of the league season.
The Bison had already booked their play-off spot a few weeks back, but the Bees needed to win the game, just in case, the Raiders pulled off a surprise victory in Peterborough.
The Bison, still missing Adam Jones, Adam Harding & Bison Player/Coach Ashley Tait, whilst speedster Cain Russell was away on GB duty, with the Under 18’s in Estonia
Curtis Warburton & Jordan Lawday, both getting the starts, between the pipes, for their respective teams.
From the first puck drop, it was pretty obvious, that the Bees were going to throw everything at the Bison net. Ed Bradley tested Lawday early on, but Jordan made the save. Bees would be awarded the first penalty of the evening, when Will Stead was given a Hooking call (2.38). Bison couldn’t get the powerplay going and Bees took advantage of a poor turnover, when Bees hot-shot Dominik Gabaj skated in and scored short-handed (3.03), with an assist going to Harvey Stead.
Bison, would then pick up their first penalty, with Alex Roberts getting a High Sticks call (3.55), making it 4-on-4 for about 30 secs. Bees would kill off their penalty and quickly made the extra man count. Harvey Stead & Ed Bradley, picking out Gabaj all alone at the back post, for an easy tap in PP goal (5.21).
It was just the start Bees had dreamed of, no doubt. Bison did steady the ship for a little while, but rarely created any good scoring chances. So Bees, just kept up the constant pressure on the Bison goal and were rewarded again, when an Ed Bradley shot from the point, got tipped in front by Alan Lack, to make it 3-0 Bees (15.10), with Josh Smith also assisting.
Bees added another goal a couple of minutes later, when Gabaj (18.21) netted again (his hat-trick), with Zaine McKenzie providing the assist. 4-0 now and the shock could be felt, within the travelling Bison faithful, who had made the trip.
Into the final minute of the period and just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse…. it did !
Hallam Wilson picked up a Boarding call (19.16) and the Bees PP unit scored again. Juha Lindgren netting top shelf, with a neat finish (19.42). Bradley & Gabaj netting more points, with the assists. The final few seconds ran down and as the buzzer sounded, the Bees left the ice, with massive applause from their fans, ringing in their ears.
I can’t imagine what was said in the Bison locker room, but I’d imagine their ears were ringing too and rightly so… 5-0 to the Bees & shots on goal were 14 on Lawday & a measly 5 on Warburton.
I know the game meant nothing to the Bison, but as a fan, I’m not going to lie, I was really miffed. I could only hope, that the guys would come out and up the effort levels and try to get back in the game.
Into the 2nd period and it would be the Bees that got the jump on the Bison. A few minutes in and they added another goal, Ex-Bison Josh Smith netting (23.59), with Gabaj & Lack assisting the goal.
A coming together, between Galazzi & Morris, after the whistle, earned themselves a minor Cross-Checking call each (25.20).
This would be the start of a a few niggles, that would amass more penalty calls, later on the game.
Both teams would return to full strength, when the penalties elapsed. Then the Bison bench spoke out of turn and Mr Matthews tapped the hips, to reward them, with an Unsportsmanlike, Bench minor penalty (27.40). Thankfully, it didn’t cost the Bison, as they killed the penalty successfully.
Just over halfway through the game and Bison forward Zack Milton, finally gave the Bison faithful something to cheer about, as he netted, with a nice finish (30.11), with the Scottish ‘twins’, Liam Morris & Jay King getting assists.
At this time, it also brought to an end to the game for Jordan Lawday, as he was replaced by Alex Mettam.
Bison Captain Elliott Dewey would be next taking a seat in the sinbin, when he was given a High Sticks call (34.14). But once again, the Bison penalty killers successfully killed off the penalty and returned to full strength.
Bees were still in full charge of the game and sadly for the Bison fans, the Bees netted another goal. Ryan Webb (37.34), with the lone assist going to Zaine McKenzie.
Bees then hit a little penalty trouble, when Juha Lindgren was assessed a Tripping call (38.17) & then in the final minute of the period, Josh Martin joined him, when he picked up a Hooking call (39.24), giving the Bison a two man advantage and maybe, just maybe, a chance to pull a goal back, albeit, only a consolation marker. The few seconds left in the period ran down and at the end of the second period, the scoreline read, Bees 7 Bison 1.
SoG were 15 on Bison (11 on Lawday & 4 on Mettam), whilst Biaon only managed another poor count, of 8 shots on Warburton.
Into the final period of both teams league season and Bison made quick work to use the numerical advantage. Alex Roberts sniping home, after good work by George Norcliffe & Zack Milton (40.09).
Bees managed to see off the Josh Martin penalty soon after.
Dominik Gabaj then turned villain, as he picked up a Cross-Checking call (43.17), but Bees saw off the penalty. Tempers started to rise between the teams again, with Alan Lack & Ryan Sutton squaring up, after lots of pushing and shoving, after the whistle again. Both received a minor penalty for Roughing, but Lack also picked up a 10 min Misconduct call (52.34), bringing an end to his night.
With both team playing a man short, Bees added another goal. Dominik Gabaj notching his 4th marker of the night. Adam Rosbottom & Harvey Stead, assisting (53.43).
Then, with more shenanigans between certain players, it appeared that Mr Matthews, had reached his breaking point. Joe Baird & Liam Morris, both being sent to their respective dressing rooms, when they picked up 10 min Misconduct calls (55.00) …. and they were quickly followed off the ice, by Will Stead & Tom Banner, who also picked up the same Misconduct penalty (56.41).
At the same time, Bees made a change in net, with Ben Mollitt replacing Warburton.
The break on play, appeared to lower the tension between the teams and anyway, the game was done a long time before this, so the remaining time ran down and the final buzzer sounded.
As bad as the performance/result was, I will just say, how loud & proud the Bison faithful were all night. That’s why we’re the best fans in the League !!
Bees winning, meant they had made the post season and on that showing, they thoroughly deserved to.
MoM awards going to Zack Milton for the Bison & not surprisingly, Dominik Gabaj for the Bees. He is a quality player.
Bison have been handed a Play-Off group, with Swindon, Sheffield & Peterborough. Whilst Bees have been left with, Telford, Leeds & MK.
Each team play each other once Home & Away and the Top 2 teams in each group, make the trip to Coventry, to contest the Play-Off Finals Weekend (April 31st/May 1st).
Bison face Steeldogs in Sheffield and then back at Home, in the first round of play-off games, this coming weekend.
