Images (c) Jo Loat
Final score: Basingstoke Bison 9-3 Raiders IHC (League)
By Matthew Church
Sunday 19th March 2023
Refs: Brooks and Korsaks – Linos: Edwards and Sore
For the final time this season, the GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison welcomed the Romford-based Raiders IHC to town, as the home side looked to clinch their place in the play-off quarter finals.
The visitors currently occupy 6th place in the standings and they looked impressive early on, narrowly failing to convert on a powerplay opportunity before Brandon Ayliffe saw a breakaway effort fly just wide. Having weathered the storm, the Herd grew into the contest and took a 1-0 lead at 14:36 through Hallam Wilson (assisted by Peacock and Milton), who flicked the puck home from in tight after an initial shot was spilled. Unfortunately, the lead lasted less than a minute, as the Raiders responded in style to level at 15:26. A 2-on-1 break saw Brandon Ayliffe (Novak, Dewey) accept the pass and snipe top-shelf past netminder Alex Mettam with conviction, to leave the game tied 1-1 at the first period break.
Barely had fans returned to their seats before the Bison regained the lead, in what would become one of their most impressive periods of hockey across the whole season. Whilst on a 5-on-3 powerplay, quick passes behind the net created confusion between Raiders players before the puck was sent to Gaël Lubwele (Balaz, Norcliffe) in front of goal, who slammed home at 20:48 for 2-1. Another powerplay tally as the game approached its halfway point, moved the Bison 3-1 in front. A defensive zone clearance by the visitors was sent back up the ice promptly by netminder Mettam to Lubwele, who dropped the puck off to Hallam Wilson (Lubwele, Mettam) and a smart finish from between the circles at 29:21 followed.
Momentum was clearly with the Herd and just as the third goal was being announced, a fourth was scored to the delight of the home fans. Import forward Gaël Lubwele (Liddiard) blasted down the right wing before moving inside and sending a rocket past Brad Windebank in net, straight into the top corner at 30:03, for a 4-1 advantage. Not long after, the Bison extended their lead to 5-1 at 32:45 as Alex Sampford (Norcliffe) was perfectly placed in front of the crease to deflect home a centering pass from the Herd’s captain, after he had scorched down the left wing and around the Raiders’ defence.
With the contest being the last for ‘Stampy’ before leaving the side to begin his career in the RAF, both players and fans alike wondered if there was a fairytale ending in store for him and at 34:36, he doubled his personal tally for the night with the home side’s third powerplay goal of the contest. A powerful shot was smartly saved by Windebank in net but the rebound fell kindly for Alex Sampford (Norcliffe, Balaz) to bundle home and move the Bison 6-1 ahead after two periods of play.
Another bright start for the Herd resulted in them increasing the gap at 41:32, as Gaël Lubwele (Milton) completed his hat-trick with a sublime top shelf shot to move his side 7-1 in front. The Raiders quickly fired back with a powerplay goal at 44:56, as Jacob Ranson (Anderson, Relf) finished neatly from in tight to make it a 7-2 game. Playing with poise and confidence, the home side kept their opponents at bay as the final period progressed, before Zac Milton (Lubwele, Banner) put the Bison 8-2 ahead at 54:47, accepting a pass whilst moving at speed and using quick hands to slide the puck into the net from close range.
A late penalty shot was awarded to the Raiders at 58:47 and former-Bison forward Alex Roberts fired home with ease to make it a marginally more respectable 8-3 scoreline. However, with less than one minute remaining, there was still time for the moment of the game to arrive (and contender for moment of the season too). A final Bison attack saw Alex Sampford (Milton, Mitchell) collect a bouncing puck whilst breaking through the Raiders defence, before poking home at 59:07 and almost lifting the roof off the rink as he completed an emotional hat-trick that was positively written in the stars, to complete a resounding 9-3 victory which also, combined with others results, meant the Bison guaranteed themselves a play-off quarter final spot.
The whole rink stood to applaud ‘Stampy’ as the game finished and he enjoyed a solo lap of honour. Scoring a hat-trick for your hometown team in the final game before starting an exciting new career in the RAF must surely be the perfect send off. Thank you for everything Alex, don’t be a stranger!
Match Stats:
Bison stats: Lubwele 3+2, Milton 1+3, Norcliffe 0+3, Sampford 3+0, Balaz 0+2, Wilson 2+0, Banner 0+1, Liddiard 0+1, Mettam 0+1, Mitchell 0+1, Peacock 0+1
Netminder: Alex Mettam 33/36 (91.67%)
Raiders stats: Anderson 0+1, Ayliffe 1+0, Dewey 0+1, Novak 0+1, Ranson 1+0, Relf 0+1, Roberts 1+0
Netminder: Bradley Windebank 20/29 (68.97%)
PIM: Bison 10 – Raiders 14. SOG: Bison 29 – Raiders 36.
Bison MOM: Sampford – Raiders MOM: Relf
Next up at home, is a game on Saturday 25th March against the newly-crowned league champions, Leeds Knights. See you all there.
Tickets for Saturday’s game against the newly crowned league champions are available to purchase from the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
