FINAL SCORE : Phantoms 11 Bison 2 (4-0,3-1,4-1)
Sunday 6th November 2022
By Nigel Simmonds.
Refs : Mr Hands & Mr Williams
Lino’s : Mr Fraley & Mr Walker
It’s been an horrendous week for your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison. A violent sickness & flu bug, savagely spreading through the team (& their family members), leaving them with no alternative to advise the powers that be, that unfortunately they could not ice enough players, to make up a team, to face the Raiders in our home fixture on Saturday night.
It was also stated, that hopefully, we would be able call up a few guys from the Basingstoke Buffalo & also Bison Under-19, to fulfil the fixture in Peterborough on Sunday evening. But, it was always going to be a tough night, against a strong Phantoms side.
Bison regulars, Alex Mettam, Jordan Lawday, Thomas Banner, Brendan Baird, Jay King, Marcel Balaz, Aidan Doughty, Edgars Landbergs & Zack Milton, all declared themselves fit enough to play.
They were boosted by the additions of the ‘two-way’ combo of Oli Hemmings-Maher and Roman Cathcart.
Also called up were, Sam Compton, Travis Penney, Xander Robinson, Mackenzie Parsons & James Bryan, from the Basingstoke Buffalo & Bison Junior teams.
Jordan Marr & Alex Mettam would get the start in nets, for their respective teams.
It was always going to be a tough ask for this makeshift Bison team and they held their own for the opening minutes in the game. However, Phantoms would open the scoring, when Corey McEwen (Sladovsky, Bowering) netted at 8.35.
A couple of minutes later and Ales Padelek (Billing, Speirs) would double the home sides score, timed at 10.36. That would become 3-0, when Padelek (Salisbury, Billing) would double his tally for night (16.21).
Alex Mettam would be awarded the first penalty of the evening, when he was given an Interference call (16.36), which would be served by Xander Robinson.
Phantoms would make the man advantage pay, when Glenn Billing (Weldon, Speirs) would net on the powerplay (18.09).
That would be all the action for the first period. Phantoms leading 4-0.
Bison managed 8 shots on Marr, whilst Phantoms peppered Mettam, with 20 shots.
Into the second period and an early couple of penalties called. Marcel Balaz picking up a Hooking call, whilst Phantoms Tom Norton, was given a minor Slashing penalty, both timed at 24.06.
Sadly, Phantoms continued to surge forward at every opportunity and scored again. Lukas Sladovsky (McEwen, Robson) netting this time (24.49). Both teams would return to full strength soon after.
At the next break in play, Phantoms would change their netminders, with Ryan Bainborough replacing Jordan Marr.
Bison’s Marcel Balaz would be penalised again, when he was given a Slashing call (31.40). Soon after this, Jay King took exception to Will Weldon (He’s not the first .. lol) and dropped the gloves, but Weldon clearly wanted no part of it. So, Jay picked up a Roughing call (32.17), giving Phantoms a 5-on-3 for 1.23.
But, Bison to their credit, stuck it out and killed off the first and then killed the second penalty also, to return to full strength. Brilliant effort guys, well done.
Sadly however, Phantoms wouldn’t ease up on the scoring and they netted their 6th goal of the evening, when Jasper Foster (McEwen, Sladovsky) find the twine (35.01).
A couple of minutes later and it would be Phantoms scoring again. Lukas Sladovsky (McEwen) netting again, timed at 38.00.
Bison, however soul destroying this must’ve been, finally got some reward, for all their exertions, when Edgars Landsbergs opening the Bison’s account, with assists from Alex Mettam (2nd in 2 games) & young James Bryan (his 1st Senior point with the Bison !). Goal timed at 38.46. That would’ve given the hardy Bison fans that travelled, something to cheer..
At the 2nd interval, the Phantoms take a commanding 7-1 lead, back into their locker room. Although they have such a lead, no doubt, that isn’t them far from finished, scoring wise.
Shots on Goal that period.. Marr faced none, before being replaced and Bainborough faced only 5 shots. Alex Mettam on the other hand, must’ve felt shell-shocked, by facing the colossal amount of 28 shots !
At start of the 3rd period and I’m not surprised, as Bison change up their netties. Jordan Lawday replacing Alex Mettam.
Bison would get an early powerplay chance, when Phantoms Luc Johnson, would pick up a Tripping call (40.33). And they certainly used the man advantage indeed, when the ever impressing young duo of Oli Hemmings-Maher & Roman Cathcart combined to net a PP goal (42.22). Edgars Landsbergs also assisting the goal. Pretty sure, that would’ve got the biggest cheer from the Bison fans in attendance. The comeback was on….
Unfortunately, that was short lived, as Phantoms continued to dominate a very under strength Bison side and they netted again. Corey McEwen (Markey) netting his 2nd goal (43.32) even-handed.
Brendan Baird would take a trip to the sinbin, as he was given a Slashing call (45.19), but the Bison penalty killers would successfully kill the penalty. But, soon after returning to the ice, Phantoms would score another. Duncan Speirs (Norton, Billing) this time, timed at 47.30.
Tiredness must’ve been a major factor by now and with just over 10 minutes to play, Phantoms netted another. Corey McEwen (Markey) completing his hat-trick (50.31) and it also put Phantoms into double figures on the scoreboard.
Phantoms Joe Gretton picked up a Slashing call (52.47), but their PK units would kill the penalty successfully.
Duncan Speirs (Markey, McEwen) would net his 2nd of the game (55.14), Phantoms 11th of the night, thus compounding the Bison’s evening.
That would be all the action for the night and at the final buzzer, as expected, the one-sided scoreline may have read 11-2 to the home side, but it certainly didn’t take anything away, from how hard the very under strength Bison team, battled every single puck all night and successfully chipped in a couple of goals.
Oli Hemmings-Maher was voted MoM for the visitors, whilst Corey McEwen (3+4) picked up the Phantoms MoM.
In very difficult circumstances, I want to applaud every single guy, that suited up for the Bison last night. Kudos to the 9 senior Bison members that declared themselves fit enough to play & to all of the players that were called up, a MASSIVE ‘Thank You’.. I really hope you had an enjoyable experience…. Forget the scoreline, enjoy the moment.
Hopefully, Oli & Roman get more opportunities to play up with the Bison on a more permanant and congratulations also go to young James Bryan, on picking up his first senior Bison point !
Match Stats:
Phantoms Stats : McEwen 3+4, Sladovsky 2+2, Speirs 2+2, Padelek 2+0, Billing 1+3, Foster 1+0, Markey 0+3, Bowering 0+1, Norton 0+1, Robson 0+1, Salisbury 0+1, Weldon 0+1.
Nets : Marr (8/0) Bainborough (21/2)
Bison Stats : Landsbergs 1+1, Hemmings-Maher 1+0, Bryan 0+1, Cathcart 0+1, Mettam 0+1.
Nets : Mettam (48/7) Lawday (18/4)
PiMs : Phantoms 6 Bison 10
SoG : Phantoms 66 Bison 29
MoM Phantoms : Corey McEwen
MoM Bison : Oli Hemmings-Maher
Your GalaxC Cooling Services sponsored Bison (all being well & healthy again) will be back in action this Saturday (12th Nov), when Sheffield Steeldogs come a visiting, tickets are available to purchase from the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
