Weekend 1st-2nd October
October began with another good weekend for the Bison and it’s time to see how things went elsewhere in the National Division.
Saturday
The MK Lightning had just one game across the weekend, welcoming Hull to the Thunderdome. The home fans were stunned into silence as Cameron Hamill put the visitors ahead very early on. Bobby Chamberlain had a penalty shot saved but eventually Mac Stewart would tie the scores at 1-1 and MK pressed on. Sam Talbot, Liam Stewart and Sean Norris all found the net making it 4-1 after 20 minutes. It didn’t stop there as James Griffin and a second from Norris made it 6-1 just after the halfway point of the game but a powerplay goal from Sam Towner made it 6-2 at the second buzzer. That was the last bit of joy for the Seahawks that weekend as Zaine McKenzie found the net to round the game off at 7-2.
Bristol welcomed Peterborough to BS10 but found themselves on the back foot early as Austin Mitchell-King put the Phantoms ahead. Ed Bradley tied the scores at 1-1 but Brad Bowering found Ales Padelek at the backdoor for 2-1 Phantoms as the first ended. The visitors took just 13 seconds to increase the lead, Duncan Speirs making it 3-1 just 13 seconds into the second period. Callum Buglass made it 4-1 before Caly Robertson got one back for the hosts. Lukas Sladkovsky made it 5-2 before Sean Morris got the home fans out of their seats for 5-2 but another Padelek goal made it 6-3 after 40 minutes. Scott Robson made it 7-3 early in the third before a blast from Alex Roberts got then hosts back within three. However 39 seconds later Jarvis Hunt would beat Will Kerlin to make it 8-4 and send the Phantoms back to Peterborough in a good mood.
Leeds and the Bees met for the first of two games at Elland Road. A tough first period had the scores broken late on as Dominic Gabaj beat Sam Gospel on the powerplay to give the Bees the lead as the first buzzer went. It would just about 6 minutes into the second for the Knights to get on the board as Keiran Brown found the net. The Knights would push on at speed; Brown adding a second before Grant Cooper and Jordan Griffin made it 4-1 after 40 minutes. Juha Lindgren got the Bees within two but a late goal from Adam Barnes rounded out the scoring at 5-2 for the Knights with Matt Haywood finishing with a 4 assist night.
It was Wildcats and Raiders at The Link Centre in the other home and home series of the weekend. The Raiders had their noses in front first thanks to Tommy Huggett and it could have been more but Harry Gulliver missed a penalty shot. Swindon would eventually get on the board in the second as Tomasz Malasinski tied the game and a Russ Cowley goal made it 2-1 in the 32nd minute. Balint Pakodzi’s powerplay goal made it 3-1 by the second buzzer. Reed Sayers extended the lead to 4-1 early in the third and that was enough to get Swindon the win.
Sunday
The Raiders then welcomed the Wildcats to Romford on Sunday. Swindon had the lead in the first thanks to Russ Cowley’s goal in the last minute of the frame. The Raiders would tie the scores on the powerplay midway through the second, Brandon Ayliffe getting the goal to have the game at 1-1 heading into the final period. The Raiders would take the lead with 11 minutes to go as Matthieu Gomercic continued his good start with the team to make it 2-1 however Balint Pakodzi would tie the game at 2-2 in the 54th minute. With time running down, a delay of the game penalty to Callum Wells gave the Wildcats a late powerplay and Tomasz Malasinski would break Raiders fans’ hearts. Swindon had rebounded from their 0 point weekend to take all 4 points against the Bison.
The Bees and Knights renewed acquaintances at The Hanger with the guests making themselves comfortable early as Kieran Brown scored after just 33 seconds. Adam Barnes doubled the lead after 7 minutes. Juha Lindgren reduced the arrears but a Grant Cooper goal made it 3-1 to the Knights after the first. Cooper would add his second of the night, a wraparound goal on the powerplay in the 33rd minute but the Bees refused to go quietly as Brendan Walkom beat Sam Gospel to make it 4-2. Barnes added his second of the night just 45 seconds into the third to make it 5-2 and it appeared to be game over. The Bees didn’t go quietly as first James Galazzi then a second from Walkom made it 5-4 with just over 3 minutes to go. The Bees pulled Adam Goss from the net and even had a late powerplay but couldn’t find the last gasp equaliser. 5-4 was the final score and it was another 4 point weekend for Leeds.
We got the Puppy Bowl at Ice Sheffield as the Steeldogs and Pitbulls met. The hosts had the better start as goals from James Spurr and Jack Brammer had it 2-0 to Sheffield early on. Jason Hewitt would make it 3-0 before Owen Sobchak got Bristol onto the scoreboard early in the second. Sheffield would extend the lead early in the third as Tom Palmer beat Will Kerlin in the 42nd minute. Sobchak got his second of the night to make it 4-2 but a second of the night from Hewitt made it 5-2 with 7 minutes to play. The Pitbulls had no answer and the final buzzer sounded on the 5-2 Steeldogs win, sending Bristol to another defeat as both they and Hull still battle for their first win in the National Division.
After losing in Basingstoke on Saturday, the Telford Tigers headed to Peterborough looking to get something out of their weekend. The Phantoms got on the board first, Brad Bowering firing past Brad Day. The visitors were level moments later as Jason Silverthorn scored on the powerplay but Ales Padelek’s goal made it 2-1 to the hosts at the first break. The teams went back and forth in the second with both netminders called into action regularly but it would be level at the second buzzer thanks to a second goal of the game from Silverthorn to make it 2-2. The Tigers took the lead early in the third through Bayley Harewood but a Duncan Speirs strike made it 3-3 with 12 minutes to go. The next goal would be crucial and it was the hosts who would get it, Speirs setting up Tom Norton to score on the powerplay to make it 4-3. The Tigers pressed for a way back but a late double minor to Harewood dented the Tigers chances. They pulled Brad Day late but the Phantoms held on for a 4-3 win and a 4 point weekend of their own.
This weekend the Herd face off at 5.30pm on Sunday night when we entertain the Southern New boys the Bristol Pitbulls, tickets are available to purchase by clicking this link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
