Hockey World, Hockey Girl - Week 6

This past weekend saw another fantastic effort from our Cardiff Devils as they defeated Hull to win two Challenge Cup points in the Bay on Saturday – the first game of the season for the new owners no less – before travelling up to the Skydome to bring home two league points on Sunday. 

There were certainly a lot of happy people surrounding the Devils’ organisation on Saturday night!  With an amazing 7-2 win against the Stingrays, who are looking more impressive in their campaign this year, the BBT was unusually red this past Saturday as the new owners made their debut in the rink, which was nearing capacity as a 2000+ crowd cheered a full Devils’ bench to victory. 

With seven goals from six different players, the Welsh side definitely put in a team effort to pull off such a great result.  Seeming to be the norm at the moment, both Haddad and Martin treated us to powerplay goals (at 19:10 and 44:47 respectively), but it’s Brent Walton’s goal (at 25:54) that has everyone raring!

An outstanding finish, Walton enters the zone and dekes the defenseman before putting the puck behind David Brown on the backhand – demonstrating the talent we’ve all been waiting to see since preseason!

While most of Saturday night was spent cheering – and dancing around the lockers at work whenever I got the chance to check the score! – Matthew Myers provided a little disappointment for Devils’ fans as he was awarded a 5+Game for a check from behind on Eric Galbraith – a hit that earned him a two game suspension from the Department of Player Safety (the update can be found here: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/two-match-ban-for-myers-p194100) and a seat on the bench for Sunday’s game against Coventry and the first game of next week’s double header against Sheffield.

Despite losing Myers for the second half of the game, momentum was not lost, especially with firecracker Jesse Mychan back in the line up for the first time since the 14th September after suffering a hand injury.

The Devils’ no. 80 was definitely back and ready to shake up some feathers, making sure the Rays knew he would lay down and let them hassle his teammates.  Jesse also provided the first of the four third period goals that helped cement the win!

But it was Doug Clarkson who shined brightest, with two goals and a permanent presence whenever he was on the ice.  He’s a hard guy to miss but I’m pretty sure the Hull players were definitely feeling the Doug shaped bruises all the way north!

After experiencing such a thrill on Saturday night, the Red Army were ready and raring as they made the tedious journey to Coventry on Sunday for a 5:15 FO against the Blaze. 

With an impressive start to the season under their belt, many expected the Blaze to come out fighting, especially after losing out to Sheffield in their Challenge Cup match up the night before!  Unfortunately for the home fans, the blue fire seemed to be out on Sunday as the Devils came away with a 3-1 and those crucial league points!

Matthew Myers was the only Devil missing from the ice on Sunday, after he received a two-match suspension for a check from behind on Eric Galbraith the previous night.  On the other side of the ice, the Blaze were missing Mike Egener due to an undisclosed injury, but it seems like most of the Blaze failed to show up for the game….

The opening five minutes looked promising for both sides; Cescon and Hotham acquainted themselves early on, both earning themselves five minutes (and an extra two for roughing for Cescon), but things went downhill for the home side.

In fact, the Blaze were lucky not to be down by two before the end of the first.  In the opening minute or so, the Devils managed to shoot one past Brian Stewart, who was recently awarded the Blaze’s Fall Player award for the month of September (a title he earned on Sunday, as the score could have been a lot worse if it had not been for him), only to have it call off by Hicks after it was decided the net was off.

While this kind of controversy seems to follow our beloved (yuck!) Hicks around, there are several reports (from Devils’ fans as well) to support the call. 

Devils were also given the chance to double their lead at the halfway point in the second with a penalty shot, after Blaze captain Ashley Tait held Joey Martin on a breakaway – unfortunately for Devils’ fans, Stewart was up to the challenge and the shot was saved.

Coventry were certainly lucky not to be down by four going into the third period and their desperation finally won out as they brought the game back within one just 32 seconds into the third period – Steven Goertzen getting the home side on the board for the first time.

However, the small amount of renewed energy from the goal would not be enough to force the Devils back and Player/Coach Andrew Lord added one last solo effort just minutes after the single Blaze goal to cement the away win and bring those crucial league points back to the Bay.

So after a brilliant four-point weekend, the Devils are now looking ahead to the looming home and away double-header against Gerad Adam’s Sheffield Steelers.  This one’s for all the marbles – or at least four elite league marbles!  Make sure you get yourself down to the BBT on Sunday to cheer the team on!

Even I’m making it to this one, so be there or be square! See you there, Devils’ fans!!

Final Scores

Devils 7 – 2  Stingrays

Devils 3 – 1  Blaze

You can check out more from Hollee here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.co.uk/