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The Inferno
NIHL1 Devils roundup
17th Sep 2012 | Posted by Geraint Walters
On Saturday the Cardiff NIHL Devils welcomed last years Playoff champs to the BBT for their season opener. Games dont come much tougher than this so it was somewhat of a baptism of fire of the newly formed side who have only had 2 training sessions together as a team. It did provide a good benchmark though for the team to see how competitive they were going to be this year by pitting themselves against one of the league title favourites.
The Chieftains came well prepared into the match, having beaten EPL side Telford Tigers in a pre season game the week before. That extra sharpness seemed to be the difference in the first period, although a relatively close affair the visitors gained a 2-0 lead, before Jason Stone fired home a slapshot from the point on a powerplay to make it 2-1 going into the 1st intermission.
The 2nd period saw the new Devils side really start to gel. They continued their physical, hard hitting style that epitomises the team and added goals to their tally. The period was completely dominated by the home side who scored 5 goals, only to have 2 contentiously ruled out. The 1st for a pen call on CC, even though Fisher had out away the rebound before they touched the puck and the whistle had not gone. The 2nd came off Scarborough's skate and went in, although the player made no kicking motion, it was unfortunately ruled out. However Arms made a goal scoring return to the Devils when he 1 timed a falling puck in the top corner, and he then picked up an assist minutes later, disguising a slap shot from the point as a back post pass to Deacon who tucked it away. Fisher also enjoyed getting back on the scoresheet in a Devils jersey when he sniped home from the slot after a good pass from behind the net by new signing Osman. At the other end Brabon showed quick legs on a couple of occasions to keep the Chieftains out all period. Score was Devils 4-2 going in to the break.
3rd was a tight affair with the reigning play off champs chasing the game. They scored a power play goal but that was cancelled out by a great play from new Captain Dixon who pulled one off his own line before going coast to coast to reinstate the 2 goal advantage. Then with 11 mins to go the home side seemed to run out of steam. Some clinical finishing from the Chelmsford saw them score a quickfire double and then with their tails up finished strongly and over-turned the deficeit. Final score 7-5.
Milton Keynes away
The Cardiff NIHL Devils took to the road for the first time on Sunday looking to put their disappointment of narrowly losing the league favourites at home 24 hours before. Milton Keynes was there destination, a rink that visiting teams find difficult to get results from. The ice surface at MK's arena is the largest in the league and therefore gave the opportunity for the faster guys to exploit. New import signing Sean Scarborough is possibly the fastest in the league and relished the open spaces, speeding in behind a defence that includes the likes of EPL veteran Dwayne Newman, to score a brace in the first period. The first snipe went high glove side, beating a netminder who had the night before registered a shut out in the EPL, the second a break away that went in near post. Another new forward signing, Steve Osman, also opened his account with a effort from the slot. The Devils didnt have it all their own way and required a big period from keeper Mike Brabon to keep them at bay, only being beaten once despite some good chances for the home side.
The Second period saw MK apply more pressure and pull another goal back with an odd man rush, but Cardiff immediately responded through Cardiff local lad Jordan Powell who went high blocker side. MK scored again though to make things uncomfortable and Coach Cudd called a time out to calm the nerves. The Devils went into the intermission 5-3 up after Fisher bagged his second goal of the weekend with a slap shot to the top corner.
This meant the traveling devils found them selves in the same position as the night before - 5-3 up needing to see out a game. They obviously learnt from the previous days experience and professionally sae the game out. There was time for 'Scarzy' to announce himself in style to the league by wrapping up a hat-trick with an ENG at the end, meaning the MoM beers were his to share.
Final score - 6-3.
The Chieftains came well prepared into the match, having beaten EPL side Telford Tigers in a pre season game the week before. That extra sharpness seemed to be the difference in the first period, although a relatively close affair the visitors gained a 2-0 lead, before Jason Stone fired home a slapshot from the point on a powerplay to make it 2-1 going into the 1st intermission.
The 2nd period saw the new Devils side really start to gel. They continued their physical, hard hitting style that epitomises the team and added goals to their tally. The period was completely dominated by the home side who scored 5 goals, only to have 2 contentiously ruled out. The 1st for a pen call on CC, even though Fisher had out away the rebound before they touched the puck and the whistle had not gone. The 2nd came off Scarborough's skate and went in, although the player made no kicking motion, it was unfortunately ruled out. However Arms made a goal scoring return to the Devils when he 1 timed a falling puck in the top corner, and he then picked up an assist minutes later, disguising a slap shot from the point as a back post pass to Deacon who tucked it away. Fisher also enjoyed getting back on the scoresheet in a Devils jersey when he sniped home from the slot after a good pass from behind the net by new signing Osman. At the other end Brabon showed quick legs on a couple of occasions to keep the Chieftains out all period. Score was Devils 4-2 going in to the break.
3rd was a tight affair with the reigning play off champs chasing the game. They scored a power play goal but that was cancelled out by a great play from new Captain Dixon who pulled one off his own line before going coast to coast to reinstate the 2 goal advantage. Then with 11 mins to go the home side seemed to run out of steam. Some clinical finishing from the Chelmsford saw them score a quickfire double and then with their tails up finished strongly and over-turned the deficeit. Final score 7-5.
Milton Keynes away
The Cardiff NIHL Devils took to the road for the first time on Sunday looking to put their disappointment of narrowly losing the league favourites at home 24 hours before. Milton Keynes was there destination, a rink that visiting teams find difficult to get results from. The ice surface at MK's arena is the largest in the league and therefore gave the opportunity for the faster guys to exploit. New import signing Sean Scarborough is possibly the fastest in the league and relished the open spaces, speeding in behind a defence that includes the likes of EPL veteran Dwayne Newman, to score a brace in the first period. The first snipe went high glove side, beating a netminder who had the night before registered a shut out in the EPL, the second a break away that went in near post. Another new forward signing, Steve Osman, also opened his account with a effort from the slot. The Devils didnt have it all their own way and required a big period from keeper Mike Brabon to keep them at bay, only being beaten once despite some good chances for the home side.
The Second period saw MK apply more pressure and pull another goal back with an odd man rush, but Cardiff immediately responded through Cardiff local lad Jordan Powell who went high blocker side. MK scored again though to make things uncomfortable and Coach Cudd called a time out to calm the nerves. The Devils went into the intermission 5-3 up after Fisher bagged his second goal of the weekend with a slap shot to the top corner.
This meant the traveling devils found them selves in the same position as the night before - 5-3 up needing to see out a game. They obviously learnt from the previous days experience and professionally sae the game out. There was time for 'Scarzy' to announce himself in style to the league by wrapping up a hat-trick with an ENG at the end, meaning the MoM beers were his to share.
Final score - 6-3.
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