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Rockets chase second spot
27th Mar, 2008
Its been a busy weekend.
A US triple A team - Eaglebrook School from Deerfield, Massachusetts came to town on Saturday.
They arrived earlier in the week in Ireland and are here to play games with Nottingham, Telford, Sheffield and Kingston -
the four top teams in the EIHA Div 1 North.
Two goals from Mike Steventon were not enough to take the victory , A strong US team came out the winners 5 - 2.
This match practise was the prelude for the next crucial Div 1 North game for Telford - chasing that second place.
Eaglebrook played Nottingham on Sunday evening beating them 4-0 so they appear to be very competitive team.
Nottingham Cougars concluded their 13th out of 14 games on Saturday beating Flintshire to be crowned Div 1 Champions for 2007/08 season.
The Rockets have 6 games to play against Newcastle , Flintshire x2 , Nottingham and Kingston.
We need 8 points from these six to go above Sheffield. Playing Manchester Phoenix today is a crucial game.
A home win 3-2 in November did not come easy and we are still 2 players short through an injury and a player match ban.
Call up duty from the U14s by Adam Taylor and Kyle Hewitson are needed to strengthen the team.
So this match promises to be a cliff hanger!!
We opened our account with a power play goal at 11.45 from Luke Brittle, assisted by Andrew Whitehouse.
The play was end to end with both sides making great runs to the net. Ben Hunt was on top form and kept the
Phoenix at bay with some magnificent saves.The period ended 1- 0 to the Rockets.
An even handed goal by Andrew Whitehouse from a blue line pass by James Warman secured number goal number 2 at 33 seconds
into the second period. The Phoenix were crowding our goal area and Ben Hunt stopped all that was put his way.
The defence also had to make some clearances from the crease to keep out a dancing puck. At 22.28 a call for tripping against the Phoenix put
the Rockets on a power play. It took 37 seconds for Luke Hayward to roof a shot past the Phoenix net minder ending the
second period 3 goals up to the Rockets.
Two points were nearly in the bag but pressure mounted from the Phoenix as they clawed back 2 goals at 32.57 and 40.28.
The tension could be felt by our parents and coaching staff as the game began to go the Phoenixes way.
In a last ditch effort after a time out called the Phoenix they pulled their goalie to play 6 on 5.
It was the longest 30 seconds of the game but the Rockets dug deep and at the final whistle came away the winners 3 -2.
The Rockets were out shot 28 to 19 and Ben Hunt had taken a great part in securing the 2 points needed to keep the number 2 spot
firmly in our sights.
Game Result
Phoenix 2 Telford 3
Shots on goal Phoenix 19 Telford 28
PIMS Phoenix 18 Telford 20
Goals/Assists
Andrew Whitehouse 1 + 1
Luke Brittle 1 + 0
Luke Haywood 1+ 0
Ryan Twardun 0 + 1
James Warman 0 + 1
SOG Paul Rigby
