Phoenix U14's continue good run

Tuesday, 30th January 2007

Game Seven for the Manchester Phoenix U-14 squad and another trip to the Midlands and Coventry Skydome. The Coventry Menace are propping up the rest of the table and any thoughts of an easy win for the visitors were soon dispelled in the first quarter of the game.

Early Phoenix pressure on the Menace net saw the visitors get the flying start they wanted as at 1:21, Jordan Bannon set up Tom Wilkinson for the opening goal. Phoenix took a stranglehold on the game, but failed to add to the score as all the early shots went straight at Laverick in the Menace goal.

With the Phoenix defence camped too high in the offensive zone, the Menace squeezed out over the blueline and McCallum broke away to go one-on-one with Browne in the Phoenix net and calmly slotted home the equaliser at 4:31. Phoenix conceded consecutive penalties at 5:25 and 7:26, but successfully killed both off to get back to even strength. Phoenix were still enjoying the majortiy of the offensive play only to find Laverick in fine form. Patience was the key and finally Jared Dickinson fired Phoenix back in front at 10:55 on a powerplay with an excellent finish into the roof of the net. Straight from the restart, Paul Swindlehurst stripped the puck away from a Menace forward to race in and again pierce Laverick's guard going top shelf. Menace, trying to reduce the arrears, broke out of defence at 14:02 with Barrett stickhandling the puck down past the Phoenix bench. Barrett though hadn't taken into account Jordan Bannon as the Phoenix player skated across to lay a huge hit that launched the Menace player into the boards from around three metres out on the blueline. Barrett was understandably shaken by the hit and required the assistance of the physio in leaving the ice. Bannon was assessed a 5+Game for Boarding by referee Tibbets - a decision not welcomed by the Phoenix entourage - as coach Nurse was also close to a penalty for debating(?) with the official his decision. Max Boon went to the penalty box in lieu of Jordan Bannon and the period ended with a 1-3 score line and the Phoenix having massively outshot their hosts 34-4.

Sam Heyes took to the crease for the final period as Phoenix begaon on the penalty kill with Tom Wilkinson sitting two minutes for a slashing call at 19:59.

Swinny picked up the puck in the defensive zone and skated in on goal to bury the puck past Laverick for a fine shorthanded goal at 21:27. Again, the Phoenix dominated the play and shots on goal count with Laverick and the pipework contriving to deny further scoreboard additions. Eventually, at 27:08, Joe Sims made a smart pass in the neutral zone to Harvey Treadgold who waltzed past a couple of Menace players before scoring a great goal for 5-1. On the next line change, Taylor Danson added a sixth with a shot from the point, assisted by Shannon Lingwood at 28:29. Ninety seconds later and and poacher Dickinson made it seven at 31:08. Phoenix were now in almost total control and Menace were taking penalties as they sought to keep the visitors at bay.

At 36:05 on the powerplay, a shot by Shiney (Shannon Lingwood) appeared to have been saved by Laverick, but the puck squeezed between his pads and just crossed the line for 8-1. On another man advantage, Ryan Hulme broke out to set up Shiney for his second powerplay goal at 39:02. The final minute of the game produced four further goals for the now rampant Phoenix as Heyes sent a long pass out to Swinny who avoided several Menace attempts to take the puck before picking his spot for his hat trick goal at 39:25. From the restart, Jared snapped up a loose puck and again scored top shelf for his hat trick goal at 39:33. With a shell-shocked home side, Swinny copied the Jared move at 39:45 to ring one off the post into the top corner for a 12-1 scoreline. An emphatic win over the 40 minutes, but with some better shooting at the open net areas and not the netminder, it is not inconceivable that the score could have been further one-sided. The final period saw the Phoenix put 32 shots on the Menace netminder for only two in reply on Heyes.

Coventry Menace 1 - 12 Phoenix

1st period 1-3
2nd period 0-9
Game played 2 x 20 minute periods

Paul Swindlehurst 4+0
Jared Dickinson 3+0
Shannon Lingwood 2+1
Harvey Treadgold 1+1
Tom Wilkinson 1+0
Taylor Danson 1+0
Joe Sims 0+1
Jordan Bannon 0+1
Ryan Hulme 0+1

SOGs: On Coventry 66; On Phoenix 6
PIMs: 18-33

Phoenix U14's continue good run

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