- Juniors Home
- About the Club
- Learn and Play
- Join
- Train
- Teams
- Fixtures & Results
- Location
- Fund Raising
- News Archive
- Forum
- Contacts & Links
- Elite Team
Telford 6 - 3 Phoenix U-14s
Telford 6 - 3 Phoenix U-14s
The Manchester Phoenix Under-14 squad travelled to Telford with just nine skaters and two goalies to take on a Telford team with a full bench of 16 skaters. And with the time clock in the Telford rink not functioning properly, the two 20-minute periods were always likely to be fraught with timing indiscretions.
Phoenix began brightly and it was Scott Robson on a powerplay assised by Josh Sweet who fired the Phoenix in front. The problems of a short bench were bound to take their toll and so it appeared towards the end of the session when despite being largely in control, the Phoenix youngsters were visibly tiring due to amount of ice time they were logging for each other. The pleasing though at the interval was the clean sheet for netminder Alex Nash.
The second period though saw a complete reversal of fortunes as with Jared Dickinson in the penalty box, Josh Sweet was slashed across and the arm and crumpled to the ice in pain only for the referee to allow play to continue - Telford duly equalising against the short-handed Phoenix team. The aggrieved Sweet then picked up a 10-minute misconduct for venting his feelings and he was quickly joined in the penalty box by Scott Robson on a 2+10 for Checking to the Head that bewildered most of the crowd as nobody, but the referee appeared to see the offence. With Phoenix now down to just seven skaters, fatigue set in and Telford made the most of their numerical superiority to march into a 5-1 lead. Phoenix hang on in and when Sweet and Robson have served their time, the visitors picked up the pace with Dickinson breaking in 1-on-1 with the Telford goalie only to be hauled down from behind. Phoenix coach Greg Allen called for a penalty shot, but his appeal was waved aside by the referee. Luke Smith bagged his maiden goal for the Phoenix assisted by Joe Armstead, and Jared Dickinson scored a superb individual marker to make it a two-goal game. Phoenix pulled the goalie in the final minute only for Telford to secure the victory with the empty-netter.
Phoenix U-14s' Manager Andy Streetly commented, "It was always going to be a tough game with such a short bench, and I'm very proud of the effort the team put in. They showed tremendous spirit and somehow kept going when they looked out on their feet - with that kind of togetherness, outr first win won't be too long in coming."
Phoenix Statistics.
Jared Dickinson 1+0, Scot Robson 1+0, Luke Smith 1+0, Joe Armstead 0+1, Josh Sweet 0+1
Most Valuable Player - Alex Nash