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Under-18s continue unblemished season to date
Phoenix U-18s 14 - 1 Bradford
Saturday saw the unbeaten Phoenix U-18s' take on Bradford in the Silver Blades Ice dome and looking to continue their astonishing winning streak. Phoenix were without assistant captain Rick Ravey through illness and forward Elliot Bayne who is on holiday "over the pond", but welcomed back defenceman Guy Boryczko after injury. The coaches were looking for the team to continue their improvement as shown in the last game at Nottingham. Bradford were looking to be the first team to inflict defeat on the Phoenix and in so doing avenge the mauling they suffered at the hands of the Phoenix team in the previous encounter in Bradford.
Even in warm-up, Phoenix looked up for the task ahead of them and so it proved as right from the opening face-off, the home side were straight on the attack and the red lamp flickered into life with only 22 seconds gone, John Murray netting assisted by Dan Bullock. Phoenix penned the visitors in their own zone only allowing rare breakouts by the Yorkshire outfit. Eight minutes had elapsed before Phoenix added to the score and two goals came in quick time, Phil Hamer scoring unassisted and them turning provider for Murray to slot home his second. This salvo spurred the visitors into action and Phoenix goalie Adam Summerfield was called into action with a fine pad save. Phoenix responded before the first interval with the Murray/Hamer double act seeing the latter notch his second of the game.
Despite the comfortable lead, coach Pete Winstanley demanded more of his charges in the second session and after weathering a bright start by Bradford, normal service was quickly resumed as Murray completed his hat-trick assisted (inevitably) by Hamer. Phoenix were now flying and Tom Hammond bagged a quick sixth and 7-0 came courtesy of Murray assisted Hamer. Bradford continued to battle, but had no answer the waves of Phoenix attacks and Murray in particular as he netted his fifth and Phoenix eighth assisted by Bullock. The deluge continued unabated with three more strikes before the second hooter, Joe Mann bagging a brace with Murray's sixth sandwiched between them.
Barely had the third period started and the hungry Phoenix had made it to the dozen mark, Ryan Pike taking advantage of yet another assist for Bullock. Bradford tried to respond and they did exert some pressure on the home defence and goalmouth, but they were soon on the backfoot and fishing two further pucks from the netting as Hamer completed his hat trick and Shaun Dippnall made it 14-0. The only disappointing moment of a thoroughly satisfying evening was Adam Summerfield losing his shutout as the plucky Bradford players gained a late, late consolation marker.
Phoenix stats:
John Murray 6+2, Phil Hamer 3+7, Joe Mann 2+0, Tom Hammond 1+2, Ryan Pike 1+0, Shaun Dippnall 1+0,Dan Bullock 0+3, Sam Leaver 0+1.
Adam Summerfield - 25/1.
Phoenix Pen Mins - 20
Phoenix MVP - Shaun Dippnall.
A Phoenix spokesperson remarked, "Great team spirit and a willingness to learn has seen the team go from strength to strength. We've now won all ten games played and go into the New Year looking to continue the run. New targets will be set for the team and we're seriously look for those too to be achieved."