Phoenix U-16B 3 - 3 Coventry Blaze

Phoenix welcomed back Jared Dickinson and Scott Robson, whilst Blaze were missing three regular Conference players.

Phoenix were in great form early in the first period and went ahead at 4:49 when Sarah Hutchinson sent a pass to Jake O'Connor who raced into the Blaze defensive zone and gave netminder Jacob Smith no chance with an excellent finish. Phoenix were dominating the game and twice went close to scoring again with Jared Dickinson and O'Connor, but both were thwarted by Smith. Scott Venus sat a minor for Hooking at 7:00, but Blaze dealt with the powerplay comfortably. With Luke Spriggs sitting another minor for the visitors, the Phoenix second line turned the puck over centre ice and Luke Smith skated down the right wing to make a timely pass to rookie Nik Minev in the slot to score his debut goal past a stranded Smith at 12:04. Phoenix were again dominating the game, but let Blaze back into the game with a sloppy defensive play that let Spriggs skate in from the corner and score high past Nicole Jackson in the Phoenix goal at 13:36. End of the first and Phoenix outshooting Blaze 12-5.

After the short break it was Blaze that came out the more dominant team and taking the game to Phoenix who seemed sluggish resulting in a minor for High Sticks on Shannon Lingwood at 15:58. Phoenix soaked up some good Coventry pressure to kill the penalty, but again slipped up in their own zone to concede a game-tying goal at 18:57 scored by Venus. Coventry began to play some good hockey, but it was Phoenix who made the clearer chances and midway through the period, Hutchinson sent Lingwood through centre ice and one on one with Smith. With the visitors 'keeper well beaten, Lingwood's effort pinged off both posts and out to safety, an unlucky finish on a top play. The 24th minute saw a clumsy challenge by Ryan Hulme resulting him being assessed a 2+10 major for Checking from Behind. Coach Kevin Cassidy rejigged the defence and Phoenix were relieved to end the period at 2-2, although again outshooting Blaze 9-5.

Into the third period after an ice cut and both teams creating several chances early on, but Coventry took advantage of yet another defensive slip turning Phoenix over on their own blueline with Sheppard netting the go-ahead goal for Blaze at 35:34. Phoenix heads dropped briefly, but still the home team created more chances to score than Blaze. At 43:00 on an icing call by Blaze, Coach Cassidy gave instruction to pull goalie Nicole Jackson with 90 seconds left and for the forwards to keep the puck high in the Blaze end. O'Connor won the face-off to feed Dickinson and Phoenix duly kept posession to lift the goalie. O'Connor then slipped a perfect pass to Lingwood who beat Smith with a sweet backhand goal to tie the game at 43:43. Phoenix pressed for a fourth goal and at 44:56, Lingwood broke through centre ice only to be brought down by Spriggs. Referee Crawley had no hesitation in awarding the home side a penalty shot. After a lengthy stoppage, Lingwood stepped up to skate in with the puck, drew Smith to one side and just failed to force the puck home. Again Phoenix outshot the visitors 18-5 and just missed out on snatching both points.

Period scores: 2-1, 0-1, 1-1

Phoenix Stats: Jake O'Connor 1+1, Shannon Lingwood 1+0; Niki Minev 1+0, Sarah Hutchinson 0+1, Luke Smith 0+1

PIMs: 16-20

SOGs: On Phoenix 3/16 On Blaze 3/39

Phoenix MVP: Ryan Hulme