Phoenix cut down by the Sabres!

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The Phoenix U10’s earned their first point of the season against Grimsby last time out and the youngsters were keen to add a further three points when the Sherwood Sabres came to town last week. The Sabres are the only team to have beaten Whitley Bay this season, so a challenging encounter was on the cards for the Phoenix.

Initial encounters were worrying with the Phoenix suffering a penalty in the first minute of the first period. The Sabres second line looked strong and nearly netted after two minutes.

Holding firm, the Phoenix stood their ground and nearly scored after five minutes. However, the ice was clearly more slippy than usual with the rink looking more like a ten pin bowling allying at times with players scattered all over the ice!

The Sabres continued to apply pressure and scored after 11 minutes followed by a second goal two minutes later. Two excellent saves in quick succession by Phoenix net minder Harry Brown in the 14th minute prevented further damage.

A ray of hope was witnessed in the 15th minute as Dylan Harcourt delivered the team’s best effort in the first period, narrowly missing though. The first period ended in a flurry of activity with the Sabres hitting the post after 20 minutes, bringing the period to an end at 0 – 2. Not the start that the home team, their coaches and supporters had hoped for.

The second period started badly for the Phoenix as the team suffered a further penalty. “So what!” thought the team when Jordan Griffin found the net in the first minute!

The Sabres were relentless and only excellent defensive efforts by the Phoenix team and more excellent saves by Harry Brown in goal stopped the Sabres taking a greater lead.

A “misunderstanding” in the Phoenix defence handed the Sabres a third goal on 29 minutes. However, the Phoenix struck back instantly with a second from Jordan Griffin. 2 - 3 and all to play for. The following ten minutes were a tense affair with the pressure finally coming to bear on the Phoenix when they succumbed again on 39 minutes. The second period ended 2 – 4; both sides aware that the next goal would be crucial!

Despite an encouraging start to the third period, it was the visitors that scored first, bringing their haul to five. It looked like an uphill struggle for the mighty Phoenix. FEAR YEE NOT! Two goals in 30 seconds, the first by Elliot Hunt and the second, and a hat trick for Jordan Griffin brought the young guns right back into it. GAME ON!

At times the Phoenix defence struggled as the new looking and young teamed grew more tired as the third period wound up. The score ended up 5 – 8 but without a doubt great improvements were seen throughout the team – and the coaching team must have been left thinking “we could have had that one”!

The Phoenix will rise again after a jolly Christmas and are looking forward to meeting old friends from Solihull in the New Year. Let’s hope Santa delivers a well deserved win for a great team of dedicated young hockey stars!

Match stats

Period scores 0 - 2, 2 – 2, 3 - 4

PIM 4 – 1

Phoenix scoring Jordan Griffin 3+1 Elliot Hunt 1+0 Dylan Harcourt 1+1

MVP Jordan Griffin

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