Four goal Walker see's his half century

Manchester Phoenix 10-1 Bracknell Bees

Manchester Phoenix forward Adam Walker bagged himself six goals last weekend which took his season total to 50 and lifted his team past the Bracknell Bees.

Walker, netted twice in the away defeat to Swindon on Saturday before smashing four past Bracknell the following night as Phoenix secured a third place finish in the league.

Goals from Iain Bowie, Jaakko Hagelberg and two from Walker set Phoenix on their way in the first period before Ashley Calvert scored for the Bees early in the middle session. Further goals from Stephen Wallace, Tony Hand and Walker left Phoenix leading 7-1 at the second break.

In the third period, Andre Mattsson scored from close range before Walker bagged his 50th goal of the season in the 54th minute. Andre Payette put the home side into double figures in the final minutes.

Coach Tony Hand said: “I am delighted for Adam Walker that he reached the fifty goal mark, it’s a tribute to the effort he’s put in after a slow start to the season.

“If we’d been offered a third place finish in September, I think we’d have taken that and now on the back of this result, we can look forward to the playoffs.”

Phoenix will now play Peterborough Phantoms in the first round of the playoffs next weekend, the second leg will be at home on Sunday at the Ice Dome.

Sabine shines in Phoenix rout of Raiders

Manchester Phoenix 10-1 Romford Raiders

A hat-trick from man of the match Iain Bowie led Manchester Phoenix to their third rout of Romford Raiders on home ice this season.

After previous results of 7-0 and 12-3 at the Ice Dome this term, the Raiders were hit for double figures again as Phoenix look to finish the season in third place.

Bowie opened the scoring after only 32 seconds and Jaakko Hagelberg added a double before the end of the first period. Bowie, Adam Walker and Tony Hand scored in the second period before Darius Pliskauskas rounded back up netminder Adam Summerfield for Romford’s lone strike in the final minute.

The final period saw James Neil notch Phoenix’s seventh before Bowie completed his treble. 17 year old Frankie Sabine replaced Charlie Kaylor in the Raiders net and the young goalie received a warm ovation for a string of fine saves against the Phoenix forwards, including a bullet shot from Tony Hand. However Stephen Wallace finished the scoring with a late double.

Four point weekend for Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix 4-1 Sheffield Scimitars

Manchester Phoenix 7-3 Bracknell Bees

Back to back home wins for the Manchester Phoenix has seen them climb back up to third in the English Premier League.

On Saturday night, Phoenix continued their dominance over closest rivals Sheffield Scimitars with a dominant display and a 4-1 win. Jaakko Hagelberg and a shorthanded goal from Adam Walker gave Phoenix the early lead, which was added to by Rob Lachowicz and Hagelberg in the second period.

Sheffield did manage to ruin Steve Fone’s shut-out hopes with a late goal from Simon Butterworth whilst the period also saw three fights in five minutes of madness, Tony Hand, Andre Payette and Jaakko Hagelberg all obliging the Scimitars frustrations.

Phoenix continued their winning run on Sunday night as they defeated the Bracknell Bee’s 7-3 which included another double from Jaakko Hagelberg along with markers from Tony Hand, Adam Walker, Andre Payette, Iain Bowie and Rob Lachowicz. Bee’s replied with goals from Shane Moore, Michal Pinc and Jaroslav Cesky.

Phoenix now solely occupy third place in the standings whilst also holding a game in hand, to be played on Thursday night at Peterborough Phantoms.

Walker Hat-trick lifts Phoenix past Phantoms

Manchester Phoenix 6-4 Peterborough Phantoms

Forward Adam Walker netted a third period treble against the Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night to seal a four point weekend for the Manchester Phoenix as they started to regain their form.

Without top scorer Ed Courtenay and injured Stephen Wallace, Phoenix secured two wins over the weekend as they also dispatched the Romford Raiders on Saturday night 10-2.

Goals from Marc Ziedins and Joe Miller either side of an Andre Mattsson powerplay goal gave the visitors the lead at the first break.

The second period saw Phoenix lay siege to the Phantoms net, outshooting the away side by 26-9 and they got their rewards with two goals from Ian Bowie and Robert Lachowicz to lead 3-2 going into the final period.

It was then Walker who netted a straight hat-trick to seal the game, the first came only a 1.14 into the final period which was followed by two shorthanded breakaway markers before the Phantoms finished the scoring with two late consolation strikes.

Phoenix remain fifth in the English Premier League, but are only a point behind Basingstoke with a game in hand.

Phoenix Continue Slide, Drop to Fifth

Manchester Phoenix 2-4 Slough Jets

Slough Jets’ flew into Altrincham Ice Dome on Sunday night to heap further misery on Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix who continue to be beset by a frail defence and little luck in front of goal.

After being thrashed 9-1 by the Milton Keynes Lightning the previous night, Phoenix set about making amends for their monumental collape, creating more chances in the opening period.

But it was Jets that raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Peter Poljacek and Blaz Emersic before Adam Walker replied with a late powerplay goal.

Phoenix started the second period with renewed hope and took only 24 seconds to find the equalizer, Walker netting again on the powerplay. But the final period saw the Jets score two early goals to deflate the home side, Ciaron Long and Andrew Monroe both converting before the 45th minute, making sure that the Jets completed three wins from three in Altrincham.