Summerfield keeps Phoenix hot

Manchester Phoenix 4-2 Sheffield Steeldogs

Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix have some daylight between themselves and second place Guildford Flames after another back to back winning weekend.

Guildford lost 4-2 against Slough on Sunday whilst Phoenix edged past Sheffield on Saturday before thrashing bottom place Telford 8-2 the following night.

Back up netminder Adam Summerfield started his first game of the season at the Altrincham Ice Dome on Saturday with Steve Fone still recovering from his head injury last week.

Summerfield produced a good performance in a match that was in the balance until midway through the third period when Ben Wood found the net giving the home side a two goal cushion.

Phoenix opened the scoring through Marcus Kristofferson, but Sheffield equalized through Edgar Bebris. Curtis Huppe restored the home sides lead in the 15th minute but the second period saw the visitors again draw level after a great solo effort by Andrew Hirst was finished with a rising wrist shot that Summerfield had little chance of saving.

Man of the match James Archer gave the Phoenix the lead for a third time in the 29th minute before missing a penalty shot but Ben Wood sealed the victory late on, finally beating Sheffield netminder Ben Bowns after a barrage of third period pressure.

Phoenix double up Bees

Manchester Phoenix 7-4 Bracknell Bees

Manchester Phoenix completed a weekend double over Bracknell Bees to remain top of the English Premier League, but not before losing two players to injury.

Phoenix netminder Steve Fone was struck in the head by a howitzer shot from Bees sniper Jaroslav Cesky that has left him needing eight stitches.

Whilst forward Ben Wood suffered a shoulder injury in the home victory on Sunday as well, leaving the Phoenix bench short on numbers.

Rookie 17 year old goalie Bobby Browne had to step in for the injured Fone, and after a nervous start, helped Phoenix to another home victory.

Player coach Tony Hand said: “We’ll assess Steve Fone and Ben Wood properly this week and ascertain how serious the injuries are, but I know they will both want to be back on the ice as soon as they physically can.

After winning 7-1 in Bracknell on Saturday, hat-tricks from Marcus Kristoffersson, Greg Wood and a powerplay strike from Ben Morgan set Phoenix on their way to another 2 points on Sunday.

Bracknell made the score more respectable in the third period with 3 unanswered goals from Sam Waller, Ashley Calvert and Michal Pinc.

Phoenix’s injured stars now face a race against time to be fit for this weekends games against Sheffield Steeldogs at home on Saturday and Telford Tigers away on Sunday.

Phoenix first period blitz sinks Wildcats

Manchester Phoenix 7-3 Swindon Wildcats

Six first period goals on Sunday night helped Manchester Phoenix to another four point weekend and take Tony Hand’s team to the top of the league.

Phoenix, who were looking for revenge after losing to the Wildcats on penalty shots last week, flew out of the blocks early and Pavel Gomenuik opened the scoring in the 8th minute before Graham Newell equalized for the visitors.

However five unanswered goals saw Phoenix out of sight with Curtis Huppe, James Archer, Greg Wood, Ben Wood and Marcus Kristoffersson all scoring before the first interval leaving Wildcats netminder Chris Douglas stunned.

Credit went to the visitors in the second period as they scored two straight goals from Josef Kohut and Ryan Watt and it could have been worse for Phoenix who had netminder Steve Fone to thank after he stopped a Kohut penalty shot.

Tony Hand finished the scoring in the third period with a powerplay goal and he said after the match: “We came out like a train in the first period and we could have had more goals.

“It was clear that we took our foot off the gas in the second period and we got punished for it.

“Overall I’m delighted with they way we’ve started the season. It’s still early days but it’s nice to be in top spot.”

Ex-Phoenix stopper Murphy shines against Bruins

Belfast Giants Selects 1-5 Boston Bruins

Former Manchester Phoenix goaltender Stephen Murphy shone the brightest on Saturday night against National Hockey League side Boston Bruins.

The Bruins travelled across the water to face-off against a Belfast Giants Selects side comprising of players from around the Elite League which also included other ex-Phoenix stars Luke Fulghum and David Beauregard.

Murphy was given the start against a full strength Boston side boasting NHL stars like Zdeno Chara, Mark Recchi, Milan Lucic, Michael Ryder and goalie Tuukka Rask.

For half the match, the Elite stars and in particular, Murphy, stood firm despite constant Bruins pressure and then surprisingly took the lead late in the second period through Nottingham’s Jade Galbraith. He snapped a shot high glove side past Rask much to the delight of a packed Odyssey Arena.

However this only served as a wake up call for the Bruins as they turned the game on its head within minutes of the restart, scoring three quick goals from Tyler Seguin, Chara and Brad Marchand to lead 3-1 at the second interval.

In the third period, the Giants tried to get back in the match but all hopes were extinguished by a fourth goal from the Bruins, Milan Lucic firing a wrist shot through Murphy before Boston were awarded a penalty shot in the dying minutes which was expertly dispatched by NHL new boy Seguin.

Murphy finished with 40 saves and for long periods kept the Boston attack at bay, his saves included a fine stop on Bruins captain Chara whilst he was on a breakaway.

Meanwhile Manchester Phoenix continued their impressive start to the season, picking up another three points last weekend. Tony Hand’s side beat Milton Keynes Lightning at the Altrincham Ice Dome on Sunday 5-2 after losing on penalty shots to Swindon Wildcats the night before.