Phoenix are Christmas Number One

Manchester Phoenix 7-0 Sheffield Steeldogs

Manchester Phoenix ensured they would remain top of the English Premier League for Christmas with a comfortable but feisty win over local rivals Sheffield.

With the original fixture against Slough Jets postponed due to the weather, Phoenix owner Neil Morris moved quickly and arranged the January game with the Steeldogs to be brought forward.

Former Phoenix hard-man Andre Payette returned to the Ice Dome for the first time since signing for the Yorkshire club and wasted little time getting to know Phoenix enforcer Andrew Sharp. The two dropped the gloves twice in the opening period, with the second bout resulting a match penalty for Payette.

Strikes from Marcus Kristoffersson and Pavel Gomenyuk preceded a sweeping 3 man breakaway goal from Curtis Huppe leaving Steeldogs netminder Paul Jones little chance and the Phoenix with a 3-0 lead at the first break.

The home side killed the game entirely in the second period with goals from Huppe, Ladislav Harabin, James Archer and Stephen Wallace. This allowed player coach Tony Hand to retire to the bench for the final period and Adam Summerfield took over in net for the Phoenix, replacing Steve Fone.

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Manchester Phoenix 4-3 Guildford Flames

Manchester Phoenix 9-2 Telford Tigers

Sniper Curtis Huppe ensured Manchester Phoenix returned to the top of the English Premier League this weekend with a game winning goal and a hat-trick in last weekend’s home double header.

On Saturday, Phoenix completed a nail biting comeback against Guildford Flames to take back first place in the league, before cementing their position against a short-benched Telford Tigers on Sunday.

Phoenix trailed 2-0 at the midway point of the game on Saturday night before player coach Tony Hand started the fightback in the 34th minute.

Enforcer Andrew Sharp brought the teams level early in the 3rd period before Martin Masa gave the visitors the lead once more.

Ladislav Harabin equalized again for the home side before Huppe scored the game winner just over a minute later.

On Sunday, the Telford Tigers came apart as Phoenix dominated the game early, out shooting the visitors 22-6 in the first period. Goals from Marcus Kristoffersson, Tom Duggan, Ben Morgan, Curtis Huppe and Stephen Wallace giving the home side a 5-1 lead.

Further strikes from James Archer, Andrew Sharp and a Huppe double finished the home scoring with Scott Mckenzie added a second for the visitors.

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Manchester Phoenix 6-0 Bracknell Bees

A Man of the match performance from defenceman Ladislav Harabin paired with a hat-trick from sniper Curtis Huppe led Manchester Phoenix to a comfortable home victory over Bracknell Bees.

Netminder Steve Fone also recorded his second shut out in two weeks as the Manchester defence continues to improve since losing to Guildford 5-1 on Nov 20.
Since that date, Tony Hand’s Phoenix have only surrendered six goals in five games whilst they have hit the back of the net 24 times.

The home side opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Curtis Huppe netted, this was followed by a quick early double in the second period as Harabin and Huppe both beat Adam Marashi in the Bees net.

The final period saw Phoenix score three further markers to put them out of sight, first Harabin scored his second of the game before Huppe completed his hat-trick with a rocket slap shot. James Archer completed the scoring with a short-handed goal in the 50th minute whilst Andrew Sharp sat out a roughing penalty.

Tony Hand said: “We were a bit slow to get going tonight, but we showed out quality in the end. The defence was strong when it counted and once our first line got going, we took charge.

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Manchester Phoenix 9-3 Swindon Wildcats

Sniper Curtis Huppe lead Manchester Phoenix to a demolition of Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night with a four goal showing whilst putting to bed his cold streak in front of goal.

Swede Marcus Kristoffersson scored the opening goal shorthanded in the 6th minute and ignited a rampant Phoenix offence. Huppe netted his first of the night and James Archer scored a superb solo goal for a 3-0 lead at the first break but it could have been worse for the visitors if not for the netminding of Wildcats stopper James Hadfield.

Tom Duggan added his name to the score sheet early in the second period and Huppe netted a straight hat-trick to break Hadfield’s resistance completely, whilst Swindon got themselves on the board through Josef Liska before Manchester replaced Steve Fone with Adam Summerfield in the home net.

Kristoffersson and Archer rounded out the Phoenix scoring in the final period whilst the Wildcats scored two late consolation strikes.

Phoenix are now level on the points with Guildford Flames at the top of the EPL standings after beating Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday night 4-0 whilst the Flames lost 5-4 in overtime against Telford Tigers.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “It was nice to see Curtis get back into the scoring habit, though I knew he would.
“Our title challenge is back on track, and that’s the most important thing.”