Triple Deke on the move..

    follow me on Twitter

    Monday, 21 February 2011

    Huppe helps Phoenix put cup exit behind them

    Manchester Phoenix 6-5 Peterborough Phantoms (After Overtime)

    Canadian sniper Curtis Huppe scored five times against Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday, leading Manchester Phoenix to a 6-5 win in overtime.

    The unstoppable Phoenix top line of player coach Tony Hand, Swede Marcus Kristoffersson and Huppe combined for 17 points and the home side put their cup exit on Thursday behind them.

    After six games in nine nights, Phoenix could have been forgiven if they had lost to a spirited Phantoms side, but the home side fought back after going behind twice whilst also surrendering a two goal lead themselves.

    Maris Ziedins opened the scoring for the visitors in the 7th minute and Phoenix’s James Archer struck the post shorthanded before Huppe netted twice before the break.

    Huppe and Phantoms’ Matt Davies traded goals in the second period and Tom Carlon scored shorthanded to tie the score at 3-3. The Phoenix top line clicked again in the 35th minute with Huppe scoring his fourth but again the Phantoms levelled through Jeff Glowa.

    Phantoms’ Darius Lelenas and Huppe, again, traded goals in the third period sending the game to overtime. Phoenix capitalized on a 5 on 3 power-play to win the match in the extra period when Kristoffersson deflected a Huppe shot past Phantoms’ Stephen Wall.

    On Thursday night, Phoenix crashed out of the EPL Cup after losing 6-4 (8-7 agg) to Basingstoke Bison in the semi final.

    After coming away from Basingstoke with a 3-2 first leg lead on Tuesday night, hopes were high that Phoenix would progress to the final against either Slough or Guildford.

    But Victor Kubenko erased the deficit early before Callum Best gave the visitors the lead on aggregate and they never looked back. Curtis Huppe, Stephen Wallace, Joe Miller and Tony Hand scored for Phoenix whilst Ondrej Lauko (2), Mindaugas Kieras, Ollie Bronnimann netted for Bison to see them reach the Final and knock Phoenix out.

    Phoenix are away at Peterborough on Wednesday 23 Feb before a Saturday/Sunday double header against bottom club Telford Tigers.

    Tuesday, 15 February 2011

    Phoenix hold off Lightning fight back

    Manchester Phoenix 5-4 Milton Keynes Lightning

    Netminder Steve Fone kept league leading Manchester Phoenix six points clear at the top of the English Premier League after a match winning performance between the pipes.

    Rotherham born Fone dazzled, especially in the second period, to keep the Lightning at bay until a late surge in the final 15 minutes left the home side clinging on as their lead evaporated.

    Goals from Tony Hand and Curtis Huppe gave Phoenix a 2-0 lead at the first break before Huppe and Marcus Kristoffersson added further goals in a second period that for the most part was played in the Phoenix zone as the Lightning laid siege to Steve Fone’s goal. But their efforts proved fruitless as Fone stood tall to keep the visitors score blank.

    James Neil increased the home sides lead to 5-0 early in the final period before Milton Keynes seized upon Phoenix easing off the gas. The fight back began with ex-Slough Jets forward Blaz Emersic netting which was quickly followed by a power play goal from Monir Kalgoum.

    Adam Carr then capitalized on some lazy Phoenix defending before scoring a penalty shot with four minutes remaining. However an exhausted Phoenix defence managed to keep the visitors from tying the game late and Tony Hand’s side held on for two more vital points.

    Phoenix player coach Hand said: “That was tough tonight. Some of the guys were tired, and there were times when we let our concentration lapse and we were punished for it.

    “We deserved to be in front, but credit to Milton Keynes, they never gave up and it was a lot closer than it could have been.

    Wednesday, 9 February 2011

    Phoenix breeze past Bees

    Manchester Phoenix 6-1 Bracknell Bees

    Man of the match Tom Duggan produced a superb hat-trick on Sunday night to lead top of the table Manchester Phoenix past Bracknell Bees.

    Phoenix, who only played once this weekend, didn’t leave third gear and still dominated a Bracknell side chasing the final playoff spot.

    By the end of the first period, the home side were 4-1 up, Curtis Huppe opened the scoring early which lead to further strikes from Stephen Wallace (2) and Duggan with only Michal Pinc replying for the visitors on the power play.

    The game was killed off early in the second period as Duggan netted twice to complete his treble allowing Phoenix to preserve their energy for a busy week ahead.

    The win meant Phoenix extended their lead at the top of the English Premier League to six points after title rivals Guildford suffered a 6-3 defeat at Peterborough Phantoms.

    Tony Hand’s side now face a tough six matches in nine nights starting at Slough Jets on Saturday before hosting Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday in Altrincham.

    Then Phoenix turn their attention to the EPL Cup semi-final, travelling to Basingstoke on Tuesday, with the return leg against the Bison at the Ice Dome on Thursday. They finish the week with matches at Bracknell and home to Peterborough.

    After the win against Bracknell, Tony Hand said: “I was really pleased with Tom Duggan. He has worked extremely hard recently, as has everyone, and he thoroughly deserved his man of the match award.

    “The guys are getting some of that old confidence back, and that will be key for us as we go into the final part of the season.”

    Tuesday, 1 February 2011

    Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 EC KAC (AOT): Highlights

    Miller's return boosts Phoenix past Jets

    Manchester Phoenix 5-1 Slough Jets

    New signing Joe Miller scored two goals and an assist last weekend as he helped Manchester Phoenix past Slough Jets and Basingstoke Bison.

    Miller, who signed on Friday after being released by Peterborough Phantoms, last played for Phoenix in 2006 in the Elite League and returned to score in both Phoenix’s games at the weekend.

    On Sunday, Phoenix produced a complete performance to knock off fourth place Slough after the visitors took the lead with only 22 seconds gone.

    However the home side took full control of the match in the second period as a straight hat-trick from man of the match Marcus Kristoffersson set Phoenix on their way to another two points.

    Joe Miller scored his second of the weekend and Phoenix’s fourth before the end of the second period leaving Curtis Huppe to round out the scoring on the power-play in the final period.

    On Saturday, Phoenix beat their Cup semi final opponents Basingstoke Bison 5-4 in overtime after coming from behind four times. Tony Hand equalized for the visitors with little over a minute remaining before Tom Duggan sealed the win in the extra period. Other goals came from Miller, Hand and Ladislav Harabin.

    Player coach Hand said: “I was very pleased with Joe Miller’s contribution this weekend. He got a couple of goals and assists, and he is already offering us new options, which keeps our play fresh.

    “I said before this is all about character, and we showed plenty tonight. We were sent an early warning when Jets took the lead so soon, but we kept our composure, played our game and eventually took charge.”