Phoenix start a fire with early trophy success

Manchester Phoenix 3-3 Sheffield Scimitars (6-5 agg)

The Manchester Phoenix opened their new season last weekend with a War of the Roses encounter against the Sheffield Scimitars with the Phoenix taking the honours over two nights, winning the two game series 6-5 on aggregate.

On Saturday night, the Phoenix came away from Ice Sheffield with a narrow 3-2 lead after goals from Robert Lachowicz, player coach Tony Hand and Jaakko Hagelberg were enough to take an advantage back to Altrincham for the Sunday night winner takes all show-down.

The opening minutes of Sunday night’s game were penalty filled and yet neither side managed to make an opening on the powerplay until just over 5 minutes into the game when Andre Mattsson stepped up from the blue-line and fired a laser shot into the bottom of the net that ex-Edinburgh Capitals goaltender Pasi Raitanen had no chance with. However in the 12th minute the Scimitars drew level with a goal from James Archer as he broke in on goal to beat Steve Fone in the Manchester net. Both goalies made great saves in the final minutes of the period to deny each team taking the lead into the break, Raitanen was alert to a Lachowicz one time shot from the crease whilst Steve Fone dived from post to post to prevent Joakim Millqvust scoring at the other end.

In the second period, it was the Scimitars who took the lead with only 55 seconds played, Peter Slamiar finding the back of the net to take the aggregate score to 4-4. The goalies then stepped up again to deny the forwards of both teams as Raitanen saved well from Hagelberg, preventing the Phoenix getting an equalizer, whilst Steve Fone saved superbly from a breakaway effort by Stephen Wallace. The Phoenix then got the break they needed, with the puck bobbling around the Scimitars net, Iain Bowie found and shot the puck home just before the half hour mark. This spurred the Phoenix on further and player coach Tony Hand led the way, sending a pin point pass across the ice that found Greg Wood at the back post to smash home Phoenix’s third goal of the night.

The final period saw both teams evenly matched as the Scimitars came flying out of the blocks and brought the tie to 3-3 on the night as a blistering shot by Peter Slamiar managed to fly over Steve Fone’s shoulder into the top of the net from a tight angle. The Phoenix looked to again take the lead but Raitanen in the Scimitars net had other ideas as he saved well off shots by Hand and Greg Wood twice, when the puck finally went in the net for a fourth time, the goal was washed out as Andre Payette was adjudged to have been in the goalies crease as he deflected a slap shot into the net.

After lifting the trophy, Payette commented, “We’ve got a few bumps and bruises after these two games, but there’ll be little pain as we lifted a trophy. Success is infectious and I’m hoping that having had an early taste, the guys will be even hungrier for more as the season progresses.”
“We’ll work hard this week as the real thing starts next weekend with a tough road trip to Basingstoke before we face Swindon in our home opener.”

All that was left was for Phoenix to lift their first piece of silverware of the season and although it was only a pre-season challenge weekend, the new team will have taken a lot of confidence from the two games and learnt a great deal about each others playing styles and hopefully when this weekend comes around, the players will be up to complete match fitness and ready to start the league campaign.

Other pre-season EPL results:

Saturday

Basingstoke Bison 4-2 Bracknell Bees
Milton Keynes Lightning 7-2 Romford Raiders
Swindon Wildcats 5-3 Guildford Flames
Slough Jets 5-4 Peterborough Phantoms

Sunday

Bracknell Bees 4-6 Basingstoke Bison
Guildford Flames 8-1 Swindon Wildcats
Peterborough Phantoms 3-2 Slough Jets
Romford Raiders 2-5 Milton Keynes Lightning

Elite League results:

Saturday

Hull Stingrays 4-2 Cardiff Devils
Nottingham Panthers 2-1 Coventry Blaze
Belfast 2-3 Sheffield Steelers (After Overtime + Shootout)

Sunday

Cardiff Devils 5-2 Hull Stingrays (Challenge Cup game)
Sheffield Steelers 2-4 Belfast Giants
Nottingham Panthers 5-3 Newcastle Vipers

EPL Final Countdown; Elite League underway.

This weekend the Manchester Phoenix will take on the Sheffield Scimitars in a War of the Roses double header and it will mark the beginning of a new season that promises to be exciting and memorable. The Altrincham based club look to prepare in the best possible way before embarking on the new season a week on Saturday and a home and away showdown with the Scimitars looks to be a stern test for Tony Hand and his new team.

Meanwhile other EPL teams are preparing for their assault on the new season with various challenge matches being played this week. Tonight see’s the Peterborough Phantoms play Elite League side Hull Stingrays with Stingrays back-up netminder Andrew Jaszczyk set to start between the pipes whilst the Slough Jets host the Swindon Wildcats. Tomorrow night the Milton Keynes Lighting play against the Peterborough Phantoms with a return fixture being played on the 16th Sept. This weekend there are 5 home/away match ups including Manchester v Sheffield, others doing the dance are Basingstoke v Bracknell, Milton Keynes v Romford, Swindon v Guildford and Slough v Peterborough. The final pre-season fixtures are played a week tonight involving that return fixture between the Lightning and the Phantoms whilst Swindon play Slough and Sheffield Scimitars take on Sheffield Steelers.

Elite League Results:

Saturday:

Sheffield Steelers 1-3 Coventry Blaze
Newcastle Vipers 3-4 Cardiff Devils (AOT + Shootout)
Nottingham Panthers 4-1 Belfast Giants

Sunday:

Coventry Blaze 3-5 Nottingham Panthers (Challenge Cup Group Game)
Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants
Newcastle Vipers 5-4 Cardiff Devils

Phoenix 08/09 Squad Update #2

Bruce Mulherin - Tohoku Free Blades (Asia League)
Stephen Murphy – Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Luke Fulghum – Coventry Blaze (EIHL)
Alex Dunn – Odessa Jackalopes (CHL)
Kenton Smith – HC Valpellice Bulldogs (Italia Serie A)
David Beauregard – HC Valpellice Bulldogs (Italia Serie A)
Brett Clouthier – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bee’s (CHL)
Lucas Burnett - ? (Rapid City Rush (CHL) possibly..)

Kyle Bruce - ?
Nathan Ward - ?
Josh Garbutt - ?

Hand Plays it Safe with Mattsson

Tony Hand, the player/coach of the Manchester Phoenix has completed his squad for the forthcoming season of ice hockey in the English National League with the signing of stay-at-home defenceman Andre Mattsson.

The 29 year old who tips the scales at just under 200lb, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti but moved to Sweden from a very young age. The true nature of his playing style is evident from his career stats as he only has 22 goals and 54 assists to his name with nearly 500 games played in a number of Scandinavian leagues. However, this will be the player that Hand will look to for leadership in defence as the rock-solid Swede’s main objective is stopping other teams from scoring with his no-nonsense and aggressive defensive style. This should fit well with the line-up at the back already formed by Hand that includes young Brit Luke Boothroyd, one of last season’s outstanding players.

Mattsson commented, “My game is primarily as a defensive defenceman. I try to make the smart move, forcing opposition forwards into areas where they’re not so comfortable and I play the body to try and gain possession of the puck. It’s then about making the simple play to set the transition going and then trying to support the forwards.”

For the past three seasons Mattsson iced with Comet IK in the Norwegian Elite League and player/coach Hand remarked on his final signing, “I am very pleased to have found a player of Andres’ calibre to come and complete the roster. He’s got good size, plays a strong physical game and with experience of the top level in both Sweden and Norway”

“I have high hopes for him. Everyone we’ve spoken to about him has given us excellent references and reports and I think he’ll bring a whole new look to our blueline.”

With the line-up for the new season complete, the fixture list has also been confirmed in the past few days and after the Phoenix play the pre-season double header against Sheffield Scimitars on the weekend 12th/13th September, they will begin their EPL season away at the Basingstoke Bison on the 19th September before the first home game on the 20th September when they will entertain the Swindon Wildcats.

Hand added “The squad is now finalized and I am very pleased with the way we look on paper. The training sessions and pre-season games against Sheffield will help me confirm the line combinations I’ve got in mind and then come the 19th of September, we embark on what I’m sure will be an highly entertaining and interesting first season in the English Premier League.”

Phoenix 08/09 Squad Whereabouts...

Update.

Stephen Murphy – Belfast Giants (EIHL)
Luke Fulghum – Coventry Blaze (EIHL)
Alex Dunn – Odessa Jackalopes (CHL)
Kenton Smith – HC Valpellice Bulldogs (Italia Serie A)
David Beauregard – HC Valpellice Bulldogs (Italia Serie A)
Brett Clouthier – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bee’s (CHL)
Lucas Burnett - ? (Rapid City Rush (CHL) possibly..)

Bruce Mulherin - ?
Kyle Bruce - ?
Nathan Ward - ?
Josh Garbutt - ?

Ace-Sniper Courtenay signs for Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix player/coach Tony Hand has this week acquired his new assistant coach and goal-scoring sniper for the 2009 season. British ice hockey legend Ed Courtenay has agreed to fill the shoes left by David Beauregard from last season as he and Hand will look to mount a challenge for the English Premier League title at the first time of asking.

The Canadian winger stands at a massive 6ft 4ins and has a mountain of experience in both American and British leagues having started his professional career in 1985. He has iced for NHL side San Jose Sharks over 40 times and over the past twelve ice hockey seasons, only three have not been this side of the Atlantic as Courtenay has iced for Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants, Newcastle Vipers and the now defunct Ayr Scottish Eagles. In three seasons with the Belfast Giants as player/coach, Courtenay tallied an impressive 184 points and Phoenix fans know exactly who is coming to Manchester next month having seen Courtenay ice against both the Phoenix and the Manchester Storm throughout the Super league-era. During his spells with the Steelers and the Scottish Eagles, Courtenay and Hand iced together and proved to be an excellent combination leading both teams to successful seasons whilst ruining net-minders save percentages up and down the country along the way.

On his new signing, player/coach Tony Hand remarked, “Eddie and I have been friends for a number of years and it goes without saying that I’m very pleased that he’s coming to Manchester this season. Eddie is a great player and an outstanding goalscorer and passing forty, like myself, has not blunted his ambition to succeed.”

Wherever Courtenay has played he has established himself as a leading point scorer and the Phoenix fans will be looking for him to add to his list of honours as the club makes it debut season in the EPL. However, along with his goal-scoring skills, Courtenay has been hired to become assistant coach to Tony Hand and they both will look to guide the younger stars up the table and into a title challenging position

Courtenay commented, “Tony and I have linked well before and I played with Andre Payette in Newcastle last season and he’s really excited too about coming to Manchester. We’ll be the older heads and legs and if we can impart some of our tricks, knowledge and thinking into the youngsters, I think this could be a terrific season for everyone connected with the Phoenix club.”

The Phoenix roster for the coming season is almost complete with only one piece of the puzzle to be filled before the pre-season training gets underway in a couple of weeks. Hand now has one remaining import slot and will be looking to find a top quality defenceman to lead the young Brits that are already signed up to patrol the blue-line for the new season.

Phoenix opener set against Scimitars.

Tony Hand’s new-look Manchester Phoenix will open their new season with a double header against closest rivals Sheffield Scimitars. The Phoenix will begin their ‘War of the Roses’ battle with the Sheffield outfit on Saturday 12th September at Ice Sheffield and that will be followed by a return challenge at the Altrincham Ice Dome on Sunday 13th September.

Tickets for the Sheffield leg of the two game series will go on sale August 15th and will be priced at £6 for adults and £4 for concessions, whilst August 17th will see tickets go on sale for the game at the Ice Dome in Altrincham where all tickets will be priced at £6 with both teams contributing £1 from each ticket sold to their junior development programmes. Face-off’s for the games are 7.30pm on Saturday and a 5.30pm start on Sunday at the Ice Dome.

The Scimitars have already assembled a strong squad ahead of the new season and made a great signing in capturing netminder Pasi Raitanen who iced for Elite League side Edinburgh Capitals at the back end of last season. Meanwhile Phoenix player/coach Tony Hand still has two international spots on his roster to fill and there are strong rumours circulating that the experienced sniper Ed Courtenay could be on his way to Altrincham. The Canadian born forward, who has iced in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, played in Newcastle last season, and previous to that, he played and coached the Belfast Giants.