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.”

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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.”

Phoenix title mission back on track

Manchester Phoenix 6-4 Peterborough Phantoms

After three consecutive defeats Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix are back on track in their pursuit of the English Premier League title.

Phoenix came from behind three times to beat sixth place Peterborough and hold a four point lead over closest rivals Guildford after they failed to earn a point last weekend.

The teams traded first period power-play goals as ex-Hull Stingray forward Jeff Glowa netted in the sixth minute before Marcus Kristoffersson brought the hosts level before the break.

Glowa scored a short-handed goal in the second period to give the visitors the lead once more but again Kristoffersson pulled Phoenix level to leave everything to play for in the final period.

The Phantoms scored first in an end to end third period with Maris Ziedins netting first from distance before Phoenix stormed back with four straight goals to take control.

First, Stephen Wallace equalized for the home side before Tony Hand was gifted a short-handed marker in the 45th minute after Phantoms netminder Stephen Wall gave the puck away behind the net. Curtis Huppe broke in on goal to score Phoenix’s fifth with an expert finish before Tom Duggan added a sixth.

Shaun Yardley added a late consolation for the visitors but with the points safe and Guildford losing 5-3 against Slough Jets, Phoenix extended their lead at the top.

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Rempel burns Phoenix with 4 goal blitz

Manchester Phoenix 4-5 Guildford Flames

Guildford Flames hot-shot Nathan Rempel has blown the English Premier League title race wide open after scoring four times against Manchester Phoenix on Sunday.

Phoenix entered the weekend’s games against the Flames with a five point lead at the top of the standings, but after back to back defeats to their title rivals, the gap has closed to just two points.

Marcus Kristoffersson opened the scoring for the home side with an early goal set up by a superb pass from Ladislav Harabin. But Guildford stormed back with Rempel netting a straight hat-trick before the end of the period.

Tony Hand rallied his side in the interval and by the end of the second period, they were level, goals from Curtis Huppe and Pavel Gomenyuk the result of a dominating period, out-shooting the Flames 16-5.

However two further goals from the Flames in the final period left Phoenix a mountain to climb, first Rempel added his fouth before Matt Towe extended the visitors lead to 5-3. Huppe managed to pull Phoenix to within a goal on the power-play in the 59th minute, but it was too little too late.

The previous night, Phoenix left Guildford with a point after losing 2-1 in overtime, Flames Martin Masa and Phoenix’s Huppe traded third period goals before Lukas Smital scored the winner in the extra period.

Tony Hand said after the match on Sunday: “The guys gave everything but we paid for our errors tonight.
“But we are still two points clear at the top of the league and there is plenty of character in this side. We’ll bounce back.”

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