Fone Blanks Phantoms

Manchester Phoenix 5-0 Peterborough Phantoms

Manchester Phoenix netminder Steve Fone continued his impressive start to the new season with a shut out performance against Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday night.

Peterborough, who lost both their opening fixtures last weekend, battled hard for forty minutes on Saturday with a short bench, but Phoenix wore them down and hit three goals in the final period to seal the win.

Phoenix broke a scoreless tie in the 23rd minute when Martin Cingel found the net before Ladislav Harabin doubled their lead in the 34th minute with a slapshot that squeezed through Phantoms netminder Stephen Wall.

At the opposite end, Fone sparkled when Phoenix hit penalty trouble late in the second period, keeping the visitors off the scoreboard with some smart saves as the Phantoms looked to capitalize on the powerplay.

But after Phantoms lost key player Jeff Glowa to a game penalty and Rick Skene to injury after blocking a Jaroslav Spelda shot, their resistance was broken and the visitors, with only two lines of players, were running on empty.

Juraj Faith raced in on goal twice to score back to back breakaway goals, one shorthanded, and Spelda found the net in the final minute to seal the points.

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Cingel & Fone lead Phoenix past Cats

Manchester Phoenix 3-2 Swindon Wildcats

Slovakian sniper Martin Cingel scored twice in the second period and netminder Steve Fone held firm late on to lead Manchester Phoenix to a 3-2 win on Sunday.

Cingel, who scored twice last weekend in a 5-4 win over Basingstoke, continued his hot start to the new season by scoring twice in the second period to help Phoenix beat a stubborn Wildcats side.

Swindon suffocated the Phoenix offence for the majority of the game, and when the home side did get a chance, Wildcats netminder Thomas Murdy was in the way most of the night.

Phoenix scored three times in the second period through Cingel and defenceman Jaroslav Spelda and appeared to have unlocked the Wildcats game-plan, but a much improved Swindon side came back strong with Lee Richardson and Jarislav Cesky scoring either side of the break to set up a tense finish.

But man of the match Fone prevented Swindon from tying the game with a string of fine saves in the Manchester net, allowing Phoenix to bounce back from a 5-2 defeat in Milton Keynes the night before.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “We needed that win. It was important to get straight back to winning ways after the defeat at Milton Keynes on Saturday.

“Swindon are a tricky side to break down, but we knew that if we were patient and stuck to our game, the chances would come.”

Phoenix ready to start title defence

Manchester Phoenix 4-1 Sheffield Steeldogs (Phoenix win 8-5 agg)

Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix are ready to begin the defence of their English Premier League crown after retaining the War of the Roses pre-season trophy.

Phoenix, who begin their quest for back to back league titles this weekend, drew 4-4 in Sheffield on Saturday after only a couple of training sessions midweek, before beating an improved Steeldogs side 4-1 on Sunday.

New signings Slava Koulikov, Martin Cingel, Juraj Faith and Jaroslav Spelda all found the scoresheet over the weekend as the players began to find their feet ahead of the opening league fixtures this week.

After a goal-less opening period on Sunday, Slava Koulikov broke the tie with his second of the weekend in the 25th minute before powerplay goals from Juraj Faith and Stephen Wallace saw Phoenix lead 3-0 at the second break.

Sheffield pulled a goal back through Chris Sykes in the 47th minute but Jaroslav Spelda hit the empty net with little over a minute remaining to seal the win.

Phoenix are back in action at Altrincham Ice Dome on Sunday against Basingstoke Bison after travelling to Slough Jets on Saturday for their league opening game.

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Phoenix have Faith in Juraj

Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand has made a habit of waiting out the summer to pick up quality players at the last minute and this year is no different.

Former Phoenix favourites Johan Molin, Joe Tallari, David Beauregard and Marcus Kristoffersson have all been late summer arrivals, now forward Juraj Faith can be added to the list.

The 35 year old Slovakian born forward comes to Altrincham with a wealth of experience in the Slovakian Extraliga playing for hometown team HC Kosice where he won a league title in 2008.

He has also iced for Freiburg in the German DEL and Mulhouse in the French Ligue Magnus to complete an impressive career in Europe.

Hand said: “I am delighted to have him on board. His pedigree speaks for itself. He comes very highly recommended and having been a captain of a championship winning team, and on-ice leader, can only benefit the whole squad.

“I am he sure will play a big part in our efforts to retain the championship.”
Hand now has to find an import defenceman and a back-up netminder to complete his squad for the new season after James Neil re-signed for a third term in Altrincham last week.

Phoenix begin their title defense in Slough on September 24 before hosting Basingstoke Bison the following night at the Ice Dome.