War of the Roses

The season always starts a week early for us Phoenix fans as we take on the Sheffield Steeldogs in the War of the Roses where we have been unbeaten in since the competition started three years ago. This year would be a little different though, with Payette scooping up a few ex-Phoenix players to join his team this season. The Steeldogs have had a lot more ice time than Phoenix and prior to the game on Saturday we had only been on the ice twice as a team. With this in mind I would have been happy to come away with a draw on Saturday and no injuries. The Steeldogs took an early 3-0 lead but Phoenix came back and the game finished with a 4-4 draw.  Unfortunately, with the help of Payette and Gomeniuk, Harabin and Long both got injured during the game. Payette slashed Harabin on his injured wrist from last season and Long got caught by Gomeniuk's knee resulting in the ex-Phoenix defender getting a match penalty.

So on Sunday off we went to the Ice Dome to hopefully retain the trophy for the third time. We got ourselves re-acquinted with friends following the summer break, dusted off our seats and got our voices ready for some shouting (it's been a while!) It was great to be back!

First Period
At the beginning of the game, Sheffield's pre-season ice time seemed to have paid off. They were passing the puck well and attacking the goal to give the defence and Fone something to think about. Payette didn't seem to be as aggressive and I stupidly thought that Sheffield had actually come to play hockey and not try to pick a fight. Of course I was wrong and after Payette and Harabin took a tumble on the ice, Payette decided to mock Harabin's injured wrist behind the referee's back and normal service was resumed. Sheffield then continued with their usual cheap digs and late checks, unfortunately Greg Wood was involved in most of this and seems to have turned into Payette Junior. Phoenix had some good chances but were unable to finish and were a bit scrappy in front of the net. Our best chance came at 11:20 when Hand and his new and improved first line broke away, the puck went just behind Bowns and he managed to keep the puck from sliding over the line.

So at the end of the first it was 0-0 and all still to play for, Sheffield were back to their old ways and Phoenix seemed to be starting to gel as a team. Both netminders were doing a sterling job and both teams were finding it difficult to get past them which could make a interesting second period

Second Period
The second period started pretty much where the last one left off but Phoenix seemed to be gelling, passes were being completed and the pace was quickening up which paid off and at 24:52 the Ice Dome erupted for the first Phoenix goal of the season, a lovely wrist shot from Koulikov straight through Bowns and into the back of the net. Immediately after the goal, Sheffield called a time out, which involved Payette getting angry (again!) and shouting at his fellow players. After Payette's little strop and the duck had been broken, it seemed like there was no stopping Phoenix and when a penalty was called on Bebris for holding, the power play commenced resulting in the second Phoenix goal of the night and the first for Faith. Sheffield started to get frustrated and at 31:15, Harabin was checked to the head by Jeffrey and he spent the next 10 minutes in the penalty box for his troubles. Yet another penalty was called on Sheffield for delay of the game and Phoenix took advantage of the power play resulting in goal number three for the Phoenix courtesy of Wallace.

At the end of the second Phoenix were 3-0 up and were looking like they were getting the hang of playing together. Phoenix were shooting more on the power play (we never score power play goals!) and it was working. Fone was still looking good in net and Spelda was impressive, backing Fone up and clearing the puck once he had made the initial save. Sheffield were getting angrier which was affecting their ability to play hockey. Phoenix have better players and due to the lack of ice time together it didn't work quite as well in the first leg, but it was working tonight.

Goals - Phoenix 24:52 - Koulikov, Assist - Archer, Phoenix 28:34 - Faith, Assist - Hand, Phoenix 34:55 - Wallace, Assist - Koulikov, Boothroyd

Third Period
At the beginning of the third, Sheffield made a come back and at 46:22 Sykes managed to get the puck past Fone after two great saves he just couldn't stop the third. After that Sheffield went quiet again, apart from the usual appearances in the penalty box, and Phoenix dominated the rest of the game. Bowns continued to make some fantastic saves including one on his back with his foot in the air and I wouldn't expect him to be in the Sheffield team for much longer. As Phoenix continued to get more comfortable on the ice together, the skills of the new import players started to show, a few passes through the legs and tricks with the puck kept the fans amused, until 58:46 Sheffield pulled Bowns and goal number four was scored with ease by Spelda to top of his day as it had been announced earlier that he had become a Dad for the first time!

At the end of the game, Phoenix completed their first win in the Ice Dome this season. I think that we deserved the win and after a shaky start, the team finally came together and started to gel. Obviously not the greatest performance in Phoenix history but what do you expect after only two days of practice. Sheffield seemed to return to their old ways. They have some really good players in the team this year and they play decent hockey when they need too, however I think that if things aren't going Payette's way he loses the plot and that is when the quality of hockey goes down the drain. Bowns is a great netminder and if the defence had been better, Phoenix may have struggled to get past him. I think there is great potential within the Phoenix team this season. The import players look very good and I think that they are all worthy replacements for our imports from last season. I also think that Koulikov may be the key to our team this year, he is all over the ice, scoring goals, defending and following through with checks.

Goals - Steeldogs 46:22 - Sykes, Assist - Calvert, Duncombe, Phoenix 58:46 - Spelda, Assist - Faith, Koulikov

Final Score - Phoenix 4 Steeldogs 1

MOM - Phoenix - Koulikov, Steeldogs - Bowns