MANCHESTER PHOENIX 3 - 2 GREAT BRITAIN U20s
Thursday evening saw the Great Britain Under 20 side come to the Altrincham ice dome to take on the Manchester Phoenix with the Senior National Head Coach Tony Hand in charge of newly appointed head coach of the U20s and Sheffield Steeldogs player coach Andre Payette.
Phoenix rested Netminder Steve Fone and gave a start to Back up netminder Jorge El-Hage as Shannon Long was the reserve goalie on the bench. Phoenix also welcomed back Energetic and spark plug of the side Tom Duggan. The GB u20 side consisted of many EPL players and some Elite league players too. Main names on the Gb squad was Luke, James Ferrara and Ross Venus.
So after the Warm-up and the teams were announced to the crowd, that managed to brave the cold and Wet conditions outside to watch this special game. Referee was Tom Pering, Linesmen: Kris Wells and Posladek as normal.
The game started and took less than a minute for the games 1st goal and came from the Young Great Britain side as Ross Venus sent a pass across the Phoenix Crease and Jack Musil guided it in at 53 seconds into the game and Gave Payettes Youngsters a gave platform to build on. Bentham produced the first hit of note as he crushed a GB player in the boards a great Hipcheck, that had the boards rattling for a few seconds after.
Phoenix had a chance to tie the game as they intercepted a pass in the the GB zone as the puck bobbled, and Psurny fed it across to McKinney to just put home but fanned on, Duggan then went close but his shot goes high over Andrew Brummitt in the GB nets. The young team was doing fantastically well, as Phoenix Weren`t at the races at all , though playing the night after the clubs Xmas Party isn`t the best thing.
Under20`s looked very assured and the better of the 2 team, Ondrej Pozivil then decided to play like he was a Forward, As he started to take shot after shot on Brumitt leading to him turning one in the netting above the Plexi glass. And moments later had a shot from an Angle that Brumitt thought he had but it dropped down and nearly bounced in , but got cleared by his defense. Ciaran Long also had a effort from the same place but the goalie caught sight of it and froze the puck to get the whistle.
Dundee Stars player Jack Watkins had a opportunity to make it 2-0 but was thwarted by El-Hage and managed to cover up the rebound. Then Andy McKinney skated in offensive zone and turned passed to Flaten who then found Pozvil and he Wristed it top corner and gave a Jaromir Jagr salute to celebrate his goal AT 17:29. As his efforts deserved a goal, Phoenix really hadn`t got their mind going as they played the 1st like a training session.
END OF 1ST : Phoenix 1- 1 GB U20s
8 SECs into the period Luke Boothroyd was called for Slashing by Ref Pering, the GB powerplay was alot like the Phoenix PP. Non extistant in other words as no shots came in and was most down in the their end than the Phoenix end over the 2mins. Pozivil was in the thick of it as he took a puck to the shin/ankle and tried to shake the pain off as it stung him clearly for a few seconds. But was fine as he was out in his next shift.
James Archer then picked the puck up and as the podcast tend to use now and then did a "Luke Fulghum" skating round the boards and not looking to pass after a little nifty move and had his eventual shot blocked and kicked aside. Musil who wore the #21 Jersey for GB had some great Skills in his locker and did one where he spun and tried to back hand it at a tight angle at the near post by hoping to bank it in off, But El-Hage was equal to saving it.
Both side were dealing the puck staying put and not following them as they tried to skate with it, and caused some chaos at time with the players bashing into one another trying to control the funny puck,due to the ice.
Then we had a strange incident where Ben Wood and one the Gb players were going to the puck and Ben Wood lifted his stick and inadvertently, sent the youngster stick flying over the Penalty boxes and about 4 to 6 rows in to the Stands with a fan catching it.
Phoenix then took the lead as James Neil combined with that man again Ondrej Pozivil as his blast went high in the nets pass Brumitt who never saw it. to give them a 2-1 lead at 29:56.
Shortly after GB goes on a breakaway and as it seemed he would have a go at taking a shot passed it to the left into nothing as he thought a team mate was following by.
Bentham then got penalised for HOLDING THE STICK at 31:22 and from the resulting Powerplay. they managed to construct a very good powerplay goal. As Chillcott picked had on the boards passed quickly to Luke Ferrarra who as quick dished it to Ross Venus at the far side and put it home for 2 all and brought "RULE BRITAINNA" being played over the PA system as it was a very fantasicially worked efficent PP Goal. McKinney was then caught for tripping and during the powerplay One of them one timed it and smashed it at his team mates head by accident.
END OF 2ND : PHOENIX 2 - 2 GB U20s
3RD PERIOD Phoenix finally took over as they started to kick on and go up a gear too, as 2 mins into the period Phoenix retook the lead thanks to some great pressure by Trafford Metros player Jared Richardson. He put the Goaltender under pressure as he skated out to clear before Richardson could get there, but he shot into the corner to which he quickly gathered it and threw it across goal to the Incoming Scott McKenzine and he slotted it home for 3-2 lead at 42:05.
Phoenix kept sustained pressure and retained possession better than they had all game and looked more switched on now, the hits were getting hard too. As McKenzine came in for good solid checks by the GB players especially a hard check by Chillcott who plys his trade in the US with the Space Coast Hurricanes. Luke Ferrarra had a chance as he spun and quickly shot at goal but was denied by El-Hage in nets.
McKenzine then turned provider when Duggan really should buried his effort but his tame shot was stopped by Brumitt. Just enough time for Joachim Flaten to make the trip to the box for tripping at 56:49. And with 51 seconds left in the game Jack Watkins tripped a Phoenix player as they had the Extra Attacker out to get the tying goal. But after the penalty was called it was GAME OVER. and so it turned out to be.
As a very good workout for both sides, Resulted in the Gb lads getting ice time as a time and Phoenix getting a win and putting things into practice and getting some confidence back ahead of the Bracknell away and MK game at home And blooding some young talent from the ENL Trafford Metros especially the impressive performance of Jared Richardson.
FINAL SCORE: PHOENIX 3 - 2 GB u20`S
Man of the Match
GB: #22 Ross Venus PHOENIX: #5Jared Richardson.. much deserved!
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