Milton Keynes Storm continued their league campaign with a hard-earned victory over old rivals Peterborough, and should approach a busy October schedule with guarded optimism.

Earlier in the month MK had played half a match at Peterborough before the fixture was abandoned due to unfit ice, but Peterborough’s rugged defence and exceptional netminding would clearly be a key factor in their season. MK needed to break the deadlock early if they were to impose themselves on the visitors, and Josh Nicklin (02:22) did just that with a driving run and shot to the top corner. But MK failed to build on this opportunity, conceding instead a string of penalties, which Peterborough eagerly accepted, eventually equalizing (08:52) with MK double penalised.

MK started the second period badly, and any early fluency was lost in a series of sterile and uninspiring penalty kills. Mitch Starkey’s invitation to warm up the showers could easily have lead to MK surrender, but instead it shook them out of their lethargy, and in the final minutes of the period they finally strung together some passes in attack. Jamie Miller did well to set up Jacob Heron (31:53) whose weaving run across the Peterborough defence was finished smartly on the backhand. Debutant Josh Hampton (37:13) then fired home his first for the club from an impossible angle, courtesy of a huge defensive clearance by MK netminder Jake Scriven!

Despite an enterprising start to the final period, MK managed to concede an early goal to a Peterborough breakaway (43:23) and the match was back in the balance again. Both sides launched a series of frantic attacks with clearcut chances and outstanding saves at both ends of the ice. Nevertheless MK held their nerve, and excellent work by Heron in front of goal left Connor Goode on the post with the simplest of goals (56:02). With the match effectively over, MK attacked with freedom, and Andy Major’s hard hit pass across the goal allowed Joe Day (58:00) to finish the match with the sweetest of one-timers!

Peterborough are a rugged and durable team, but they offer remarkably little offensive power, and although MK won this match they will need to show far greater skill and resolve to make an impact on the upper echelons of the league. Nonetheless they remain unbeaten, and a trip to Guildford next Saturday should give them ample opportunity to demonstrate their championship credentials.

MoM Ross Green

Jacob Heron 1+1; Joe Day 1+0; Connor Goode 1+0; Josh Hampton 1+0; Josh Nicklin 1+0; Andy Major 0+2; Jamie Miller 0+2; Nathan Carmichael 0+1; Nidal Philips 0+1; Jake Scriven 0+1 MK

Shots: 46 Peterborough 29 (MK N/M Scriven 29/2 93.10%)

Penalties: MK 41 Peterborough 18