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Result: 13th October 2007.
After a cracking pre-season MK Storm U10s opened their league campaign against the Guildford Firestreaks, who they have previously never beaten in this age group.
With quiet optimism from some parents (by far the worst judges of course!) the questions being raised were;
Could they convert their passing game seen at the cross-ice tournaments to the big ice?
How would the very inexperienced third line match-up? The most difficult of all to answer;
The former was obviously also on the mind of Coach Jobbers as he called in the first and second line early for some pre-match training which he later seemed to regret as he was heard to remark they just messed about!Âť (pre-game nerves maybe?)
What he was able to take from it though was to make a late and decisive line change as he switched the hard working John to lead the second line whilst goal hanger extraordinaire, Harry moved up to the first.
As the first line took the face-off they immediately put Guildford on the back foot and with some very good pass and move play gave them to run around. That eventually gave Harry the opportunity to find his space in the slot. Lewis spotted him from the top of the left hand circle and threaded the puck to him, a quick wrist-shot and one-nil after just 46 seconds.
The second lines first shift continued where the first left off - deep in the Guildford zone. Andrew just failed to double the score with a ripper of a shot that was well deflected by the Firestreaks’ NM. But no matter what Guildford tried they just couldnt free the puck from their zone as the points Sam and Ashley continually read the play well and refused to let the pressure off.
Four minutes gone and so far so good. Now for the third line!
Despite all five (Beatrice, Henry, Luke, Sam and Bryce) having only a few games on full ice between them, by the time their two minute shift was over you couldn't really tell as they mainly kept their shape and again kept the puck in Guildford's zone.
By this time it was coming pretty obvious that Guildford's strength was in their netminding department as despite shots reigning in he had an air about him that said he wasn't going to give up anything not goal-worthy!
Indeed it took another four shifts of constant pressure before he was beaten again and it came courtesy of the first line as Harry chased the puck behind the net, beat his man and fired the puck to Lewis in front of goal whose first timer deserved the reward of hitting the back of the net.
The goal of the first half though came from second liner Andrew who released an unstoppable shot into the top-shelf after a poke check from Ashley denied Guildford a break away.
End of first period:
Storm 3-0 Firestreaks, SOG 4 - 14, PiMs 0 - 0
The second half was pretty much as the first, although Guildford did achieve some more success to play outside their zone, but made no real threat in MK's zone. The real bonus was on the second line, which, with each shift got better and better as they developed a more passing game. Sam in particular looked at ease drawing his man in before sending the puck around the boards or to Ashley along the blue line to either shoot or feed the puck again. Daniel too, playing in one of his first games, found his game feet and finished the game much stronger. Good stuff!
But it was the first line who opened the scoring for Storm after 5 minutes of the second period as Harry fired the puck across the crease Jake collected it and neatly wrapped it around the keeper's outstretched arm. Then on the following shift, John Cawley got his first of the year courtesy of Andrews' assist. With the game all bar won, Hallden switched from D to centre and shortly after scored the sixth following a sweet pass from Lewis, but it was his unselfishness for Storm's seventh that made for the goal of the game: Showing good speed and stick skill he broke from MK's zone and tore up the ice with the Firestreaks left in his wake, he converged on goal with Jake and as he reached the far post he slipped the puck across the front of the crease, the timing of the pass was sublime and with the netminder beaten all ends up Jake had the simplest of tasks to tap home into the empty net.
The only black mark for the team came on 37 minutes when they allowed Firestreaks to score when they were caught in possession and to allow a breakaway goal that Alex unfairly blamed himself for letting in.
Final: Storm 7 - 1 Firestreaks, SOG 8 - 42, PiMs 0-1
Spirit of Game: Sam Russell, Man Of Match: Jake Southwood
Jake 2+1, Lewis 1+2, Harry 1+2, Hallden 1+1, Andrew 1+1, John 1+0, Ashley 0+1
At this age group the U10s is very much a team game with all 3 lines of players getting the same amount of ice time. All three lines need to pitch in and that's the story of today.
The first line played a good passing game, as hoped, whilst in defence Jack and Hallden were seldom troubled. On the few occasions they were, Lewis had read the play exceptionally well and was on hand to win the puck. The second line wasn't quite as effective but with Daniel filling the left wing role, and young Andrew stepping up from last season’s third line, it may take a little while for them gel, but they were seldom on the back foot mainly thanks to John who was outstanding all game and provided the safety net for the whole line whether up front or supporting Sam and Ashley - excellent call Jobbers!
The third line was just amazing! Sam in defence and Bryce in attack's positioning was constantly spot-on but it was Henry that stole the show for them as he was everywhere and involved in every good move they made. Alex and Andrew in nets may be disappointed not getting a shutout but they both came up with good saves when needed which can't be easy when they are stood watching the play up ice for long periods.
Overall: A pleasure to watch!
With quiet optimism from some parents (by far the worst judges of course!) the questions being raised were;
Could they convert their passing game seen at the cross-ice tournaments to the big ice?
How would the very inexperienced third line match-up? The most difficult of all to answer;
The former was obviously also on the mind of Coach Jobbers as he called in the first and second line early for some pre-match training which he later seemed to regret as he was heard to remark they just messed about!Âť (pre-game nerves maybe?)
What he was able to take from it though was to make a late and decisive line change as he switched the hard working John to lead the second line whilst goal hanger extraordinaire, Harry moved up to the first.
As the first line took the face-off they immediately put Guildford on the back foot and with some very good pass and move play gave them to run around. That eventually gave Harry the opportunity to find his space in the slot. Lewis spotted him from the top of the left hand circle and threaded the puck to him, a quick wrist-shot and one-nil after just 46 seconds.
The second lines first shift continued where the first left off - deep in the Guildford zone. Andrew just failed to double the score with a ripper of a shot that was well deflected by the Firestreaks’ NM. But no matter what Guildford tried they just couldnt free the puck from their zone as the points Sam and Ashley continually read the play well and refused to let the pressure off.
Four minutes gone and so far so good. Now for the third line!
Despite all five (Beatrice, Henry, Luke, Sam and Bryce) having only a few games on full ice between them, by the time their two minute shift was over you couldn't really tell as they mainly kept their shape and again kept the puck in Guildford's zone.
By this time it was coming pretty obvious that Guildford's strength was in their netminding department as despite shots reigning in he had an air about him that said he wasn't going to give up anything not goal-worthy!
Indeed it took another four shifts of constant pressure before he was beaten again and it came courtesy of the first line as Harry chased the puck behind the net, beat his man and fired the puck to Lewis in front of goal whose first timer deserved the reward of hitting the back of the net.
The goal of the first half though came from second liner Andrew who released an unstoppable shot into the top-shelf after a poke check from Ashley denied Guildford a break away.
End of first period:
Storm 3-0 Firestreaks, SOG 4 - 14, PiMs 0 - 0
The second half was pretty much as the first, although Guildford did achieve some more success to play outside their zone, but made no real threat in MK's zone. The real bonus was on the second line, which, with each shift got better and better as they developed a more passing game. Sam in particular looked at ease drawing his man in before sending the puck around the boards or to Ashley along the blue line to either shoot or feed the puck again. Daniel too, playing in one of his first games, found his game feet and finished the game much stronger. Good stuff!
But it was the first line who opened the scoring for Storm after 5 minutes of the second period as Harry fired the puck across the crease Jake collected it and neatly wrapped it around the keeper's outstretched arm. Then on the following shift, John Cawley got his first of the year courtesy of Andrews' assist. With the game all bar won, Hallden switched from D to centre and shortly after scored the sixth following a sweet pass from Lewis, but it was his unselfishness for Storm's seventh that made for the goal of the game: Showing good speed and stick skill he broke from MK's zone and tore up the ice with the Firestreaks left in his wake, he converged on goal with Jake and as he reached the far post he slipped the puck across the front of the crease, the timing of the pass was sublime and with the netminder beaten all ends up Jake had the simplest of tasks to tap home into the empty net.
The only black mark for the team came on 37 minutes when they allowed Firestreaks to score when they were caught in possession and to allow a breakaway goal that Alex unfairly blamed himself for letting in.
Final: Storm 7 - 1 Firestreaks, SOG 8 - 42, PiMs 0-1
Spirit of Game: Sam Russell, Man Of Match: Jake Southwood
Jake 2+1, Lewis 1+2, Harry 1+2, Hallden 1+1, Andrew 1+1, John 1+0, Ashley 0+1
At this age group the U10s is very much a team game with all 3 lines of players getting the same amount of ice time. All three lines need to pitch in and that's the story of today.
The first line played a good passing game, as hoped, whilst in defence Jack and Hallden were seldom troubled. On the few occasions they were, Lewis had read the play exceptionally well and was on hand to win the puck. The second line wasn't quite as effective but with Daniel filling the left wing role, and young Andrew stepping up from last season’s third line, it may take a little while for them gel, but they were seldom on the back foot mainly thanks to John who was outstanding all game and provided the safety net for the whole line whether up front or supporting Sam and Ashley - excellent call Jobbers!
The third line was just amazing! Sam in defence and Bryce in attack's positioning was constantly spot-on but it was Henry that stole the show for them as he was everywhere and involved in every good move they made. Alex and Andrew in nets may be disappointed not getting a shutout but they both came up with good saves when needed which can't be easy when they are stood watching the play up ice for long periods.
Overall: A pleasure to watch!