EIHL week 9 round-up

Another busy week of Rapid Solicitors Elite Ice Hockey action with 11 games to cover but come Sunday night there were some big smiles around the Odyssey Arena, Belfast as the tenants there survived a very tough weekend on the road to move into a very nice position thank you very much at the top of the regular season standings with a 5 point lead. Not only that but Giants are also on the verge of a confirmed semi-final slot in the Challenge Cup, so currently it’s a happy camp for Doug Christiansen and his men.

However, the likes of Nottingham and Sheffield are still well in touch as we arrive at what is a quarter of the league season for most sides. Already however there is a bit of work for the likes of Coventry, Cardiff, Hull and probably as far down as Braehead to improve their positions and move themselves nearer the summit.

The other end of the table still has newbies Fife propping up the rest but comments from player/coach Todd Dutiaume this week suggest that that hockey club still has much more lofty ambitions and at the very least are targeting the ‘best of the Scots’ title.

Okay, let’s get our teeth into the action, starting with a couple of midweek games. Hull proved just what a win does for you as they followed up their first win in 8 up in Dundee last Sunday by getting it very right offensively in their home game against Braehead. 3+3 for Jason Silverthorn, 2+2 for Frantisek Bakrlik and a brace for Dominic Osman paved the way for a 9-4 hammering of the West of Scotland side, who’s road form leaves a lot to be desired at this early point in the season, following their late start to proceedings.

The other game in Nottingham saw visitors Dundee hang in there a lot longer than Panthers would have liked and up to the 49th minute it was only a 2-0 lead for the NIC side. However, a late scoring burst saw a 6-0 final with Craig Kowalski posting a mere 16 shot shutout while at the other end of the ice Matt Francis counted 2+2.

The weekend now and where else to start but the huge Nottingham v Belfast clash at he NIC. Getting towards 5,000 were there but for the majority it was not the night they wanted as the visiting Giants came out on top by the odd goal in 5 with Aaron Clark scoring the game winner on his debut in the 32nd minute. A strange game in Sheffield saw injury ravaged Dundee lead 3-1 at the first period break and still 4-3 after 40 minutes but Steelers got it going in the 3rd session to take that period 5-1 and the game 8-5. Doubles here from debutant R G Flath, Rod Sarich and Colt King of Steelers while John Dolan grabbed a brace for gutsy Stars.

Hull built on their hammering of Braehead and travelled up to Kirkcaldy and took the points impressively by 6-1 against a Fife side who saw Toms Hartmanis unable to finish his debut due to injury but for Stingrays a second double of the week for Dominic Osman as the fortunes of Sylvain Cloutier’s side continued on the up. The final league game of Saturday saw Braehead show considerable bouncebackability in the first of a weekend double against Edinburgh. Braehead’s own ice was the venue and 7-2 was the result in a game where 7 different Clan stars hit the net.

Challenge Cup action for Cardiff and Coventry rounded off Saturday and saw a big win for the Welsh side by 6-1 with Jeff Pierce scoring twice. The result pretty much rules Blaze out of contention but Gerad Adams’ Devils are still very much in the hunt for a semi-final spot.

Sunday night and a second tough road game for league leaders Giants, this time in Hull. The home side were well out of it in the opening period but left it only a single goal behind. Testament to their renewed spirit from then on as they really did take the game to Giants after that. Top sides find ways to win however and a strike by Benoit Doucet as late as the 56th minute saw Giants edge 2-1 ahead with an empty net counter by Mark Garside sealing it in the final minute.

As you read earlier, Sheffield had a bit of a shootout against Dundee before winning 8-5 on Saturday but it was a much more solid Steelers in Coventry on Sunday as John DeCaro saved all 38 shots fired on him and Jason Hewitt and Jeff Legue scored the goals that took the points from the Skydome.

Dundee shrugged off their injury problems and saw defenceman Brennan Turner score his first 2 goals of the season as they picked up only their 2nd league win of the season by 3-2 after a shootout against Cardiff. A couple of goals by Devils Scott Matzka in this one as the visitors came back from 2-0 behind but they failed to score at all in the shootout while Brent Hughes and Lee Mitchell counted for the victorious Stars.

Finally this week it was Edinburgh v Braehead Act 2 and quite a turnaround from 24 hours earlier as the Capitals offence clicked and the prolific Rene Jarolin 1+1 and Richard Hartmann 1+3 proved too hot for Clan. But it was Scottish skater Bari McKenzie who was sharpest in front of the net for the hosts and his 2+1 saw them home 5-3 in the end.