Blazers On Fire In Challenge Cup Opener
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16 - 3
Hockey night comes round fast in Sheffield and Sunday evening saw the Sheffield Blazers Vs Telford Spartans as the opening fixture for the eagerly anticipated Bethany's Legacy Challenge Cup.
A bumper crowd at Ice Sheffield saw high spirits from both teams knowing that the following 6 months is going to be an interesting cup for a great cause. Warm up came to a close and referee Fraley gathered both opening lines at center ice for face off.
After a close beginning to the game both teams began to find their feet, however, it was the Blazers who struck first with a tidy finish from Simon Manning, closing in on goal after some nice hands from Scott Howells. Moments later following the opening goal and a few more minutes of pressure in the Telford defensive zone it was the turn of Dan J Flett to put the hosts 2 goals to the good with a fine finish on an unassisted goal.
The game was in full flow by the 15 minute mark when Scott Howells turned from provider to goalscorer as Dan Flett found him in space and the speedy forward made no mistake of turning the puck home and putting the home side 3 – 0 up inside 15 minutes.
Straight from a face off the Telford Spartans got themselves back in the game with an important goal from the lively #96 J Moorhouse. A constant threat for the Spartans and after some strong pressure in the hosts defensive zone the score was cut to two goals.
The scoring came to a close for the first period at 17 Minutes when a breakout from their own zone saw a Blazers D-man find #25 Johnson on the left wing, who found his way into the Spartans zone before putting the puck on a plate with a precise pass for line mate Brown to finish low into the visitors net with the first period ending 4-1.
The 2nd period was full of goals but unfortunately for the away team, the Blazers came out on song. Young Tom Marshall skipped his way to the net confidently and finished a solid pass from Blazers Winger Bingham. From that point on the home side didn’t seem to look back. Further goals followed from the rather tanned Dean Smith who sold a fake slapshot to the netminder before ramming the puck home. Steve Bingham found the net with a neat finish 36 seconds later. An altercation occurred following Smiths 2nd Goal as he was illegally checked to the ice in the away teams crease which Sheffield Blazers Steve Bingham took exception to and decided to make his feelings known with a number of punches.
The 2nd period ended on a tense note as Captain David Flett fired the puck home. Some intelligent play had previously seen Veteran Jan Osborne and then Scott Howells with his 2nd goal of the night give the Blazers a 12 goal lead.
The 3rd period had the least goals, however could have been the stronger of the 3 for the visiting side as Telford Spartans started bright, causing problems and scored 2 goals.
Another puck was put past Sheffield's Dave Briggs, courtesy of Bannister, after the intense forward for Telford. 6 minutes later Telford’s #97 Bethnell got the away sides final goal of the night with a nice finish.
Inbetween the away goals Blazers Captain David Flett got his 2nd of the night, Dean Smith celebrated his recent wedding and honeymoon with another goal that he later dedicated to his Wife Pippa and at 58 Minutes, Scott Howells was last on the score sheet with his 4th goal of the night wrapping up the game and seeing the Blazers run out 16-3 winners.
A great game and a big thank you for the Spartans and Fans who made their way to Sheffield, Good luck for the rest of the season!
*Written by Sheffield Blazers*
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