Author: Daniel James Pearce
Photos: Fiona George-Smith
Bracknell B52’s 1-9 Windsor & Slough Knights
Windsor & Slough Knights 11-5 Milton Keynes Storm Wreck.
It was a successful weekend for the Windsor & Slough Knights Ice Hockey team as they claimed back to back wins against the Bracknell B52’s and the Milton Keynes Storm Wreck.
Friday night saw the team make the short trip down the M4 to face local rivals the Bracknell B52’s at the John Nike Leisuresport Ice Rink.
The Knights started strong with Daniel Maker redirecting a Rob Paul shot to open the scoring after just 36 seconds. A tightly contested first period ensued but the Knights extended their lead on 14 minutes with a goal from Tom Henderson, assists going to Simon Child and Daniel Maker. Two quick goals from Edward Pratt towards the end of the first period moved the score to 0-4, assists to Chris Parker and Matthew Aston.
The second period saw the Knights shorthanded following a too many men call by officials Mr Jones and Mr Fielden. This however didn’t slow the Knights down and on 24 minutes Simon Child burst through the Bracknell defence to score an unassisted shorthanded goal. Unbelievably just 6 seconds of play later Edward Pratt, with the assistance of Daniel Maker picked up his third and hat-trick goal also shorthanded. With two minutes remaining on the clock for the second period Neil Porter took a shot from the blue line for the B52’s, a huge deflection off Jake Church sent the puck flying past Knights Goalie Tim Kingsbury and the B52’s got on the scoreboard. The second period finished 1-6 in the favour of the Knights.
Into the third and final period of Friday night and the Knights soon put the disappointment of the lost shutout behind them. Just 29 seconds into the period the Knights made another flying start and Chris Parker slotted home following a Rob Paul pass. 2 minutes later the Knights got their 8th of the night with a blue line beamer from the “Italian Stallion” Vincenzo Scafuto, the assist going to Simon Child. The Knights final goal of the night came with just over a minute left in the game as Matthew Webb joined the scoring party with an assist going to Kris Stefan. Final score Bracknell B52’s 1-9 Windsor & Slough Knights.
Onto Saturday night and the Knights welcomed the MK Storm Wreck to the Slough Ice Arena. This was the first meeting in Slough in over 5 years and both sides looked eager during warm-up.
The game refereed by Mr Jones and Mr Evans started tight and scoring chances for both teams were only stopped by superb goal-tending by both Knights goalie Michal Mrtvy and Storm Wrecks Kayleigh Doyle. Captain Daniel Maker opened the scoring with a long-range effort finally beating Doyle, assists went to Leigh Coker and Matthew Webb. 5 minutes later and Maker picked up his second of the night in an unassisted effort. Amazingly Maker wasn’t finished and just 22 seconds later he secured a first period hat-trick after Michele Scafuto and Matthew Webb setup a fine move. Milton Keynes were to have the last laugh in the first period however after number 86 scored an unassisted goal, closing the first period at 4-1.
In what was now becoming a habit of fast starts after 20 seconds of the second period Ryan Byrne picked up an unassisted effort to put the Knights back into a comfortable position. Just 30 seconds later and Michele Scafuto and Karl Daniels combined well to setup Matthew Webb for his second of the evening. The Knights didn’t have the second period all to themselves however and two quick goals from Storm Wrecks numbers 47 and 94 brought them right back into the game. The Knights spurred on by a resurgent Milton Keynes then found another gear. First Daniel Maker got his 4th of the evening assisted by Leigh Coker and Jake Church. It was then Matthew Webb’s turn to go on a solo run, producing a fine unassisted goal. With two minutes left in the second period the Knights found themselves on the powerplay, step-up Marcus Leppard and his renowned slapshot, following work along the board by Ryan Byrne the puck found its way back to Leppard who realised a strong one-time effort. With just 5 seconds left in the second period both teams coaches where thinking about their team talks but the Knights still had time for one more. A long pass down the boards by Matthew Webb found Daniel Pearce, Pearce drove the net and took a shot, Jake Church’s excellent work (potentially buoyed by the previous nights “own goal”) saw him pickup the rebound and slot home, closing the second period at 10-3.
The third and final period of the weekend saw the Knights take their foot off the gas and Milton Keynes punished them with some fine play. After 7 minutes Milton Keynes got a well deserved goal and second of the night for number 47. The Knights had a moment of third period recovery as Karl Daniels gathered a Leigh Coker pass to slot home a fantastic backhanded effort. But it was Milton Keynes however who would have the last laugh and with 5 minutes remaining in the game number 61’s shot beat Mrtvy in the Knights goal, capping a good third period for Milton Keynes and closing the game at Windsor & Slough Knights 11-5 Milton Keynes Storm Wreck.
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