English National League Division 2 North
10th December 2011
Fylde Flyers 9 - Bradford Bulldogs 4
Period Scores: 3-0, 4-1 2-3
Shots On Goal: Flyers 76 - Bradford 58
Penalties In Minutes: Flyers 14 - Bradford 24
Flyers Scorers: Elvis Veldze 4+1, Bobby Caunce 1+3, Ric Hulme 2+1, Dan Bracegirdle 1+1, Kurtis Hall 1+1, Dan Fearon 0+2, Tom Murphy 0+1
Flyers Most Valuable Player: Tom Murphy
Our Match Report:
Fylde Flyers ice hockey team made a winning start to life at their Sub Zero Rink home in Cleveleys on Saturday evening with a fantastic victory over a highly rated Bradford Bulldogs side.
The Flyers have only been able to play away matches until now while their home rink was being made ready to stage home games and they had previously only managed one victory from seven away games - including a 9-2 reverse in Bradford back in October.
In a cautious start to the game, the Flyers weathered a first minute tripping penalty against playmaker Bobby Caunce and gained confidence from keeping out the Bulldogs' subsequent 2 minute powerplay. The deadlock was broken midway throught the first period when Ric Hulme scored the Flyers first ever home goal - with an assist from Dan Fearon - to send the home crowd wild. Two more goals followed in the next two minutes (Dan Bracegirlde assisted by Tom Murphy and Elvis Veldze from Tony Melbourne) to give the home side a 3-0 lead at the first break.
Latvia Under 20 international Veldze added a 4th soon after the restart (assist by Bobby Caunce)and it was not until the 31st minute of the game that Steve Gilmartin was beaten in the Flyers' net. The Flyers quickly hit back with 3 goals in 3 minutes from Kurtis Hall (asst Caunce), Hulme (unassisted) and Caunce (asst Veldze) to finihs the second period 7-1 ahead.
A brief 3rd period rally saw the visiting Bulldogs score three goals to "win" the period but two more strikes from Veldze (asst Fearon, Caunce & Hall) ensured a fine victory for the Fylde Flyers in this historic first home match.
To add a bit of colour to the last few minutes, Dan Fearon and Dave Bracegirdle both got stuck in to opposition players and all four picked up 2+2 minute roughing penalties but by then the result was not in any doubt and even a last minute Bulldogs' goal could do nothing to dampen the cheers of the home fans.
Senior ice hockey is well and truly BACK on the Fylde Coast after a break of almost 20 years and,with the Flyers having games in hand over the teams above them - and plenty of home games still to come - there's a lot to look forward to as this exciting first season progresses.
The 2011/12 ENLD2N Season So Far:
10th Sept: away at Lancashire Raptors - won 0-4
1st Oct: away at Solway Sharks - lost 16-0
8th Oct: away at Solway Sharks - lost 18-6 (Veldze 5, Hulme 1, Caunce 0+3)
16th Oct: away at Bradford Bulldogs - lost 9-2 (Veldze 2)
6th Nov: away at Flintshire Freeze - lost 6-3 (Caunce 2, Veldze 1)
13th Nov: away at Hull ENL Stingrays - lost 6-3 (Caunce 2, Clark 1)
20th Nov: away at Sheffield Senators - lost 4-3 (Veldze 2+0, Murphy 1+0, Caunce 0+2, Melbourne 0+)
10th Dec: home v Bradford Bulldogs - won 9-4 (Veldze 4+1, Caunce 1+3, Hulme 2+1, Bracegirdle 1+1, Hall 1+1, Fearon 0+2, Murphy 0+1)
Next Match: Sunday 18th December Away to Flintshire Freeze - 6.30pm Face Off
Next Home Match: Saturday 7th January Home to Sutton Sting - 4.45pm Face Off
More info: http://www.eiha.co.uk/Leagues/EnglishNational/ENNorth2.aspx
To hear interview clips with assistant coach Garry Fearon and team captain Wayne Whitby previewing this exciting first new season of ice hockey on the Fylde Coast, click here: http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2011/09/fylde-flyers-ice-hockey-team-prepare.html
And a pre-season interview with Dave Anthony here: http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2011/07/senior-ice-hockey-returns-to-fylde.html
