Blown away

Friday night saw us play the Romford Tornado's and the rivalry took an interesting step. The game was Ritchies last as a Statesmen and we will all miss him and wish him well as he's going back to Canada.
There was an ideal start for the Tornado's with a lucky bounce on a shot to nothing going in, we just knew then it was going to be one of those days. With the Statesmen looking completely out of sorts, most people havent trained since May and we've only had 2 games in the last 3 months and it showed, Romford raced to a 4-0 lead.
A game of 2 halves (seemed like a good idea at the time), the second was a different story and the Statesmen finally found a bit of rythm and were all over the Tornados, getting back to within 2 goals at 6-4, but it was too little too late and a couple of late goals from Romford put the game to bed, 8-4.
3-1 up at the moment so the next game will be interesting.
MOTM James;)

James hits 50 games

The game against the Legion saw James hit 50 games for the Statesmen with a very impressive 80 goals and 141 points, congratulations James.

WC - double over Legion

Monday night saw the 2nd game against the Legion in the Winter Cup and a must win for the Statesmen to finish off the bottom. The Statesmen knew the Legion would be up for it and with some bad ice the game wasn't exactly going to be a classic from the get go, but all credit to the Legion for not giving us the time or space and clogging up the middle to prevent a lot of scoring chances. The Legion took the lead in the 1st period and with Ben Durcan stealing the show and playing a blinder kept the Statsmen in the game, the Legion added another in the 2nd, this forced us to change up the lines on the PP which really changed the game with the Statesmen pegging 1 back to 2-1, and bought the Statesmen back in the game. 2-1 down going into the thrid saw crazy J get his 2nd of the night and continue his impressive form against the Legion and with Marcus Cast continuing in form with 3 helpers, James Wood added to the total for the Statesmen to go 3-2 up.
A last gasp effort from the Legion with their netminder pulled fell right into the hands of Bob Hedley as he slotted the empty net goal from centre ice and seal the game 4-2. MOTM a very well deserved Ben Durcan.

Met Police, handcuffed

Sat 20th March saw the return leg against the Met Police, with no 'incidents' holding any players up the game started off lively enough and the first period was a close affair with the Statesmen edging the lead 4-2. This continued into the 2nd period with no team really taking control and the lead. This was until the 3rd with a supberb period by Marcus Cast and 4 goals (8 for the period), his display lit a fire under the Statesmen and finished with a 12-4 win. MOTM Ben Durcan

No bite against Bulldogs

Sat 6th March saw the Statesmens inaugaral game against the Streatham Bulldogs, with a few key plaeyers missing it was always going to be an uphill battle in which was a very enjoyable game (well, everyone enjoyed it except Chris).
The Statesmen started lively and opened the scoring after a minute with a scorcher from John Leslie, only to see the Bulldogs equalise after 4mins and get a 2nd after 7mins. The Bulldogs scored 3 in quick succession on 10mins an 16 with the Statesmen getting a couple back on 17mins, to finish the period 6-3.
The second was more one sided scorewise with the Bulldogs netting 4 to the Statesmens 1 and tired legs and the inability to put the puck in the net took its toll, the 3rd ended 2-0 to the Bulldogs in a more closely fought game for the first half than the scoreline suggested. Everyone enjoyed the game and the Statesmen look forward to the return leg.

WC - Loss v Eagles

Another 'thrilling' encounter with the London Eagles, the Statesmen started off with their intentions set out for the night steaming to a 3-0 lead and totally controlling the play in front of a stunned Polish crowd (they werent so loud then!), only for the Eagles to take a time out and then go about slowing the game and take the wind out of the Statesmen. The tactics worked and a couple of silly penalties and some dubious calls and the period ended 3-2.
Unfortunately the penalties seemed to continue and after one of the Eagles players dropped the gloves after 3mins the game was only really going to go one way, though apparently it was us. With 2 of the Eagles players kicked from the game things seemed to calm down a bit but it all played into the Eagles hands and a couple of very late goals saw the Eagles win 5-4, a game the Statesmen threw away really and it would have been nice to shut up the very partisan Polish 'fans' (to be polite). MOTM James Wood, not really:) Ben Durcan and well deserved.

Old timers

John and Ty reached 200 'official' games with the game against the Met Police, congratulations John.

Win v Met Police

The Statesmen welcomed the Met Police to Ally Pally in the first contest between the 2 teams. With an accident on the North Circular holding up the coach and leading to a few players being called out from the police the game started spritely enough, with the police opening up the scoring in 27 secs from James Paxman (his first of 6 of the night). The Statesmen responded after 2 mins with James's first of 5 from the night and Marcus getting the 2nd (his first of 7 points) the game was very even until 15 mins in with the Statesmen leading 4-3, then when the coach turned up the floodgates opened and the Statesmen finished the period 8-4.
This 2nd period was tied at 3 and the Statesmen finished off the 3rd 3-0, a well fought and enjoyable game and look forward to the rematch. MOTM James (this is just getting silly)

WC - Loss v Spitfire

This was the second meeting of the WC against the London Spitfire, in a closely contested game the Spitfire took the lead after 10mins, then scored 3 goals in 4 mins of the second and 1 near the end of the period to take a 5-0 lead. With some key players missing the Statesmen though the scoreline not reflecting the play just couldnt put the puck in the net till the 3rd and controlled most of the play in that period as well coming close a few times, 5-1 loss. MOTM James Wood (if anyone reads this can you pick someone else ;)

WC- Win v Legion

You'd have to go back to Nov 07 for the last win against the Legion, the Statesmen jumped out to a 4-0 lead in teh first with crazy J leading the way with a brace and Mike and James chipping in a goal apiece, the Statesmen were in control for the first 15mins and looked like they could run away with the game, but tired legs and a loss of concentration led to conceding a couple of goals late on.
The 2nd was marred by the refs whistle and really took the wind out of our sails, with crazy completing his hat trick and less than a minute after the Legion scored their 3rd.
The Statesmen then got back into it in the 3rd with crazy on the scoresheet again for his 4th and Ty answering the Legions goal on 53mins to put the game out of reach. Good game and well done everyone. MOTM James (Im beginning to think bribes are going on here, J - you were robbed;)

WC- Draw v Spitfire

The Statesmen kicked off the Winter Cup on 8th Dec 09 v Spitfire, in what was a fast paced encounter and the lead being shared by the two teams ended in a draw and the Statesmen to ponder the 3 gifted goals, 5-5 a good start to the campaign.