First Winter Cup game v Legion

Wednesday 22nd October saw the first Winter Cup game for the Statesmen against the London Legion. With both sides fielding stronger teams than the last encouter it seemed like it would be a good match. With debutants for the Statesmen, Glen Moorhouse, Frank Bruce, Marcus Cast, Brandon Paluzzi and Mark Freitag, with the game ending in a 3-3 draw.

The first period was a tight affair with both teams coming close until the Legion opened the scoring, a few minutes later Mark Freitag got the equaliser and his first goal for the club. The second period started off the same as the first and shorthanded, this period became tighter with both teams not wanting to make a mistake and it started getting a physical edge, the Statesmen then got the upper hand with a goal from Paddy and afterwards consolidated a 3-1 lead going into the third.

As with most games between the two clubs this may not have been enough and the Legion pulled a goal back and with some end to end hockey and a bit more physicality between the two squads the Legion then pulled level with 1.40 to go in the game. We look forward to the next encounter and play the London Eagles in 3 weeks time which will be a very tough game.

Ritchie gets 25

Congratulations to Ritchie, with a goal and assist against the Legion he gets 25 points.

Winter League

It is now official and the Winter League will be going ahead, should be good. There will be away games still arranged during the winter. Note:- ALL games are at Ally Pally.

Provisional dates are as follows:-

Wed 22nd Oct v London Legion @ 20.45
Wed 12th Nov v London Eagles @ 22.15
Wed 10th Dec v London Legion @20.45
Wed 14th Jan v London Eagles @ 20.15

Also note there are 2 games v Queensway Spitfires (a couple of them we know ;-)) are yet to be arranged.

Tribute Game for Mat Hoxby v Romford

Unfortunately due to ice time etc, the tribute game against Romford Tornado's for Mat Hoxby will not be happening until May. This is due to getting the ice at Romford at a decent time and when the Raiders season has finished.

Still it should be a fitting tribute.

Mat Hoxby - RIP

It is with great sadness that I write this post. Mat Hoxby passed away yesterday 27/08/08 after a being involved in a hit and run accident 2 weeks earlier. He was induced into a coma which unfortunately he never recovered from.

As with the Romford boys I have personally have known Mat from my days as a Havering Hornet (U16) and also those who were only just getting to know him I'm sure, will join me in sending out our thoughts to his friends and family.

A quote from the facebook site for friends of Mat Hoxby:-

'If you know Mat you would know that he is one of the most optomistic people you may ever meet. Someone that lives for only today and takes life as it comes, always looking for the positives in everything he does and the people he meets.'

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35920177592&ref=ts

A sad loss for our hockey community.

You Jest!

The Statesmen travelled up to MK on Saturday with a squad roughly assembled at the last minute, with the Jesters having a strengthened squad at home we knew it was going to be one of those days and cruised to an easy 9-3 win. The Jesters lead 5-0 by the time the Statesmen responded 2 mins into the 3rd period on a solo effort by Ty. What didnt help is before that Paddy and Ty both received rogue sticks in the face with Paddy's being a lot worse, (always makes me wonder if people with full cages on should be made to play without one for a while) and the ref making some rather strange decisions on both sides. The 3rd wasnt so bad as the Statesmen only lost 4-3 with goals from Isaac and Mark, all in all a strange game and the Statesmen couldnt really get anything going.
MOTM Paddy (2 weeks in a row I hasten to add)

John hits 200

Against the MK Jesters John finally got 200 PIM's.....