WC - Loss v Eagles

Wednesday night saw the second leg of the WC against the London Eagles, having lost the first game 12-2 we knew we were in for a battle but went into the game very positively after the win on Saturday, this lasted all of about 40 seconds when the Eagles scored their 1st goal of the period. The Statesmen started off flat and seemed nervous against the Eagles who can pass the puck around well, after 10 mins it was 3-0, the poor start deflated the team but buoyed by a couple of good shifts the Statesmen got back into the game and proved that we could skate with them with Mark Fenwick getting a goal and host of missed chances towards the end of the 1st to get within a goal.
Determined not to start the 2nd the way we did the first, the Statesmen inevitably started the same way and another shocking 10 mins (running clock) saw the Statesmen down 6-1, yet again like the first the Statesmen then got back into the game with some good chances not buried by both teams. The third started off a lot better and we continued to battle throughout with James getting a natural hat trick and the Statesmen drew the final period 3-3. A good and entertaining game with the scoreline that maybe shouldnt have been so 1 sided if only the Statesmen could have buried some of the sitters that we had.
MOTM James

Milestones

Congratulations to Michael Baker who has now reached 251 games for the club, Dan O'Dell for reaching 50 points and James for getting 50 goals, well done to you all.

WC - Finally a win

The Statesmen kicked off the New Year with a win in the WC against the London Spitfire's, 5-4. The Spitfires kicked off the 1st period, scoring after 2 mins, in what was a fairly slow paced game from the start and thoughts of too much turkey at Christmas comes to mind, the Statesmen then equalised from James after 7 mins off of Frank and Rich, getting their first Statesmen points. The Spitfires then regained the lead after 11 mins and got another 5 mins later finishing the 1st period up 3-1.
There must be somthing strange about getting a 3-1 lead in the WC as for once the Statesmen started off better in the 2nd with Marcus getting his first Statesmen goal after 3 mins on a nice backhand, then after 34 mins Ty got the tying goal on a superb slap shot from outside the blue line ting in off of the post in which Ben was just a spectator (;-)) James then added another just before the end of the period on a nice shorthanded effort.
Once winning the game then seemed to take a strange twist with the Spitfires refusing to play as they thought there was too much contact going on and with the Ref on the sidelines thought someone might get hurt, fair enough but I personally didnt seem to think the game was dirty at all but then what do I know, the 3rd period was played on the proviso that there was no contact. This didnt really last long for the Spitfire's as after 2 mins there was 'contact' on the boards with Ty ending up with a slashing penalty, mmmm. What with this and running clock the Statesmen played a smart and almost farcical 3rd period with James getting his hat trick, the Spitfire's then almost immediatly getting 1 back to finish the game at 5-4.
MOTM James

WC - Loss to Legion

This was the last WC game of the year and the last against the Legion, again heading into the 3rd period up 3-1 saw the Statesmen lose the game 4-3, a dissapointing loss and end to the year.

WC scores so far

October:
15.10.08 - London Eagles 13 vs London Legion 2
22.10.08 - London Legion 3 vs Westminster Statesmen 3
29.10.08 - London Eagles 4 vs Queensway Spitfires 4
November:
05.11.08 - London Legion 3 vs Queensway Spitfires 4
12.11.08 - Statesmen 2 vs London Eagles 12
19.11.08 - London Legion 3 vs London Eagles 5
26.11.08 - London Spitfires 3 vs London Legion 8
December:
03.12.08 - Spitfires 3 vs Eagles 5
10.12.08 - Statesmen 3 vs London Legion 4
January:
10.01.09 - Statesmen 5 vs Spitfires 4
14.01.09 - Statesmen vs Eagles

Late one v Nightwolves

Fri night saw a late f/o against a vastly improved Nightwolves team. The Nightwolves obviously have got some better players so a good game was in the offing. The Statesmen started off sluggish and after 10mins the Nightwolves had gone 2-0 up, with seemidly a lack of confidence at the moment was evident and we just seem to be struggling to put the puck in the back of the net, even so on 15mins debutant Bob Heldley got one back and the 1st ended 2-1.
Some rather strange refereeing seemed to stem any flow the Statesmen could get into the game with misconducts for 2 of the D, when there was only 4 to start the game and the Nightwolves took full advantage and with a goal from Ritchie continuing his good form of late at the end of the 2nd it was 5-1.
The 3rd was more of the same and with a lot of sitters missed the Nigthwolves scored 1 to end the game 6-2, well done to them and look forward to a rematch in the New Year and maybe a good rivalry will be ensuing and some close games.
MOTM James

WC v London Eagles

Wednesday night saw the Statesmen play the inaugural game against the London Eagles, a Polish team that play out of the Ally Pally. This game was a bit of an unkown, after beating the Legion they drew against the Spitfires.

Without a game sheet theres not much to report, the first period ended 3-1 with Ritchie continuing his good form and getting the lone goal, then with the Statesmen chasing the game the Eagles took advantage and the Statesmen just couldn't seem to create any chances. Paul Danis scored in the 3rd with the game well out of reach and finishing 12-2. This leaves us 3rd in the cup on goal difference with the Legion.