Vipers sign Ed Courtenay
Thursday, October 30th, 2008The Mincoff Vipers are delighted to announce that they have signed former NHL winger and Belfast Giants player coach Ed Courtenay for the remainder of the 2008/2009 bmibaby Elite League season.
The Mincoff Vipers are delighted to announce that they have signed former NHL winger and Belfast Giants player coach Ed Courtenay for the remainder of the 2008/2009 bmibaby Elite League season.
Todd Griffith netted a stunning hat-trick as the Mincoffs Vipers put Basingstoke to the sword on Tyneside tonight with an eight-goal demolition.
Bison coach Ryan Aldridge quit recently and he has been followed out of Hampshire by skipper Brad Cruikshank to Sheffield Steelers.
The Vipers started brightly and opened the scoring in the 8th minute as Rob Rankin netted a powerplay goal past Kevin Reiter. The lead was doubled 80 seconds later by player-coach Rob Wilson, wristing a shot in from the blue line.
After the second goal, Bison’s Jeremy Cornish renewed acquaintances with Chris McAllister, dropping the gloves centre ice. For the second time this season, the ‘Chief inspector’ of Basingstoke came off second best.
Basingstoke were operating a powerplay in the early minutes of the second session when the Vipers hit their third. Todd Griffith picked off a pass in the neutral zone and skated in on Reiter, finishing upstairs on the backhand. The Vipers #22 doubled his tally three minutes later on a feed from Tyler Willis and the Vipers were 4-0 ahead.
Jeremy Cornish’s last action on the night was to bring down Rob Rankin in neutral ice away from the play and referee Marco Coenan ejected the former Viper for checking to the head.
On the five minute powerplay, Tyler Willis netted from a rebound and the home side were 5-0 up at the second interval.
The final stanza saw Bison give ice to British goalie Joe White. Todd Griffith completed his treble in the 45th minute with another breakaway, before assisting Tyler Willis on his second three minutes later as the Vipers notched a seventh goal.
Seven was to become eight five minutes from time, with Andre Payette converting a pass from David Longstaff. At the other end, Andrew Verner kept the Bison at bay, completing a 21-shot shutout - his first as a Viper.
Todd Griffith was man of the match, with Matt Miller getting the award for the visitors.
The Mincoffs-backed Vipers are in action again at Metro Radio Arena this Thursday night when Edinburgh Capitals are the visitors for a 7.15pm face off.
Cardiff Devils 9 Edinburgh Capitals 0
Manchester Phoenix 6 Hull Stingrays 4
Newcastle Vipers 8 Basingstoke Bison 0
Challenge Cup Group B
Nottingham Panthers 3 Coventry Blaze 3
British Knockout Cup (Preliminary Round) 2nd Leg
| bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League Standings | |||||||||
| after games of 26th October | |||||||||
| GP | All | Lost | Reg. | Overtime | Shootout | GF | GA | PTS | |
| Wins | Wins | Loss | Loss | ||||||
|
Belfast |
12 |
10 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
27 |
20 |
|
Nottingham |
13 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
58 |
39 |
19 |
|
Manchester |
12 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
48 |
36 |
19 |
|
Coventry |
11 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
26 |
18 |
|
Sheffield |
11 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
42 |
25 |
16 |
|
Newcastle |
13 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
46 |
44 |
16 |
|
Cardiff |
13 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
39 |
32 |
12 |
|
Hull |
14 |
4 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
36 |
60 |
8 |
|
Basingstoke |
17 |
3 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
46 |
87 |
8 |
|
Edinburgh |
14 |
2 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
37 |
77 |
7 |
|
Challenge Cup |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belfast |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
8 |
8 |
** |
|
Manchester |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
19 |
12 |
6 |
** |
|
Sheffield |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
11 |
2 |
|
|
Newcastle |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
14 |
2 |
|
|
Edinburgh |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
10 |
21 |
0 |
| Challenge Cup | |||||||
| Group B | |||||||
|
|
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coventry |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
17 |
13 |
5 |
|
Cardiff |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
|
Basingstoke |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
|
Nottingham |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
|
Hull |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
The Mincoff Vipers recent success in penalty shootouts came to an end on Saturday night as Hull Stingrays recorded a shootout success after the game ended 3-3 after 65 minutes.
Vipers travelled to Hull without long-term absentee Burt Henderson, while Derek Campbell’s groin injury was not sufficiently healed so the #37 was also scratched from the lineup.
Hull opened the scoring midway through the first period as Lee Mitchell netted at 11.07 This was cancelled out three minutes from the end of the session by a powerplay marker from Marek Ivan, his seventh counter of the season.
It was another powerplay effort which put the Vipers ahead in the middle period, Andre Payette netting with a smart finish. But the Stingrays came back into it and were level at the second break as Jeff Glowa scored at 36.39.
The final frame saw the visitors awarded a penalty shot as Ben Campbell was hauled down on a shorthanded breakaway. Captain David Longstaff took the shot and saw former team-mate Curtis Cruickshank make the save.
Longstaff, though, made amends moments later with a short-handed marker to edge the Vipers ahead once again. Hull Stingrays though were not to be denied and Glowa bagged his second with ten minutes remaining to tie the game at 3-3.
The remainder of regulation and five minutes of overtime failed to produce another goal, so for the fifth time this season the Vipers would be taking part in a penalty shot competition. Longstaff had his effort saved, Konstantin Kalmikov netted for Hull then Marek Ivan saw his shot blocked by Cruickshank. It was left to Matt Reynolds to score the game winning shot and give Hull their second straight win.
The Vipers return to Tyneside for a Sunday appointment with Basingstoke Bison at Metro Radio Arena (5.30pm face off) with tickets available from the box office right up to game time.
|
bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League Standings |
|||||||||
|
After games played |
25/10/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
GP |
A/Wins |
Lost |
Reg.W |
OTL |
PSL |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
Belfast |
12 |
10 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
27 |
20 |
|
Nottingham |
13 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
58 |
39 |
19 |
|
Coventry |
11 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
26 |
18 |
|
Manchester |
11 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
42 |
32 |
17 |
|
Sheffield |
11 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
42 |
25 |
16 |
|
Newcastle |
12 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
38 |
44 |
14 |
|
Cardiff |
12 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
30 |
32 |
10 |
|
Hull |
13 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
32 |
54 |
8 |
|
Basingstoke |
16 |
3 |
13 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
46 |
79 |
8 |
|
Edinburgh |
13 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
37 |
68 |
7 |
The Phoenix got off to the best possible start as they stunned the home support by scoring twice in a space of 38 seconds to lead 2-0. The first goal came at 8.09 as Luke Fulgham (8th) found the net, they then doubled their lead at 8.47 with a strike from Nathan Ward (10th). After failing to find the net on their first powerplay the home side pulled one back four seconds after the penalty expired with a goal from Matt Soderstrom (3rd) at 14.51.
The hosts had a great chance to get the game back on level terms as they went on two consecutive powerplays in the first five minutes of the second period. But they failed on both of them as the Phoenix done a tremendous job on the penalty kill. Despite the Blaze having more of the chances they could not find a way through and the period ended goalless and the Phoenix held onto their one goal lead.
Inside the first five minutes of the third period the home side finally got back on level terms as Adam Calder (11th) netted at 44.33. Fifteen minutes to go and it was game on, with both teams creating chance but neither able to find the net. With the game heading for overtime the Phoenix took a minor penalty and paid the price as Sylvain Deschatelets (6th) hit home the game winning goal on the powerplay at 55.53. The Phoenix called a time out at 59.03 and pulled goaltender Murphy despite having an extra man for almost the last minute the clock ran down and Coventry who came from two goals down ran out winners.
Period Scores: 1-2, 0-0, 2-0
Penalty Mins: 10-12
Powerplay: Cov 1/6 - Man 0/5
Shots On: JF Perras 26 – Stephen Murphy 44
Referee: Tom Darnell
The Bison must have thought they were in heaven, whilst the Capitals turned in a performance they would rather forget. With less than10 minutes gone the home side were three in front and 4 minutes into the second period they had added a further two to put the game out of reach of the Capitals. With this win and Hull also winning the Capitals have dropped from eighth place to now propping up the league.
The opening goal for Stingrays came at 6.08 from the stick of Brent Hughes (6th) they then doubled their lead at 9.01 as Matt Miller (3rd) with a powerplay goal slotted the puck home. At this point the home side were on fire and they made it three and easy at 10.31 as Greg Chambers (9th) fired home.
The hosts got their fourth goal on the powerplay from Danny Stewart (7th) at 22.48 and they went nap at 24.03 as Shaun Thompson (3rd) became the fifth different scorer on the night as he made it 5-0. At this point the Capitals changed goaltenders with new recruit Jacey Moore taking his place between the pipes.
Home goaltender Kevin Reiter lost the chance of a shutout as David Nimmo (3rd) broke the deadlock for the Capitals at 40.25. The home fans were cheering at 52.57 as Greg Chambers (10th) got his second goal of the game and the sixth for the Bison. Mark Garside (5th) got a second goal for the Capitals at 54.25 but the home side finished on a high as Danny Stewart (8th) with his second completed the scoring at 55.18.
Period Scores: 3-0, 2-0, 2-2
Penalty Mins: 15-21
Powerplay: Bas 2/5 - Edi 0/2
Shots On: Kevin Reiter 43/Joe White 7 – Michel Robinson 17/Jacey Moore 17
Referee: Dean Smith
No details received
The Mincoff Vipers can confirm that the following bmibaby Elite League game dates have now been changed.
Vipers General Manager Jaimie Longmuir says that the Mincoff Vipers raised the level of performance both on and off the ice after the win over the Sheffield Steelers on Sunday night.
In front of over 3,000 fans at Metro Radio Arena, the Mincoffs Vipers won a see-saw tussle with Sheffield Steelers on penalty shots, after the game ended 3-3 at 65 minutes.
Sheffield drew first blood on 8.49 as Ashley Tait shot past Andrew Verner. Immediately on the restart, Andre Payette dropped the gloves with Andrew Sharp and both men picked up five minute fighting majors.
Payette got the edge in the tilt, and the momentum shifted to the home side, with the equalising goal coming less than a minute after the opener.
David Longstaff made a cross ice pass from his own blue line, finding Derek Campbell on the Steelers’ blue line in acres of space, and the pacy forward successfully deked Jody Lehman to slot in the leveller.
Sheffield grabbed the lead again with the only goal of the second session, as Joe Talbot redirected Steve Munn’s pass-cum-shot into the roof of the net on 27.45.
The game turned in 44 seconds around the 46 minute mark, as Todd Griffith hit the Steelers with a stunning double blow. First he netted unassisted after creating a turnover in the Sheffield zone, then was set free by Rob Wilson’s pass out of defence, outmuscled Randy Dagenais and scored past Lehman for a 3-2 Vipers lead.
The Steelers levelled seven minutes from time as Rob Dowd - a product of the Billingham development system - wristed into top corner past Verner.
The remaining time in regulation and five minutes of overtime was scoreless, so the match went to penalty shots. Ashley Tait has his effort saved, David Longstaff scored then Rob Dowd, Marek Ivan and Doug Sheppard all missed meaning Todd Griffith’s final effort was not required and the Vipers took the two league points.
Scoring - Griffith 2+0, Campbell 1+0, Willis, Wilson, Longstaff and Verner 0+1. Net: Verner 48 shots, 45 saves.
Next up for the Vipers is a trip to Hull on Saturday before Basingstoke Bison make their second trip of the year to Tyneside on Sunday (5.30pm).
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