Lee Valley Lions

Invicta Dynamos

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Invicta Dynamos

Additional Comments:

After last week’s performance at home, Lions fans arrived for the final game of the hockey season at the Lea Bridge Ice Centre expecting another good performance from their ever-improving team. Although the final result was not what they wanted, none would have gone home disappointed, as it was a really exciting game of hockey and the performance and effort from the majority of the Lions team gave everyone plenty to cheer about.

In the previous encounter in Gillingham earlier in the season the Lions took the Dynamos by surprise by taking an early lead and it took the Dynamos a while to peg it back. This time the game was very evenly balanced during the first period, but the better chances fell to the home side.

Stas Prokofiev hit a powerful shot while the Lions had a man advantage, only for ex-Lions’ netminder Glen Jackson to see it at the last moment and make the save. A second powerplay found American Scott Pollak’s point shot saved and the goalie also got to the rebound effort. Lee Valley were pressing forward all the time and this allowed Invicta to break a couple of times, the first effort going wide, but the second time had fans sitting open-mouthed, wondering how the Lions had escaped going one down.

Netminder George Alley was slow getting off his line to clear a puck as an Invicta forward was chasing it down. He lost the puck which was taken around the net with the forward looking for the “wrap around goal” and no-one, himself included, knows how the Lee Valley goalie got back and down to make the save before keeping the ensuing rebound shot out as well. Huge sighs of relief were heard around the rink.

The home team had three good chances to take the lead themselves, Michael Jacobs was on the receiving end of two passes when open by the far post but could not connect and Scott Beeson shot over the net when close in. But at the first break the teams went in level at 0-0 and although the Lions had the better of the first session, they were outshot 15 to 9.

The second session was to be one of the best ever for Lions’ fans as Invicta were caught out by the improving home side. Actually Invicta nearly opened the scoring when a backhand shot went over George Alley, but the puck hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. After this it was to be all Lee Valley for the majority of the period.

Just under five minutes in and Stas Prokofiev broke clear, dragging the defence with him, Michael Jacobs crashed the net from the opposite side and the puck was put right on his stick for a perfect wrist shot to open the scoring.

With Invicta reeling Lee Valley pressed home their advantage. Romanas Fedotovas dominated his defensive zone and released the puck up through the neutral zone, Paul O’Neill took it forward and James Hatfull evaded the defence to give himself a clear shot in front of goal, the puck finding a gap under Jackson’s pads for a great “five hole” strike. Nick Alley also came close as a shot flew high.

At the other end, the post saved Alley as a nearside shot escaped his blocker. With just over five minutes remaining, Lee Valley had Mark Swaine sent to the box for tripping, but the Lions’ penalty kill unit held solid. It looked like the home team were going into the second break with a two-goal advantage, but with ninety seconds remaining and the Lions looking a bit tired, Dynamos’ Andy Smith broke clear and finally beat Alley to pull one back.

After their performance during the first two sessions the Lions were a little bit disappointed to have established only a one-goal lead, but I’m sure that if you’d asked their coach at the beginning of the game he would have been more than satisfied to be in this position. So, there was everything to play for in the third and final period, the only fly in the ointment being the tiredness creeping in. The home side were only using two lines, against a team of Invicta’s might they needed all their experience on the ice.

The Dynamos came out a different team, their talk in the break having the desired effect as they put Lee Valley under pressure from the minute the whistle blew. They had an early effort disallowed and showed what was to come as a defence-splitting pass found a forward alone, George Alley making what was to be the first of many great saves.

At the other end of the ice Scott Beeson nearly scrambled the puck home but was denied. The home team was pushing forward to try to re-establish a two-goal advantage, but as in previous weeks this left some holes at the back and soon the Lions were to be punished. Flying Dynamos’ forward Andy Smith is hard to catch at the best of times, but he was left alone on the Lions’ blue line, Invicta regained possession and with just a flick of the wrist he was on his way one-on-one with the Lions’ netminder. This time the third deke found the gap and Invicta were level.

George Alley made another great save when he faced a further one-on-one break arising from a similar situation, but he was beaten five minutes later when Elliot Andrews hit a rocket from the point over his right shoulder. For the first time in the game the Lions were a goal down against the league-leaders. At this point the crowd got even more vocal and this encouragement helped the Lions push hard for an equaliser.

With the Dynamos a man short for a Delay of Game call when a puck was hit out of play, Lee Valley were camped in the offensive zone looking for an opening. Unfortunately, history repeated itself as they lost possession and Andy Smith was alone up-ice, ready to receive a pass. Again he took the puck around Alley to score shorthanded and open up a two-goal advantage.

With under five minutes on the clock and two goals down, a former Lions team would have accepted their fate, but not this bunch of guys and with 56:54 on the clock Nick Alley made it a one-goal game, wristing the puck home on a pass from Scott Pollak. The fans were on their feet as a comeback was looking a real possibility, but a split second dashed their hopes. Pressure on the Lions’ net was intense, but looked to be moving away. George Alley relaxed in his net but the puck was with Andy Smith skating away from goal, somehow he spun and shot at the same time. This caught Alley unawares, the puck went in and the game went out of the Lions’ reach.

So the season has drawn to a close and although far too short from everyone’s point of view, it has been a season of positives and records. It is the third season since the Lions reformed and after recording no wins in 2005-06, they followed this up with five victories in 2006-07, and have seven to their credit this time around.

Last week saw a 12–0 victory, the biggest victory margin recorded and their first ever shut-out with Andrew Boot between the pipes (both records relate to the reformed Lions). It is worth mentioning that the common view amongst fans was that Saturday’s performance by Man of the Match goaltender George Alley was his best ever, so the future looks bright at the back. No doubt the coaches and backroom staff will be looking to keep the majority of the squad together and aiming to strengthen it in places, ready for next season’s campaign.

Referee was Meekison, Linesmen/women were Milton and Lack.

Thanks to Tony Boot for writing this match report.