Tag: Leyton

First Period Blitz Gives Islanders Victory

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With the final stretch of the season approaching, a short benched Lee Valley took on league leaders Peterborough Islanders, who were yet to lose in the league this season.

Lee Valley welcomed back Chris Fox from GB Universities duty, but were missing from the Lions’ line-up were Lee Hounslow, Sam Awoyemi, Ben Duffy, Robin Young, Oskar Horter, Joe Weare and Ross Sin-Hidge.

1st Period: Peterborough took off at a fast pace and were constantly in the Lions’ zone. Lee Valley’s lack of coverage in the neutral zone saw the Islanders go in front through Shaun Yardley (5:41, assist Hunter), an soon after Connor Stokes (6:11, assist Cetvertak) doubled for the guests, seeing George Alley call an early timeout for his team. It failed to stem the flow of Peterborough’s play though, James Pentecost (6:47, assists Connor Pollard, Nathan Pollard) then Connor Stokes (11:37, assist Bavin) added further goals before the Lions could respond. Good work by Jordan Turner allowed James Hepburn (13:00, assist Turner) to pull a goal back, but Peterborough scored twice more through Nathan Pollard (14:05, assists Yardley, Connor Pollard) and Deivid Cetvertak (PP goal 17:42, assists Brammall, Yardley) made it 6 for the Islanders at the break.

2nd Period: The visitors didn’t let off at the start of this period either, taking only 31 seconds to add to their lead when Clint Herring (20:31, assist Sansby) was allowed through on net. Despite some back and forth the Islanders tallied another goal, Herring (26:28, assists Hunter, Stokes) again making it 8-1. Discipline started to slip from both teams as Lee Valley’s frustration began to show, an total of 24 penalty minutes being called the period.

3rd Period: Despite the score-line, neither team let up physically with hits being thrown left, right and centre. A powerplay opportunity saw Lee Valley reduce the score, Nick Alley (PP goal 50:11, assists Matt Hepburn, Fox) but despite Peterborough’s high penalty count, the Lions couldn’t add to the scoreboard. The rest of the period was dominated by penalties to both sides before the game closed at 8-2 to Peterborough.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Lee Valley Lions 2-8 Peterborough Islanders
Period Scores: 1-6/0-2/1-0
Shots: Lee Valley 35-46 Peterborough
Penalties: Lee Valley 18-48 Peterborough
Scorers: Lee Valley – Nick Alley & James Hepburn (1+0), Matt Hepburn, Chris Fox & Jordan Turner (0+1)
Peterborough – Connor Stokes (2+1), Shaun Yardley (1+2), Clint Herring (2+0), Nathan Pollard & Deivid Cetvertak (1+1), Connor Pollard & Connor Hunter (0+2), James Pentecost (1+0), Jack Sansby, Kenny Bavin & Jon Brammall (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew 46shots/8 goals, 82.61%
Peterborough – Daniel Lane 35 shots/2 goals, 94.29%

Man of the Match – Jordan Turner (LV), Nathan Pollard (Pet)

The Lions are back in action this Sunday (19/02) when Slough Jets visit Lee Valley Ice Centre. 

Face off is at 5:30pm.

Ticket and travel information can be found in the Game Day section of our website.

You can follow the Lions on Facebook & Twitter with #LeeValleyLions for up to date news and live scores.

Twelve Man Lions Stun Mustangs

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After an impressive victory against Chelmsford the previous week, and a challenge win against Wightlink Buccaneers. Lee Valley were looking to keep the momentum going against an Invicta side who had already beaten them twice this season.

Missing from the Lions’ line-up were Captain Nick Alley, Lee Hounslow, Chris Fox, Jordan Turner, James Gosling, Oskar Horter & Joe Weare. This left the Lions with 12 skaters and goalie James Andrew, whilst the Mustangs featured a full squad of players.

1st Period: Both sides were quick out of the blocks but the game lacked in clear cut chances early on. Lee Valley were first to find a rhythm but were unable to beat Matt Passmore in the Invicta net, Simon Geldart twice coming close with tips in front of net. The game turned in Invicta’s favour when Simon Jones was called for high sticks, then Matt Hepburn was penalised for cross-checking, giving the hosts a 5-on-3 advantage and Thomas Dennis (PP goal 8:57, assists Ferris, Terry) duly obliged to give Invicta the lead. Once back to even strength, Lee Valley went back on the offensive but, were unable to a tying goal.

2nd Period: Invicta were quick out of the blocks and doubled their lead 59 seconds in through Jake Luton (20:59, assist Holt). They maintained a constant threat for the first half of the period as Lions struggled to keep possession of the puck, even on the powerplay. As the period wore on, the Mustangs found a break from their blue line and James Laming ( 32:29, assist Holt) drove hard to the net to score. The result of the drive left James Andrew dazed and hurt, which gave Lee Valley a couple of minutes to recover and they began to find a way back into game, helped by some important saves from the netminder. Geldart continued to be a nuisance in front of goal and Sam Awoyemi went close with a drive to net but it wasn’t until late in the when James Hepburn (38:26, assists Sin-Hidge, Matt Hepburn) first fanned on a shot before received a pass from behind the net to get the Lions on the board. With the period winding down, Greg Hales was given a penalty for cross-checking and Lee Valley pounced immediately when Henry Aiken (PP goal 38:59, assist Hepburn) blasted a slap-shot past Passmore to bring the game within one goal going into the 3rd.

3rd Period: With renewed optimism, Lee Valley pressed ahead and began to keep constant pressure on Invicta. Their efforts bore fruit early into the period after hard work in front of net saw Simon Geldart (44:04, assist SIn-Hidge) bundle the puck in to tie the game. The Lions didn’t hold back, continuing to go forward, a turnover in the neutral zone seeing Invicta’s Lucy Gruber called for tripping. Despite the man advantage, the Lions struggled to get the puck out of their zone, but a pass from Henry Aiken saw Simon Geldart (PP goal 52:19, assists Aiken, Glover) race free and calmly slot the puck by Passmore to complete the comeback. Lee Valley then had to withstand an Invicta fight-back, James Andrew making more big saves and a small scrap in front of goal that saw Ollie Glover and Aaron Ferris thrown out for Roughing. Both teams called timeouts in the last two minutes, Invicta also pulling their goalie but Lee Valley stole the puck in the dying seconds to see out the win, their second in succession.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Invicta Mustangs 3-4 Lee Valley Lions

Period Scores: 1-0/2-2/0-2
Shots: Invicta 49-44 Lee Valley (17-16/21-12/11-16)
Penalties: Invicta 24-12 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Simon Geldart (2+0), James Hepburn & Henry Aiken (1+1), Ross Sin-Hidge (0+2), Oliver Glover & Matt Hepburn (0+1)
Invicta – Kwame Holt (0+2), Thomas Dennis, Jake Luton & James Laming (1+0), Aaron Ferris & Danny Terry (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew 49 shots/3 goals, 93.88%
Invicta – Matthew Passmore 44 shots/4 goals, 90.91%

Man of the Match: Lee Valley – Simon Geldart

Next Saturday (04/02) sees the fourth and final encounter between the two sides this season at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Face off is at 5:30pm

Ticket and travel information can be found in the Game Day section of our website.

You can follow the Lions on Facebook & Twitter with #LeeValleyLions for up to date news and live scores.

Lions Defeat Champions Chelmsford

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After starting 2017 with a disappointing loss to Bristol, Lee Valley welcomed Chelmsford Warriors to East London for the second time this season. The first game ended in a 7-3 win for the Champions.

Lions boasted a near full strength squad, only missing Robin Young, Joe Weare & Jordan Turner. Chelmsford featured former Lion TJ Fillery, former Chelmsford Chieftain Ross Brears & new addition Bailey Chittock from Lions’ co-tenants London Raiders.

1st Period: After a technical difficulty with the Zamboni, the game started without a resurface. Lee Valley took advantage early on as Henry Aiken (2:45, unassisted) shot from a turnover that was deflected past Billy Cook in the Warriors’ goal. The Lions kept the pressure on and were rewarded again for their hard work, an interception led to a 2-on-1 breakaway and Nick Alley found Ross Sin-Hidge (7:13, assist Alley) with a backhand pass. The momentum stayed with the Lions but Chelmsford were creating chances too. Lions tripled their lead through Chris Fox (14:24, assist Jay Hepburn), and from there the momentum swung in Chelmsford’s favour. The Warriors finished the period strongest and were rewarded when Sean Martin (19:39, assist Boolkah) saw his shot fool James Andrew, giving his side a foothold at the close of the period.

2nd Period: The Warriors had come out to play and began to create chance after chance early on, not helped by Ross Sin-Hidge being given a 10 minute penalty for illegal equipment. Chelmsford were forcing mistakes from the Lions and reduced the lead to one after Lee Valley failed to clear the zone, Thomas Wilson (26:43, unassisted) with the solo goal. Smelling blood, Chelmsford continued to pepper Andrew and a turnover in the neutral zone saw a goal from Gary Brown (29:56, assist Polston). Lions called a timeout and began to re-assert themselves into the game, drawing a penalty from Ethan Boolkah for Hooking. The resulting powerplay lasted only 22 seconds when Ross Sin-Hidge (PP goal 33:35, assists Alley, Aiken) fired a wrist shot past Cook from the blue line to give Lions the lead once more. Both teams went close again, Chelmsford hitting the post and Nick Alley having another powerplay goal disallowed for a player in the netminder’s crease. With 8 seconds left, a quick breakaway saw Nick Alley (39:52, assist Geldart) fan on a shot that trickled past Cook to restore the Lions’ two-goal lead going into the 3rd.

3rd Period: Chelmsford were determined to keep themselves in touching distance, and were back within one goal almost immediately, Gary Brown (41:34, assists Campbell, Fillery) the recipient of good play from the visitors. Chelmsford had the better of the possession but they were being reduced to mostly long-range efforts, although they came close on a couple of occasions. With the game finely poised, neither side was able to break through until very late in the game when Chris Fox (56:24, assists James Hepburn, Matt Hepburn) found the net. The resulting celebration saw James Andrew penalised for leaving the blue zone, giving a Chelmsford a powerplay but Lee Valley were able to kill it off. The Warriors then pulled their goalie to keep the man advantage but again, the Lions withstood the pressure to pick up their first win since October.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Lee Valley Lions 6-4 Chelmsford Warriors

Period Scores: 3-1/2-2/1-1
Shots: Lee Valley 32-41 Chelmsford (11-11/10-12/11-18)
Penalties: Lee Valley 14-14 Chelmsford
Scorers: Lee Valley – Nick Alley (1+2), Chris Fox & Ross Sin-Hidge (2+0), Henry Aiken(1+1), James Hepburn (0+2), Simon Geldart & Matt Hepburn (0+1)
Chelmsford – Gary Brown 2+0, Thomas Wilson & Sean Martin (1+0), Donald Campbell, TJ Fillery, Will Polston & Ethan Boolkah (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew 41 shots/4 goals, 90.24%
Chelmsford – Billy Cook 32 shots/6 goals, 81.25%

The Lions are back in action today against the Wightlink Buccaneers in a challenge match at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Face off is at 5:30pm and entrance to the game is free.

Ticket and travel information can be found in the Game Day section of our website.

You can follow the Lions on Facebook & Twitter with #LeeValleyLions for up to date news and live scores.