Author: sidestep

Lions Draw with Swindon to End Losing Streak

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Lee Valley endured another close game with Swindon Wildcats and couldn’t quite see the game out. Goals from Ryan Payne, Jack Ball and James Hepburn gave the Lions the advantage before the young Wildcats, led by ex EPL stalwart Jan Melichar pulled the game back. New signings Kevin Lake and Matthew Drake made their débuts and both picked up assists.

First Period: Lee Valley were caught off guard by the speed of the young Wildcats players, and found themselves under pressure early with Aaron Mallet forced into action early. As the period wore on, Lee Valley worked their way back into the game with the short benched Wildcats beginning to tire, Ryan Payne (17:59, assists Fedotovas and Hodge) let a shot go from the blue line that trickled through Kevin McGurk’s legs. Both sides continued to create chances but the period ended 1-0 to the Lions.

Second Period: The Lions came out firing but couldn’t convert. After a series of shots, with McGurk sprawled Romanas Fedotovas and everyone else in the rink thought he had scored but his shot pinged off the post. With the hosts continuing to press, they found themselves caught too deep in the Swindon end and Michael Stratford (25:33, assist Sullivan) was sent on a breakaway and rounded Mallet to tie the game. From there the Lions kicked into gear, first Jack Ball (30:00, assist Yufit) let a slap-shot go that flew in, then James Hepburn (35:37, assists Hatfull and Drake) bundled the puck in. Although Stratford (35:37, assists Johnson and Prince) pulled one back, Lee Valley closed out the period when débutante Kevin Lake sent the puck straight to Gennadi Yufit (39:36, assists Lake and Cave) who tipped in brilliantly to put the Lions 4-2 up.

Third Period: Both sides knew that the next goal was pivotal to the outcome of the match. Swindon answered that question first when Shannon Taylor (40:45, assists Rutkis and Prince) roofed the puck from the top of the circle. Shortly after the Wildcats were level when Toms Rutkis (43:27, assist Coakley) also hit the top corner past Mallet. The Lions were quick to respond, while Rutkis sat in the box for slashing, Lee Valley set up in the Swindon zone and went ahead again through James Hatfull (44:40, assists Fedotovas and Hodge) whose shot trickled through McGurk’s legs. Both sides went back and forth but the advantage went to Swindon when James Hepburn was penalised for cross checking, only eighteen seconds later and the visitors had tied the match again. Taylor (55:45, assists Melichar and Sullivan) scoring his second of the night, the game ended with the Lions trying to get the win but Swindon defended doggedly to see out the draw.

The draw is Lee Valley’s first point in three games. The Lions will be hoping to improve on the result when they travel to League Champions, Oxford next Sunday, face off at 6:15 pm.

You can keep up with the Lions on Twitter and Facebook as well as our Discussion Forum.

Period Scores: 1-0/3-2/1-3
Shots on Goal: 37 on Mallet (LV), 37 on McGurk (SWN)
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 8-20 Swindon
Scorers: Lee Valley – James Hatfull & Gennadi Yufit (1+1), Kevin Lake & Richard Hodge (0+2), James Hepburn, Ryan Payne & Jack ball (1+0), Ashlee Cave & Matthew Drake (0+1)
Swindon – Shannon Taylor & Michael Stratford (2+0), Toms Rutkis
Man of the Match: Ryan Payne (LV), Michael Stratford (SWN)

Former Dynamos Add Experience to Lions’ Squad

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The Lee Valley Lions are delighted to announce the signings of long-serving Invicta duo, Kevin Lake and Matthew Drake. Both players sign from Invicta Mustangs, but have had very successful careers with the Invicta Dynamos, where together they won consecutive league titles from 2003/04-2007/08.

Lions’ Coach Gary Dodds had this to say on the new signings…

“I can’t express the excitement of having these guys join the Lions, having played on the same team as them I know exactly how they can help the Lions achieve a mid-table position. Kevin brings so much experience and fire-power to the team and will bring the best out of other players on his line, which has already been observed in recent training sessions. Kevin can not only score goals, but he has great vision and his stats prove that he creates just as many chances on net as goals. Once Kev has a few games under his belt (as he has missed part of the season already) you’ll see what I mean.

“Meanwhile Rocky (Drake) brings a wide range of skills as he is the one of the best Utility players in the league, he can step into a defensive role as well as attack and has the hardest shot in league by far. With his fire-power, we can start winning games by more than the one-goal margins achieved this year. He is also a hard-hitting defenceman who puts his body on the line for the team in any situation. This is Matt’s first move in his career, but he’s the type of player than can settle into the Lions’ Den with ease.”

Lake, a former Captain of the Kent club, has a great scoring pedigree with both the Dynamos and the Mustangs. In 103 games for the Dynamos he racked up 143 points and, since dropping down to the Mustangs, he has scored a whopping 255 points in 125 games.

Former Dynamos’ enforcer Drake, has totalled 29 in 87 games for the ‘Mos and 132 points in 130 games for the Mustangs.

Both players will bring vast experience with them to East London and should both be available for Saturday’s clash with Swindon Wildcats at the Den.

You can also keep up with the Lions on Twitter and Facebook.

Lions Fall Flat as Haringey Race to Derby Victory.

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There was great anticipation ahead of this match, the first North London ice hockey derby since 2008. That time, the then-named Haringey Greyhounds left the Den with a 5-4 victory. As the largest home crowd of the season descended upon Lea Bridge Road, the Lions were almost back to full strength after a disappointing trip to the Isle of Wight the week before. Only Theo Abban was absent from the line-up.

First Period: It was a close-knit affair to start, both teams went at it from the goal and the levels of physicality were on show from the off. Lions came closest when Romanas Fedotovas and James Hepburn thought they had set Richard Hodge up, but the referee washed the goal out and infuriated the Lions’ bench by handing Fedotovas a 10min illegal equipment penalty. The frustration clearly got to the hosts and Haringey were first to score as a result. Their pressure saw Jack Ball take a holding penalty and less than a minute into the powerplay, Ricky Mills (11:08, assist Osbourne) was found unmarked in the Lions’ zone to score the opener. Lee Valley continued to battle, forcing some good saves from Shepherd in the Racers’ net but Haringey continued to keep the pressure on the home team’s net. It was just towards the end of the period when Mason Webster (18:11, assist Child) put the visitors 2-0 up to end the period.

Second Period: Lee Valley had to start a comeback early if they wanted any chance and they did just that, when Fedotovas (21:05, assist Hepburn) was sent clean through by James Hepburn and let off a booming slap shot past Shepherd. Haringey doubled their lead again when Drew Campbell (25:51, assists Webster and Martin) scored. Lee Valley hadn’t given up though and, after good work in the corner by Lee Valley’s resident Lithuanian, Fedotovas found linemate Hepburn (26:20, assists Fedotovas and Hodge) open in the Racers’ slot to score through Shepherd’s legs. The Lions were growing in confidence, mounting attack after attack when finally the equaliser came. The young line of Max Gerstein, Bailey Wootton and Nick Alley chipped into the visitors’ end and hustled hard to get the puck out to Alley (28:48, assists Wootton and Payne), whose shot hit the Racers’ goalie, but the puck trickled through him to tie the match. After all that effort, Lee Valley began to drop off the pace and Haringey worked their way back into the game. First Ricky Mills (34:31, assists Rutherford and Brown) re-gained the lead and soon after Drew Campbell (36:34, assist Webster) was put through on his own to deke past Aaron Mallet. The period ended 5-3 to Haringey.

Third Period: In a period where frustration got the better of the home side, the Racers were quick to deflate the hosts. As Lee Valley were on the powerplay, a lack of communication found Perry Whitlock (45:25, assist Martin) unmarked to score short-handed, and fourteen seconds later, Sean Martin (45:39, assist Roberts) squeezed the puck past Mallet at the near post for Haringey’s 7th of the evening. Whilst the game as a contest had ended, both teams kept up the physicality and the penalties continued to come as the game wore on.  Lee Valley couldn’t capitalise on their powerplay opportunities and the game ended 7-3 with the local bragging rights going to North London for now.

The teams will renew acquaintances on March 15th over at Alexandra Palace.

Period Scores: 0-2/3-2/0-2
Shots on Goal: 66 on Mallet (LV), 25 on Shepherd (HAR)
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 28-40 Haringey
Scorers: Lee Valley – Romanas Fedotovas & James Hepburn (1+1), Nick Alley (1+0), Bailey Wootton, Richard Hodge & Ryan Payne (0+1)
Haringey – Mason Webster & Sean Martin (1+2), Drew Campbell & Ricky Mills (2+0), Perry Whitlock (1+0), Matt Brown, Sam Roberts, Anthony Child, Ricky Rutherford & Ben Osbourne (0+1)
Man of the Match: Jarvis Mewett

Next Saturday 1/2/14 sees Swindon NIHL Wildcats visit Lea Bridge Road.

You can keep up to date with the Lions on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Faltering Lions Allow Tigers Easy Ryde on the Island

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Lee Valley Lions travelled south to the Isle of Wight to take on the Wightlink Tigers, hoping to to continue their good form and add to their win over the home side earlier in the season. Missing from the Lions’ line-up were James Hepburn, Romanas Fedotovas, Max Gerstein and Adam Peach.

First Period: The small island rink was a problem for the visitors early on as the Tigers found themselves on top of the match. Several chances cropped up for the home side but the Lions’ defence battled well early on. Eventually though the pressure told and Joseph Denness (8:18, assist Ricketts) put the Tigers on the scoreboard. Lee Valley responded well to the goal and began to up the ante on the hosts, the small surface aiding the occurrence of some notable hits from both sides. After a quick turnover in their own zone, Joe Berry (11:26, assist Yufit) found himself in alone on goalie Aaron Craft where he calmly scored the equaliser. Chances went both ways but the Tigers found themselves on the good side of the officials when a bundle on Aaron Mallet’s net found the Tigers celebrating amidst confusion amongst the away side, who believed the puck hadn’t crossed the line. The referees gave the goal in the end and the period finished 2-1 to Wightlink.

Second Period: Things couldn’t have started worse for Lee Valley; a breakdown in communication saw the Tigers double their lead courtesy of Sean Richardson (21:53, assists MacFarlane and Wyatt). Lee Valley started to come back into the match; Theo Abban forced a last-ditch save from Craft and the Lions also hit the post. One Tiger found himself open in front of a sprawled Mallet but the Lions’ netminder denied him with a huge glove save. Neither side could find a way through despite the spring of chances and the Tigers kept their two-goal cushion going into the third.

Third Period: Lee Valley came out knowing that the next goal would be crucial, but it was the hosts who scored as Graham MacFarlane (42:24, assist Wyatt) notched the hosts three goals ahead. Soon after the Tigers scored another; as the Lions failed to capitalise on a powerplay they coughed up the puck and Andrew Robinson (46:09, assist Trendall) latched on to make it 5-1. Tempers started to flare as the visitors’ frustration showed through and not long after Nick Alley was sin-binned for boarding, the Tigers had hit the Lions for six. Sean Richardson (51:11, assist Wyatt) came through with the powerplay goal and a little over a minute later, Wightlink had their seventh through Aaron Edwards (52:23, assist Ricketts and Denness). Lee Valley did pull back a consolation goal when Joe Berry (57:45, assists Hodge and Wootton) was put through for his second breakaway goal, however it was too little too late as the Lions went home empty handed.

Next week sees the first London derby for Lee Valley since 2008, when local rivals Haringey Racers come to the Den. Be sure to follow the Lions on Twitter & Facebook for the latest news and updates.

Period Scores: Wightlink 2-1/1-0/4-1 Lee Valley
Shots on Goal: Not given.
Penalties in Minutes: Wightlink 16-10 Lee Valley
Man of the Match: Theo Abban
Scorers: Lee Valley – Joe Berry (2+0), Gennadi Yufit, Richard Hodge & Bailey Wootton (0+1)
Wightlink – Joseph Denness (2+1), Greg Wyatt (0+3), Sean Richardson (2+0), Aaron Edwards & Graham MacFarlance (1+1), Jordan Ricketts (0+2), Andrew Robinson (1+0), Alexander Trendall (0+1)

Three in a Row as Lions Keep Win Streak Alive

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Lee Valley were on a winning streak going into their match against Invicta Mustangs. Having won their last two outings on the road at Peterborough and Chelmsford, the Lions were looking to make the most of home comforts. The Lions welcomed new signing, former Romford Fury and Haringey Junior D-man Ryan Payne. George Alley came in for his second start of the season, while the Lions were missing Graham Lewis, Philip Carson and the recently released Calum Heath.

First period: Lee Valley started the match laboriously, failing to clear the puck and get the basics right. Half way through the period, as the visitors started to build up pressure, Nick Alley was hit at the opponents blue line and took exception. Receiving 2 minutes for roughing. The resulting powerplay saw the Mustangs take a deserved lead when former Lion Richard Smith (7:53, assists Dennis and Drake) bundled the puck in after Drake’s initial shot was saved. Less than a minute later Invicta were 2-0 ahead when Smith (8:29, assists Gutridge and Luton) had his shot deflected of a Lions’ stick leaving Alley helpless. Play went back and forth for a while but Lee Valley were still struggling to get a foothold, and as the hosts again failed to clear the puck, Jake Luton (15:15, assists Smith and Gutridge) came from nowhere to pounce on a loose puck, Alley got a piece but it trickled into the net. Leaving the score at 3-0 to the visitors.

Second Period: Alley made way for Aaron Mallet and the Lions came out looking to make amends for the performance in the first with a new found intensity. The short benched Mustangs suddenly found themselves under waves of pressure and it wasn’t long before the Lions were on the scoreboard. James Hepburn won a face-off in the Mustangs’ zone and Romanas Fedotovas (27:30, assist Hepburn) shot almost immediately past Matthew Daubney to pull the hosts back a goal. Lee Valley kept pressing, and shortly after, Richard Hodge (28:45, assists Fedotovas and Hepburn) halved the lead. Wanting to complete the comeback before the period finished, the Lions were relentless in their pursuit of an equaliser, their efforts were finally rewarded when Jack Ball’s shot was picked up on rebound by James Hepburn (38:37, assists Ball and Fedotovas) to tie the game at 3-3 going into the break.

Third Period: Not wanting to let up on the success in the second. Lee Valley were back on top of the visitors forcing a few good saves from Daubney but it wasn’t long before the Lions were finally ahead. Bailey Wootton (43:18, assists Ball and Gerstein) made the most of a rebound in front of net to score his first senior goal for the club. The young line of Nick Alley, Wootton and Gerstein were starting to heap pressure on a tired Invicta side but couldn’t make the pressure tell. As the game wore on though, the Mustangs found a renewed hope that they could tie the match but, Mallet dealt with their shots well. As the Mustangs continued to press, a loss of possession saw Max Gerstein (58:02, assists Alley and Wootton) break away down the ice and bundle the puck in to kill the game off. It wasn’t the last goal though, when Wootton (58:16, assists Gerstein and Alley) tried to pass towards the goal from the corner, the puck took an outrageous double deflection and trickled past a helpless Daubney. It ended there with the Lions completing a tough comeback, keeping their current winning streak going.

Next week the Lions travel to the Isle of Wight to face the Wightlink Tigers.

You can also follow the Lions on Twitter and Facebook.

Period Scores: Lee Valley 0-3/3-0/3-0 Invicta
Shots on Goal: 33 on LV (15 on Alley, 18 on Mallet). 33 on Invicta (Daubeny)
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 6-2 Invicta
Scorers: Lee Valley – Max Gerstein (1+3), James Hepburn & Romanas Fedotovas (1+2), Bailey Wootton (2+0), Nick Alley & Jack Ball (0+2), Richard Hodge (1+0)
Invicta – Richard Smith (2+0), Jake Luton (1+1), Bradley Gutridge (0+2), Thomas Dennis & Matthew Drake (1+0)

Man of the Match: Lee Valley – Bailey Wootton, Invicta – Danny Terry