Category: Matches

The wet weather outside signalled that summer was over, and that ice hockey was well and truly back.

Lee Valley Lions begun their season, with a visit from Division 2 South West side Swindon in the NIHL 2 Cup. The Lions featured many of last season’s side, but also a debut for new goalie James Andrew and returns for James Hepburn & Jordan Turner after a year out. Swindon arrived in East London short benched, but boasting the experienced Graeme Bird and Loris Taylor amongst their ranks. Also making his 200th appearance for the Lions was long serving defenceman James Joseph.

1st Period: The Lions started the game quickly, but Simon Geldart was penalised for holding. Lee Valley killed the penalty, and followed up by getting a couple of shots in on Graeme Bird in the Swindon net, but the shots were infrequent and Lee Valley were unable to follow up on the rebounds.

Meanwhile Swindon slowed the pace of the game well and controlled the puck when they did get into the Lions’ zone. Eventually Swindon capitalised on a poor face off from the Lions and Adam Coakley knocked in fom brother Andrew Coakley’s rebound (06:26, assist Andrew Coakley).
Little under three minutes later, another poor face off in their own zone saw Stuart Widdows unmarked (09:03, assist Taylor).

Lee Valley upped the work rate again and after being frustrated by Bird, Nick Alley (17:45, unassisted) finally broke through the reduce the score the 2-1, which is how the period ended.

2nd Period: Lee Valley needed a strong response and started the period at a faster pace, with both teams raising the physicality. Sam Awoyemi and James Hepburn both made big hits in defensive positions, and the Lions started to reduce the shots on Andrew’s goal. Lee Valley still couldn’t make any clear cut chances though and with that the period ended scoreless, with the score still at 2-1 to Swindon.

3rd Period: The third period continued with the pace of the 2nd, but Lee Valley started to give away more turnovers in neutral ice and Swindon started to gain more control and settle in the Lions’ own zone. James Andrew continued to make big saves until a turnover on Lee Valley’s blue line allowed Jordan Smith (48:50, unassisted) to skate in 1-on-0 against Andrew, roofing the puck to double Swindon’s lead.

Lions continued to struggle to get out of their own zone and as they tried to get back into the game, Nick Alley mis-timed a hit at neutral ice, receiving a tripping penalty. Swindon were quick to capitalise through Jordan Smith (58:34, assist Taylor), making it 4-1 before Matt Hepburn (58:34, assist Ben Gillingham) quickly fired back to pull it back to 4-2.

George Alley decided to gamble in an effort to salvage a draw and pulled James Andrew for the extra skater, but the Lions couldn’t maintain control of the puck and a scrappy turnover allowed Adam Coakley (59:46 empty net goal, unassisted) to chip into the empty net, sealing the game at 5-2.

Game Stats
Final Score: Lee Valley 2-5 Swindon
Period Scores: 1-2/0-0/1-3
Shots on Goal: Lee Valley 21-47 Swindon
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 6-8 Swindon
Scoring: Lee Valley: Nick Alley & Matt Hepburn (1+0), Ben Gillingham (0+1)
Swindon: Adam Coakley & Jordan Smith (2+0), Loris Taylor (0+2), Stuart Widdows (1+0), Andrew Coakley (0+1)
Goaltending Stats: James Andrew (Lions) 46 shots/4 goals 91.3%, Empty Net 1 shot/1 goal
Graeme Bird (Swindon) 21 shots/2 goals 90.48%

Lee Valley Lions return to league action next Saturday (10/09) at home to Slough Jets, for information about tickets and travel to to Lee Valley Ice Centre, go to the Game Day section of our website.

You can follow the Lions on Facebook & Twitter with #LeeValleyLions

On 20 September the Lions entertained Haringey Racers in  their first league game of the season, following on from two good performances against Peterborough and Chelmsford.

Lee Valley opened the scoring through James Scott-Joseph, when the Haringey netminder dropped Scott-Joseph’s shot from the blue line into his own net. This was quickly followed by a second from Ben Duffy, unassisted on the power-play. At this point, with only 4 mins gone, it looked like the quicker, hungrier Lions were going to run away with this game, but Haringey débutante Joshua Ealey-Newman had other ideas. He netted the first of his four goals at 17:03 to bring the Racers into the game. However, the Lions failed to be unnerved and responded less than 20 seconds later through Chris Fox, assisted by Nick Alley and Matthew Hepburn, to restore the two-goal advantage.

Then came the defining moment in the game -a brawl involving all ten on-ice players which curiously resulted in all ten players being given 2+2 penalties for roughing. This seemed to take the wind out of the Lions’ sails and Haringey dominated the remaining couple of minutes of the period, scoring just before the break to end the period Lions 3 Racers 2.

In the second period it seemed as if the Lions were just holding on and the Racers had the better of the possession. James Tipple appeared a little rattled by some of the Racers’ tactics around the net, but in spite of this the Lions maintained parity, ending the period with two scores apiece and keeping the game tight. Josh Ealey-Newman completed his hat-trick for Haringey with two lovely solo goals either side of efforts from Chris Fox and Ben Duffy for the Lions.

Whatever was said in between the second and third periods really had an effect on the Lions, who came out with a passion and purpose. The Lions opened up a 7-4 lead with a pair of breakaway goals clinically finished by Nick Alley. Once again it looked like the Lions were going to run away with this game but Haringey rallied with two quick strikes from Ricky Mills and Ealey-Newman to set up a tight finish. Despite throwing everything at James Tipple in the Lions’ goal the home team held on for a priceless win over their nearest and fiercest rivals.

Lions’ scoring: Nick Alley 2+1, Chris Fox 2+0, Ben Duffy 2+0, James Joseph 1+0, Harry Bishop 0+1, Matthew Hepburn 0+1, James Gosling 0+1

Racers’ scoring: Josh Ealey-Newman 4+0, Drew Campbell 1+1, Ricky Mills 1+0, Mark Saunders 0+1, Daniel Clayton 0+1

Shots on goal:
On James Tipple (Lions) – 42.
On Niks Trapans (Racers) – 31.

Lions’ Man of the Match: James Tipple
Racers’ Man of the Match: Josh Ealey-Newman

Lee Valley Lions were at home to Invicta Mustangs on 8 November for their second of four matches. After their previous meeting which saw the Lions 8 – 2 victors, the Lions knew Invicta would come out harder and faster. It must have been all too familiar for Invicta when Nick Alley found the net at 0:32, assists going to Matt Drake and Mark Robinson. The Lions carried on applying pressure and captain Jay Hepburn found the net at 6:24, assisted by Nick Alley and Mark Robinson. At 14:47 Nick Alley found the net again for his 6th goal against Invicta in two games, Matt Drake with the assist.

End of 1st Period : Lions 3 – 0 Mustangs

The second period saw a stalemate for the first 10 minutes, but at 31:24 Invicta were first to score, courtesy of Michael Stokes and Bradley Slade supplying the assist. The Lions were unable to convert their chances in the second period, but created some good scoring opportunities.

End of 2nd Period : Lions 3 – 1 Mustangs

Invicta were first to score again in the final period: Jack Luton managed to find the net with a scramble in front of the goalie James Tipple at 46:23, the assist going to Thomas Oliver Mallet. It didn’t take the Lions long to reply and at 48:48 Matt Drake scored against his former club, Nick Alley and Mark Robinson all linking up again for the second time of the evening. Invicta hit back at the Lions, a goal at 55:18 coming from Bradley Guttridge, Bradley Slade and Kwame Holt getting the assists. However, captain Jay Hepburn killed off any chances that Invicta could have had with a unassisted short-handed goal timed at 56:07.

Final Score: Lions 5 – 3 Mustangs

MOM Mustangs :
MOM Lions : Nick Alley

Nick Alley 2 + 2, Jay Hepburn 2 + 0, Matt Drake 1 + 2 and Mark Robinson 0 + 3