Slough Game Cancelled

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We regret to announce that our away game in Slough on Saturday 26/11 has been postponed.

This is due to Slough’s temporary rink not being completed in time to fulfill the fixture.

We will announce a new date as soon as it’s confirmed.

Our next game will now be on Sunday 27/11 against Peterborough at Lee Valley Ice Centre.
Face off is at 5:30 pm.

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 Fall to Third Derby Defeat

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After two weekends off from game action, Lee Valley were looking to end their poor run of form against local rivals Haringey, who had taken the previous two meetings by one goal.

Lions were missing Joe Weare, Robin Young & Ben Gillingham but otherwise had a bigger squad than recent games.

Haringey arrived at Lea Bridge Road with new additions Josh Abbot and former Lion Aaron Mallet in goal.

1st Period: Both teams started off the pace, but a slower Lions side allowed the Racers clearer opportunities in the early stages of the period. James Andrew saved eleven shots but Haringey also hit the post a couple of times. Lions grew into the period after Tomas Gilheany too a penalty for interference but were unable to capitalise on the man advantage. The Lions continued to press, with a Sam Awoyemi’s effort almost reaping reward but the period ended scoreless

2nd Period: Lions again started the period slowly and a lack of awareness early on allowed Stuart Appleby (21:58, assists Whittleston, Gilheany) to score almost unnoticed by the Lions’ defence. This woke the Lions up and when Josh Abbott was penalised for Holding the Stick, they began to control the puck better and create more chances in Haringey’s zone, it was however a speculative long range shot from Simon Jones (PP goal, 25:45, unassisted) that tied the game after Mallet failed to control it. The game was very tight with both teams unable to assert themselves but then Nick Alley (32:02, assists Jones, Sin-Hidge) tipped Simon Jones’ shot from the blue line to give the Lions the lead. Ryan Payne then took a Slashing penalty but whilst trying to set up on the Racers’ blue line, the Lions’ defence turned the puck over and Josh Abbott (SH goal, 33:58, assist Minhinnick) pounced on the break to score from a 2-on-1, leaving the game finely poised at 2-2 heading into the third.

3rd Period: For the third period in a row, Lee Valley were unable to get out of the blocks quickly. First Sam Park (43:47, assists Minhinnick, Payne) gave Haringey the go-ahead goal, before their lead was doubled through Josh Abbott (47:25, assists Veares, Park) on the break. Lions began to create chances but couldn’t maintain possession and soon Haringey had their fifth when Ryan Payne (50:30, assists Abbott, Voslinsky) fired home. Lee Valley began to chase the game and reduced the lead when Oskar Horter (54:44, assist James Hepburn), but couldn’t keep control of the puck long enough to sustain pressure on the Racers’ net. In the end, it was Haringey who again left with the spoils.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Lee Valley Lions 3-5 Haringey Racers

Period Scores: Lee Valley 0-0/2-2/1-3 Haringey
Shots on goal: Lee Valley 33-41 Haringey (9-11/14-9/10-21)
Penalties: Lee Valley 6-8 Haringey
Scorers: Lee Valley – Simon Jones (1+1), Nick Alley & Oskar Horter (1+0), James Hepburn & Ross Sin-Hidge (0+1)
Haringey – Josh Abbott (2+1), Ryan Payne & Sam Park (1+1), Nick Minhinnick (0+2), Stuart Appleby (1+0), Robert Whittleston, Robert Veares, Mark Voslinsky & Tomas Gilheany (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew: 41 Shots/5 goals 87.80%
Haringey – Aaron Mallet: 33 shots/3 goals 90.91%

Lee Valley are scheduled to face Slough on Saturday 26th, before league leading Peterborough Islanders make their first visit to Lea Bridge Road on Sunday 27th.

Face-off in Slough will be at 6:30pm, whilst face-off against Peterborough at Lee Valley 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.

Student Offer for Haringey Game

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Next Sunday, the 13th of November. The Lee Valley Lions will take on local rival Haringey Racers at Lee Valley Ice Centre, in the third London derby of the season.

For this game we will be offering all students £1 entry to the game. To receive this offer please bring valid student ID to present upon arrival.

Face off at Lee Valley 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.

Early Mustangs Blitz too Much for Lions

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After picking up their first win of the season the day before in Slough, Lee Valley were looking to keep a streak going against a resurgent Invicta Mustangs.

Lions welcomed back Joe Weare & Chris Fox. Missing were Robin Young, Ben Gillingham & Ben Duffy.

Invicta travelled to East London featuring former Dynamo Jamie Smith, returning goalie Matthew Passmore.

1st Period: The Lions couldn’t have had a worse start to the game. After a poor turnover on the Invicta blue line, Jake Luton (0:29, assists Ferris, Dennis) raced down the left wing and fired a quick shot through the legs of a defence-man and past James Andrew to take the lead. The Mustangs continued to press aggressively but Andrew held the fort well, before the Lions began to gain a bit of momentum. Lee Valley maintained possession but weren’t getting enough shots on Passmore, and the not following up on the rebounds proved fatal again as Jake Stedman (16:38, assists Holt, Smith) to double the Mustangs lead ending the period.

2nd Period: Despite starting the period on the Power-play, the Lions weren’t able to take advantage, they were starting to get more shots on Passmore but Invicta were also creating opportunities. More aggressive pressure on the Lions defence saw a hit on James Gosling go un-punished, and the resulting turnover allowed Tom Dennis (27:17, assist Luton) to make it 3-0. Shortly after Ollie Glover was penalised for Holding the Stick and Invicta capitalised on the power-play through Danny Terry (PPG 31:16, assists Stokes, Dennis). Lions continued to probe but Passmore was holding them at bay and the period closed at 4-0 to the Mustangs.

3rd Period: With the odds heavily stacked against them, Lee Valley finally broke Passmore’s resistence through Nick Alley (42:31, assists Horter, Jones), but Invicta added another goal, again through Danny Terry (45:57, assists Ferris, Stokes). Invicta took a Too Many Men penalty and the Lions were able to score through Matt Hepburn (PPG 50:31, assists Geldart, James Hepburn). Lee Valley started to up the ante and were finally keeping consistent pressure on the Invicta goal but weren’t breaking through. Finally Chris Fox (57:17, assist Geldart) blasted a slap shot to bring the game within two goals, which made for a tense finish but Invicta held out for their second win of the season, leaving the Lions still winless at home.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Lee Valley Lions 3-5 Invicta Mustangs
Period Scores: 0-2/0-2/3-1
Shots on Goal: Lee Valley 34-37 Invicta (8-8/12-17/14-12)
Penalties: Lee Valley 4-12 Invicta
Scorers: Lee Valley – Simon Geldart (0+2), Nick Alley, Matthew Hepburn & Chris Fox (1+0), Oskar Horter, Simon Jones & James Hepburn (0+1)
Invicta – Tom Dennis (1+2), Danny Terry (2+0), Jake Luton (1+1), Michael Stokes & Aaron Ferris (0+2), Kwame Holt & Jamie Smith (0+1)
Galtending: Lee Valley – James Andrew 37 shots/5 goals, 86.49%
Invicta – Matthew Passmore 34 shots/3 goals 91.18%

Lee Valley now have two weekends off before a local rivals Haringey Racers come to Lea Bridge Road on Sunday 13th of November.

Face off at Lee Valley 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 Earn First Win in Slough Battle

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Almost 30 years on from the first meeting between the two sides. That game in 1986 resulted in a 10-8 win for the Lions in the old British Division 1, this time Lee Valley were looking to kick-start their season in NIHL 2 South East with a first win. The Lions travelled along the M4 to face the Jets in what would temporarily be the last game at the their Absolutely Ice home.

Making his debut for the Lions was former junior Ronnie O’Connor, with Robin Young returning after missing the last game through illness.
Missing from the line up were Chris Fox, Ben Duffy, Joe Weare & Ben Gillingham.

Since the previous meeting with, the Jets had added former Lion Mark Saunders and Nathan Darmanin to their side.

1st Period: The game got off to a scrappy start, with three penalties called in the first two minutes. Two of them fell to the Lions, but they were able to kill off the 4-on-3, then 5-on-3 advantage. However they struggled to clear the puck from their own zone and this resulted in Slough’s first goal when a scramble in front of net allowed Ashley West (7:11, assist Chandler) to poke the puck past James Andrew. Lee Valley needed to respond quickly and they did when Nick Alley (10:50, unassisted) raced clear on a break-away to tie the game. The pressure on the Jets continued and forty one seconds later, the Lions had the lead through James Hepburn (11:31, assists Young, Matt Hepburn) after good work in the Slough zone. The game continued back and forth but Lee Valley held out until the end of the period.

2nd Period: Lions were out of the blocks quickly this period and piled the pressure on Slough. After a period of possession in the Jets’ zone, in his first shift of the game Simon Geldart (24:31, unassisted) pick-pocketed a Slough defender and found the net, this having only arrived at the rink at the end of the first period. Lions then trebled their lead through Matt Hepburn (25:56, assists Alley, Young) after continued pressure. Slough pulled Robert Warrington and replaced him with Chris Douglas. This spurred the Jets into a strong response, and they scored soon-after through Kirkland Rhys-Evans (28:47, assist Saunders). Lions’ discipline started to fail them as Slough continued to crash the net, a penalty to Robin Young gave the Jets the advantage they needed and Luke Martin-Digby (PPG 31:32, assist Dobbins) reduced the lead to one. George Alley then called a time-out to try and stem the flow of Slough’s attack. The breather seemed to settle the Lions and when Christopher Hocquigny was penalised for slashing, Lee Valley made short use of the power-play and broke up the ice quickly and Ross Sin-Hidge (35:35, assist Aiken) rifled a wrist shot past Douglas for his first Lions’ goal, giving the Lions a two goal cushion going into the third.

3rd Period: Lee Valley needed to hold their nerve and did so in a composed fashion that had been absent in crucial moments in games so far. The Lions reduced Slough to only 7 shots and with the Jets sitting a string of penalties early on in the period, Lee Valley maintained good control and continued to rain shots in on Douglas. A strong penalty kill from the Lions, sent them back on the offensive but they couldn’t find a way past the veteran goalie. A late tripping call on Robin Young saw Slough call a timeout, but they couldn’t convert the resulting power-play and Lee Valley closed out the game for their first win of the season.

GAME STATS – (Please note, our stats differ slightly from the official game sheet)

Final Score: Slough Jets 3-5 Lee Valley Lions
Period Scores: 1-2/2-3/0-0
Shots on Goal: Slough 32-66 Lee Valley (12-12/13-17/7-33)
Penalties: Slough 20-18 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Nick Alley & Matt Hepburn (1+1),Robin Young (0+2), Simon Geldart, James Hepburn & Ross Sin-Hidge) (1+0), Henry Aiken (0+1)
Slough – Luke Martin-Digby, Kirkland Rhys-Evans & Ashley West (1+0), Mark Saunders, Charlie Dobbins & Jamie Chandler)
Goaltending: Lee Valley – James Andrew 32 shots/3 goals, 90.63%
Slough – Robert Warrington 18 shots/4 goals, 77.78%, Chris Douglas 44 shots/1 goal, 97.93%

Man of the match: Simon Jones

The Lions take on Invicta Mustangs today in our second match of the weekend.
Face off against the Mustangs 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.