2011/2012 News

December 2011 – GBU18 World Championships: Louise Adams & Louisa Durnell
November 2011 – GBU18 World Qualifiers: Louise Adams & Louisa Durnell
6th November 2011 – Match Report: Milton Keynes Falcons 1 v 5 Guildford Lightning
30th October 2011 – Match Report: Guildford Lightning 1 v 3 Milton Keynes Falcons
1st October 2011 – Match Report: Bracknell Queen Bees 2 v 2 Guildford Lightning

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GBU18 World Championships
Good luck to GBU18′s players Louise Adams and Louisa Durnell as they play in the World Championships in Tromso, Norway from 29th December through 4th January. You can follow them on the IIHF website here.
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GBU18 World Qualifiers
Congratulations to Louise Adams and Louisa Durnell who have been selected to represent Great Britain in the U18 World Championship Qualifiers in Italy. Good luck to them and the rest of the team with their first game against France on Tuesday 29th November. You can follow them on the IIHF website here.
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Match Report: Milton Keynes Falcons 1 v 5 Guildford Lightning
Guildford Lightning headed to Milton Keynes for the return game on a determined mission to shrug off the previous week’s score line. With a fit bench and missing players returned, the game commenced.

Both teams set a fast pace and MK Falcons were first to open the scoring after approximately six minutes of the first period. A ‘wake-up call’ was issued to Lightning and the reply came within the next 30 seconds at 06:24, sunk by Laura Price 31, assisted by Ali Emery. MK then took the first penalty of the game on a tripping call, as Lightning goalie Chelsea MacKenzie made a dash for the bench. Ali Emery, assisted by Louisa Durnell, scored the second goal for Lightning on the Power Play, timed at 9:44. Lightning continued to put pressure up to the MK net, challenging their goalie and dominating play, until the last minute of the period when Amy Lack, sat a penalty for holding.

The first minute of the second period saw Lightning defending well, still on the penalty kill, but upping the pressure on MK once back to full strength. The next few minutes of the game saw some scrappy play with Lightning seemingly losing momentum. However, Lightning’s resolve was to dig deep and Alanna Byrne buried Lightning’s third goal timed at 32:33, assisted by Amy Lack. MK sat another penalty for tripping shortly after and Lightning once again took advantage of the power play, now some flowing play, which ended with Laura Price tipping the puck in the net, timed at 33:34, assisted by Jenny Bolton and Louisa Durnell. Lightning now gaining strength and growing in confidence, found their form.

The beginning of the third period saw MK come out with steely determination but Lightning controlled the pace. This was to be the period of most penalties sat, by both teams. Firstly MK’s bench was charged for an icing infraction, followed a minute later by Lightning’s Charmaine Easton for tripping.

Being tired was not an option in the final minutes of this game. Despite a 1-4 lead, further penalties were sat by Amy Lack for slashing and Kristin Hissong for delay of game, which meant fast and furious play continued end to end. MK received a penalty for tripping but the flow of the game was firmly led and maintained by Lightning as Amy Lack scored the fifth on the power play, timed at 52:45 and assisted by Alanna Byrne and Charmaine Easton. MK were by now clearly feeling the pressure mounting and again sat in the box for delay of game and tripping penalties.

The game ended with the final score 1-5 to Guildford Lightning, the previous week’s score firmly overturned. Defensively, the number of shots on Lightning’s net were less and shots accurately placed in MK’s net.

MOM went jointly to Ali Emery and Louisa Durnell.

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Match Report: Guildford Lightning 1 v 3 Milton Keynes Falcons
Lightning played their first home game of this season under far from perfect conditions, with a short bench including a player carrying an injury. Initially, newly promoted MK Falcons set the tempo but both teams soon showed their determination to dominate and direct the puck.

The referee took early control, issuing the first penalty within the second minute of the game, to Lightning’s Charmaine Easton for body-checking. MK took advantage and pressured the Lightning net but to no avail. Within another two minutes MK’s first penalty was awarded. Lightning then showed their fortitude, taking shots on goal from the centre line, forcing MK to stand strong in defence. Passing play from MK threatened Lightning’s net and forcing Sam Bolwell into action, glove saving a clear shot, followed soon after by the goalie making a dash for the bench as the ref’s arm was raised for a delayed penalty on MK.
MK upped the ante in the period’s last five minutes and were rewarded with the first goal of the game. However Lightning instantly took back control, replying almost immediately with good passing play and a roofed shot by Charmaine Easton, assisted by Amy Lack and Alanna Byrne. Undeterred, MK challenged once again and manoeuvred their way around the Lightning defence and with just over two minutes left on the clock took the lead. Frustration resulted in another penalty being sat by each team in the period’s final minute.

The second period opened with Lightning coming out harder and stronger, the play being energetic with end to end hockey ensuing. Both teams showed their resolve but more penalty minutes on both sides were subsequently sat, as some scrappy play filtered in. Lightning regrouped and for a while dominated, with every opportunity creating chances, but couldn’t break through the wall of defence in front of the MK net. The period ended goalless.

Period three saw both teams ice with everything to play for. Lightning’s power play went to work within the first five minutes, with their offensive play making the MK goalie work hard. MK received a further two penalties and Lightning three penalties this period as the play intensified. However, a tiring Lightning team were unable to equalise, instead watching as MK pushed forward and grounded the puck to find the back of Sam Bolwell’s net, three minutes from the end.

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Match Report: Bracknell Queen Bees 2 v 2 Guildford Lightning
Guildford Lightning travelled to Bracknell, looking forward to their first match of the season and in good spirits with some new players on board.

Both teams came off their benches with a mission and equally determined. This resulted in a period of evenly matched end to end hockey with chances for both sides. However, it was Bracknell who took the lead with less than three minutes of the first period remaining.

Undeterred, Guildford dug deep and soaked up some early pressure from the Queen Bees before replying with an equaliser six minutes into the second period from Louisa Durnell, assisted by Alanna Byrne. The remainder of the period was another closely matched affair and stayed tied heading into the second break.

Bracknell came out strong and scored again three minutes into the third period. It was to be a short-lived lead, however, as Guildford rallied and Louisa Durnell equalised again three minutes later with an unassisted goal. Both teams stepped up the pressure to get a deciding goal and with Bracknell awarded a powerplay in the last three minutes of the game, the Queen Bees had the advantage. The Lightning penalty killers went to work and made sure the game ended as a draw.

A good start to the season with Guildford showing true grit and team spirit away from home, to secure the draw. MOM was Ali Emery.