Thanks for this report to Buzzbee, who runs the Buzzbox.
Bees opened up their league campaign with an impressive road victory over the Riverkings, making it 4 successive wins at the Telewest arena.
It was the home team who had the first shot at 1:20, former Bison Jamie Black working strong behind the net before stepping out in front of goal and Bringing a save out of Mark Bernard in the Bees net. From this point on though, Bees looked the better side, Chris Brant shooting wide less than two minutes later when put through by MoM Joe Ferracciolli on a two on one break. At 5:08, Rob Stewart was given time to move from the point to the centre of the blue line before lining up a slap shot that Brought a fine glove save out of Wayne Cowley in the home cage. The first penalty came, rather dubiously, at 8:48, as Jeff Johnstone chased the puck down the ice to prevent the touch up for icing by Dale Jago. Jagos progress was halted by Ferracciolli, but having broke away from his shadow, Jago realised that he was not going to get to the puck before Johnstone, and chose now, when clear of Ferracciolli to go down, drawing a hooking call on the Bees assistant coach. However, the Riverkings never set up the powerplay throughout the whole two minutes. It was somewhat against the run of play when Glen Mulvenna opened the scoring with a minute left on the period following hard work behind the net by the youthful Kevin Conway.
It took just 1:06 of the second for Bees to get on level terms, PC Drouin breaking down the left wing and dropping the pass to Norm Dezainde, whose shot was not cleanly struck but managed to find a way past Cowley. The home announcer endeared himself to the travelling supporters in a two minute spell. First Rob Trumbley pushed the goal over from behind. As the goal went over it hit Bernard on the back of the head. As the Bees stopper lay on the ice receiving attention, the announcer played a recording of laughter over the tannoy. Less than two minutes later and trouble flared as Trumbley turned on the un-willing Barry McKinlay reigning punches on the big guy while being egged on by the announcer, calling, "Come on every body, get behind Roooobbbbb Trruuuummmbblleeeeyyyyyy...." Some referees may have had a word with the announcer. For their sins, both players received double minors for roughing, with Trumbley escaping the obvious instigator penalty that has been so evident this season. Just 21 seconds later, McKinlay was joined in the box by Dezainde for slashing. Dezainde spoke out of turn to Simon Kirkham and found himself sitting a further ten minutes for misconduct. With just shy of four minutes left in the period, Ferracciolli fed the puck to Stewart in front of the net, the Bees skipper bringing a superb reflex glove save out of Cowley. The period had been pretty even, with Bees having perhaps the clearer opportunities, but the Riverkings finished the session pressing.
Bees took the lead for the first time at 44:48 courtesy of a Dale Jago cock-up, the former Manchester D-man playing a blind pass from behind his goal to the middle of the Blue line, where Stewart said thank you and returned the puck with interest. Immediately, the Riverkings began to press and continued to do so until, deservedly, the found an equaliser at 51:07. Bernard had already made a double save, but was stranded for the third shot from MoM Kevin Conway. With the home team having been on top for the previous 6 minutes, and having got the equaliser, one might have fancied them to go on and take the win, but immediately Bees took over and from this point on, were the only team likely to take the win. With coach, Dave Whistle getting animated on the bench, Bees pressed more and more and at 53:40, Paxton Schulte hit a one timer on a feed from Dale Junkin, bringing a glove save out of Cowley. The decisive moment came at 54:38, following a great shift by Chris Brant, it was the big native North American Indian who set up Dennis Burke for the GWG. Fists were flying a couple of minutes later. Schulte, while skating backward to recieve the puck along the boards, collided with Jim Mathieson, bringing his elbow up as he did so. Mathieson reacted by dropping the gloves and reaching round from behind to get a clean punch in Schulte's face. With Schultes back turned, Mathieson landed a tirade of punches from behind, surprisingly earning just two minutes for roughing along with Schultes two for elbows. One suspects that had it not been a one goal game with just three and a half minutes remaining, Mathieson would have been more heavily penalised. It took until the fifty-ninth minute for the first two goal difference of the game as Drouin added an insurance goal, skating down the ice faced all the way by Paul Dixon. As if the local D-man wasn't there, Drouin drilled a shot past Cowley as he reached the blue line.
As with the last encounter between these two teams, the Riverkings showed a lot of fight, but in the end it was class that beat effort.