3 Game Winning Streak
Sunday 31st January Results
Armagh Stars vs Bangor Chiefs (Stars win 14:1)
ECB vs Armagh Stars (Stars win 6:3)
Firstly apologies for the slackness of updates on the website in recent months, we are hoping to resume normal regular updating as of today.
Our last news item was on the 6th December. Since then the seniors have played three league games and one friendly.
On Sunday the 13th December the stars played the Northern Cyclones in the NI league. Both teams were well matched, and the Stars were 3:2 in front with 10minutes remaining in the game. An undisciplined stars penalty caused a bit of a mealy which seemed to turn the tables in favour of the Cyclones, who capitalised straight away on the power play.
This goal invigorated the Cyclones who scored 2 more unanswered goals in the remaining minutes to record a 5:3 win.
The team returned home disappointed in themselves for giving the Cyclones the opportunity to come back into the game, and hope these dropped points wont come back to haunt them come the end of the season.
The Stars were meant to also play East Coast Blaze (2) on the same day, but they could not field a team and as such the league awarded the Stars a 5:0 win.
On Sunday 24th January the stars played the Northern Cyclones in a friendly game, which proved a very valuable workout for the team, and a good confidence boast with the Stars running out 10:3 winners on the night.
Following the disappointing result on December 13th, the team had made some changes to the playing lines, and worked hard in training on adopting a new style of play. The new system showed positive results in this game, and further encouraged the team to buy into the new system.
On Sunday the 30th January the Stars returned to league action when they faced Bangor Chiefs and East Coast Blaze in a Double header.
Game 1 saw the Stars take on the Bangor Chiefs for the first time this season. There was a familiar face in goal for the Chiefs with Armagh Stars goalie Jody Williamson in nets for the Chiefs. Jody is on loan to the Chiefs this season, and although the teams had agreed preseason that he would not play against the Stars, due to no replacement available of the Chiefs the Stars agreed to allow him to play.
The Stars went into the game in confident mood, but were focused on not underestimating an inexperienced Chiefs team, who have shown so far this season they have plenty of talent, and can cause upsets.
It was a very comfortable game for the Stars who dominated from the beginning and ran out eventual 14:1 winners.
Game 2 of the day saw the Stars take on rivals East Coast Blaze (ECB). When the two teams met earlier in the season, ECB recorded an extremely disappointing 10:3 win, which the Stars were determined to get revenge for.
On that day the Stars felt they lost every battle and that ECB were the hungrier team. The team was determined to turn this around in the return leg.
Both teams are very well matched, and both created chances early on. The Stars enjoyed a good 5 minutes of pressure early on, but couldn’t make it count. The opening goal of the game went to ECB on the power play. The Stars levelled the game 5 minutes later through Alex Daley with a slap shot from the right point on the rush.
Oleg Boroda gave the Stars the lead minutes later batting in a rebound at the top of the crease. Minutes later David Vakler gave the Stars a 3:1 win to take into the half time break.
ECB increased the tempo in the 2nd period and enjoyed more periods of pressure in the Stars zone. ECB got their 2nd goal of the game in the 25 minute of the game with their 2nd power play goal of the game. Action was end to end with only a goal between the two teams. The Stars restored their two goal lead through a Martin Olas slapshot from the slot.
ECB responded minutes later to capitalise on a mix up between a Stars defenseman and goalie.
Immediately off the draw, the Stars were called for a questionable too many men call. Whilst killing the penalty player coach Stephen Lynch picked up a freak injury in front of his own crease, badly twisting his ankle. The referee would not stop the game, and it took Stephen a good 30 seconds to crawl on all fours off the court. In the meantime Martin Olas and David Vakler were outstanding 4 on 2 to stop ECB tying the game.
ECB pilled the pressure on the Stars net, but found Kornel Szabo in superb form. Martin Olas capitalised on a broken play with 6 minutes remaining to wrist the Stars 5th goal high glove on the ECB goalie. An ugly scene then materialised in front of the ECB net when it appeared an ECB deliberately hit a Stars player on the head with his stick, which floored the Stars player. Video evidence shows the incident very clearly, and the Stars will be sending the footage to the league to look at.
With less than a minute left in the game ECB pulled their goalie, but Martin Olas killed the game in the last few seconds, scoring his hat trick goal into an empty net to give the Stars a 6:3 win.
Injury Report: Player coach Stephen Lynch will be sidelined for a minimum 3 weeks.
