Swindon Cougars 23 Bristol Bulldogs 1

Sunday 15 January 2012

For their first home game of 2012 Cougars welcomed nearest neighbours Bulldogs for the first meeting between the two teams, rearranged from the November launch of Swindon’s sledge hockey initiative. Missing all the 16s play-ups who were playing a game elsewhere, Cougars were also without Pullen (injury) and Ford (who had recently left the squad). So Cougars lined up with Bonello (NM); Kielczewski, P Young, R Young, Pettitt and Thrower (D) and Thompson, Dolphin, Taylor, Nell, Redmond, Bancroft, Smith, Da Cova and Abu-Ebid (F). Match officials E. Fusco and D. Howells.

Period 1

Scoring
Cougars > 1 – 0 > Pettitt/Smith & Abu-Ebid @ 0:29 (EHG)
Cougars > 2 – 0 > Dolphin @ 2:23 (SHG & GWG)
Cougars > 3 – 0 > Taylor @ 3:25 (SHG)
Cougars > 4 – 0 > Dolphin/Kielczewski @ 8:28 (EHG)
Cougars > 5 – 0 > Taylor @ 12:56 (EHG)
Cougars > 6 – 0 > Dolphin/Abu-Ebid @ 15:35 (EHG)
Cougars > 7 – 0 > Redmond/Nell @ 17:04 (EHG)
Cougars > 8 – 0 > Da Cova @ 17:26 (EHG)
Cougars > 9 – 0 > Thrower/Abu-Ebid & Dolphin @ 18:26 (EHG)
Cougars > 10 – 0 > Abu-Ebid/Smith & Dolphin @ 18:55 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Da Cova > 2 Mins, Slashing @ 02:11
Bulldogs > Stonham > 2 Mins, Tripping @ 19:43
Cougars > Taylor > 2 Mins, Tripping @ 19:44

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 30 on Humphries
Bulldogs > 2 on Bonello

With Bulldogs playing the game on dispensation for having only 9 outfield skaters, and having previously lost all their games to date this season, it seemed likely that Cougars might win easily, and so it proved as they steadily built their lead throughout the first, scoring regularly and with many members of the team getting points, there was a hat-trick for Dolphin. Two penalties against Cougars and one on Bulldogs, two of them in the last few seconds on the period was about right for the way the game went.

Period 2

Scoring
Cougars > 11 – 0 > Redmond @ 22:06 (EHG)
Cougars > 12 – 0 > Taylor/Redmond @ 22:22 (EHG)
Cougars > 13 – 0 > Abu-Ebid/R Young & Dolphin @ 24:23 (EHG)
Cougars > 14 – 0 > Taylor/Redmond @ 25:19 (EHG)
Cougars > 15 – 0 > Smith/Pettitt & Kielczewski @ 27:37 (EHG)
Bulldogs > 15 – 1 > Chilcott @ 30:53 (EHG)
Cougars > 16 – 1 > Redmond/Thrower @ 34:33 (EHG)
Cougars > 17 – 1 > R Young/Thompson & Da Cova @ 35:07 (EHG)
Cougars > 18 – 1 > Abu-Ebid/Thrower @ 39:42 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Thompson > 2 Mins, High-sticking @ 32:11
Cougars > Taylor > 2 Mins, Elbowing @ 36:45

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 40 on Humphries
Bulldogs > 3 on Bonello

The second followed the same pattern as the first up the half-way point, when Bulldogs broke Bonello’s chances of a shut-out with a high speed breakaway expertly finished by Chilcott. Up to that point Cougars had again been scoring at regular intervals and lit the lamp 3 more times after the set-back, as Redmond and Abu-Ebid both completed their hat-tricks and Taylor took his tally to 4. R Young also getting in on the act as he scored 1+1 against his former team. Probably the most notable incident in the period however came when Bonello exhibited the sportsmanship so prevalent in our sport by lending Humphries a replacement stick after the latter broke his only one hitting it against the boards after one of Cougars’ goals, though it has to be said one of the officials took a very strange stance on the actions of the two NMs. Just two penalties in the period both against Cougars.

Period 3

Scoring
Cougars > 19 – 1 > Smith/Dolphin & Abu-Ebid @ 41:04 (EHG)
Cougars > 20 – 1 > Taylor/Redmond & R Young @ 42:24 (EHG)
Cougars > 21 – 1 > Taylor/Redmond @ 50:10 (EHG)
Cougars > 22 – 1 > Smith/Dolphin @ 53:06 (EHG)
Cougars > 23 – 1 > Nell/Taylor & P Young @ 53:50 (EHG)

Penalties
Bulldogs > Galea > 2 Mins, Tripping @ 57:21

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 30 on Humphries (personal and team total 100)
Bulldogs > 2 on Bonello (personal and team total 7)

With the game safely in the bag, Cougars perhaps not surprisingly, took their foot off the gas in the final period, and spent large parts virtually practising drills in game play. During this period Smith completed his hat-trick, whilst Taylor wrapped up a double hat-trick with two more, and with P Young getting an assist on the final goal it meant only Bonello and Bancroft (the latter somewhat unluckily) failed to register a point. One penalty in the period on former Swindon player Galea inside the last 3 minutes. When the stats were totalled at the end of the period it was found that Humphries had faced the remarkable total of 100 shots in the game. The player of the match awards went to Bulldogs’ Galea and Cougars’ Dolphin (3+5).

Notes
EHG = Even-Handed Goal
PPG = PowerPlay Goal
DPG = Delayed Penalty Goal
SHG = Short-Handed Goal
GWG = Game Winning Goal
ENG = Empty Net Goal



Report provided by Swindon Cougars IHC