Weekend Teaser: Friday night is hockey night in Slough
What does weekend twenty have in store for the Bees?
Season weekend nineteen review
It just wasn't the Bees weekend. Having seen off the Knights and Lightning over the previous two weekends it seemed the team had turned a corner on the bad luck they had suffered with a depleted roster due to injuries. It also looked like Vanya Antonov leaving to ply his trade at Swindon would not have a significant impact on the team but the team was to suffer defeats home and away with a 4-1 loss in both fixtures. The Telford Tigers travelled to Slough on Saturday and their imports were to dominate scoring all four of their goals. Bees goal was scored by Josh Martin, his first goal since he returned to the Bees last month.
On Sunday the Bees travelled to Leeds to take on the Knights who are now in a title race battle with the Lightning and the Wildcats. The Bees took the lead in the first period with a goal scored by Dominik Gabaj but the Knights were to equalise before the end of the period with a controversial goal. The Bees bench coach Ashley Tait took exception to what he believed was an officiating error and was despatched from the bench. Without a replacement for him the game would have been unable to recommence and to overcome this Kieron Brown's father stood in. Unsurprisingly the Bees were unable to recover from this mentally and it hung over the game. The Knights were to take a 4-1 win and at the 60 minute mark Marcel Balaz was given a 10 minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Both Ashley Tait's and Marcel Balaz's penalties were reviewed by DOPS and were awarded penalty points for their actions. Ashley Tait received a one game ban which is suspended dependant on his conduct for the remainder of the season.
My opinion - Over the 30 plus years I have been watching hockey I have seen plenty of officiating mistakes and I am a great advocate that this is exactly what they are and sometimes the errors work in your favour and sometimes they don't but it is clear from the Leeds v Bees highlights that the Bees had control of the puck after the referee raised his arm and before the Knights scored. Fans at the game, including home fans, have said they thought the goal was wrongly given as did the stream commentator on the night. Could the Bees have dealt with the poor decision better, most definitely. In hindsight they probably wish they had but emotions got the better of them.
Player of the Weekend Result
Next: Friday night hockey before a long trip to Dumfries
Bees have a rare Friday night home fixture against the Bristol Pitbulls. The Pitbulls are just one place above the Bees but the difference is 8 points. If the Bees have any chance of fighting their way up the table they must win this game. The Pitbulls have recently seen some changes to their line up with an import change as Nick Pryce, their top scorer, took an opportunity in Florida and Mitch Walinski has come in as his replacement. Bristol have also offered some two way contracts to Josh Poole and Harry Thomas who left the Bees to join them. Harry had a great game in Leeds for the Pitbulls and we all know how good Josh Poole is. Whether they will get any ice time in this fixture remains to be seen but they are both names to look out for in the future.
After the late night on Friday the Bees travel to Dumfries for an away game with the Sharks. The Solway team currently sit in the final playoff spot in the league with 32 points from 36 games. Streatham have a game on the night and although Slough do not I wonder whether Ollie Hemmings-Maher will make the trip.This is the Bees last trip north of the border this season and the series stands 2-1 in the Sharks favour. Both teams have recorded 2 wins in their last 5 games and Bees need to get the win to have any chance of making the playoffs.
All that is left to say is safe travels to the Pitbulls and their fans heading to Slough and to the Bees players and fans heading to Dumfries.
Come on you Bees!
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