The Mayhem and Phantoms teams after the match at Widnes (Photo by Peterborough Phantoms PIHC) |
Saturday 1st June – British Para Ice Hockey League: Mayhem 1 – Peterborough Phantoms 4
The Mayhem sledge team put in a battling performance in their first game of the 2024 British Para Ice Hockey League season but ultimately lost out 1-4 to Peterborough Phantoms at Planet Ice Widnes on Saturday.
This was a highly entertaining game – with plenty of end to end hockey - and was, in fact, was a lot closer than the final scoreline suggests.
After a very tense opening phase, with both teams cagily testing each other out, the Phantoms eventually made the first breakthrough with a goal on 8 minutes and the score remained 0-1 at the first period break.
The Mayhem upped the pressure in the second period, outshooting the visitors by 3 to 1, but it was to no avail as the Phantoms scored again on 19 minutes - with a long range speculative shot from the half way line that somehow evaded Mayhem netminder Darren Pomfrett. A third goal for Peterborough followed on 27 minutes leaving the Mayhem with a lot of catching up to do in the third period.
The home side’s efforts were finally rewarded with a goal from Anthony Booth on 32 minutes and this looked as if it would spark a late rally for the Mayhem. They had numerous chances in front of goal but were continually thwarted by a very solid Phantoms netminder.
They got caught out at the back while pushing forward and a fourth goal for the Phantoms on 38 minutes sealed the win for the away team.
The result means that Peterborough move to the top of the British Para Ice Hockey League table at this early stage of the competition, matching Cardiff with two wins from two games. In ice hockey, teams with the same number of points are usually separated in the league table by the results in games played between them but, as Peterborough and Cardiff have yet to play each other, the Phantoms currently head the table by virtue of overall goal difference.
The Mayhem are next in action this Saturday 8th June when they travel to Sheffield to take on the Steelkings, 4.50pm face off. They are next at home the following Sunday 16th June when they entertain the second Sheffield team, the SteelStings, at Planet Ice Widnes – 4.25pm face off.
You can see up-to-date league standings, player statistics and match summary sheets for the 2024 sledge hockey season on our unofficial stats website HERE