Anthony Booth was that Mayhem MVP against Cardiff (Photo by Roksana Oniszczuk)
Saturday
16th May 2026 – BPIHL Match #1: Mayhem 2- Cardiff Huskies 0
The Mayhem sledge
team enjoyed a winning start to the new 2026 British Para Ice Hockey League
season with a 2-0 home victory over Cardiff Huskies at Planet Ice Widnes on Saturday.
Both teams had some
regular players missing from their line-ups and both also had a number of new
players on the ice who were playing their first ever game – so it was anybody’s
guess as to how this match might pan out.
The Mayhem handed
debuts to Annie Arnill, Maddy Howard, Josh Stodel and Craig Riley and also
unveiled their smart new purple playing shirts.
The game was played
at a tremendous pace throughout with very few stoppages and plenty of end to
end hockey. Both teams were quite evenly
matched but the Mayhem had the edge in their attacking plays and took the lead
with a goal from team captain Mark Colquitt on 12 minutes.
Two minutes later,
the score was 2-0 to the Mayhem, courtesy of a goal from Anthony Booth and they
looked to be flying.
Cardiff
successfully regrouped, however, and the score remained 2-0 at the first period
break.
The game continued
at the same furious pace but, despite numerous chances for both teams, the
remaining two periods played out goal-less.
Mayhem debutant Maddy Howard
wearing the new playing shirt
(Photo by Dino)
The Most Valuable
Player (MVP) awards went to Arran Flay – who was playing his first game – for
Cardiff and Anthony Booth for the Mayhem.
Dan Hartshorn also receives credit for his 13-shot shut-out in the Mayhem goal.
After the game, Mayhem
Head Coach Peter Hagan said:
“It was a great
team effort, with 2-3 players missing and several debuts, there was not much
more we could have asked for in our first game.”
“Both goalies were
in great form & both teams could have had a few more goals had it not been
for some great saves at both ends.”
“It was great to
see Cardiff with several new players too, which, hopefully, shows that the sport
is growing across the country.”
The 2-0 win means
that the Mayhem top the league table at this very early stage of the season as
all the other teams are yet to play.
They are next in
action away to Cardiff on Saturday 30th May down in the Welsh
capital. Sheffield Steelstings and
Peterborough Phantoms meet in their first game of the season on the same day.
The Mayhem and Huskies teams after the opening match of the 2026 BPIHL season (Photo by Roksana Oniszczuk)
