Thanks to Dave Qua, who runs the Official Bees Site.
Another brilliant performance from a totally committed Bees side swept Ayr aside in Bracknell tonight. Not only was our offence on song but our defence was outstanding with every player getting involved.
Both teams ran short benches, Bees without the injured LaScala and the Burke brothers who had returned to Canada for their brother's wedding. Ayr did not ice Catenaro (I believe he has a cold:-)), Steer and St.Pierre.
Bees were quickly on the scoresheet after 3 mins when Manganaro won the puck and cut in slightly from the right wing. He delayed his pass until Dezainde had arrived at exactly the right position in front of goal and then slipped the puck across to him. Dezainde touched it past Reindeau. A couple of minutes later McKinlay anticipated a pass out of the Ayr defence and stepped up for the interception. His pinpoint pass almost brought a goal but the puck was scrambled away.
Traffic was not all one way, however, and on 11 mins Manganaro took a shot which was charged down. The puck bounced off the Ayr player and went up centre ice, closely followed by both the Ayr player and Manganaro who had unfortunately lost his stick. Bernie was equal to things and made the save look easy. Bees second goal came after 14.51 after a period of sustained pressure on the Ayr net. The puck broke free to Brant just inside the blue line but with his back to the goal. He spun and shot all in one movement and Ferraccioli was on hand at the near post to get the finest of deflections past the netminder. Ayr were still very much in the game and reduced the deficit when Woolf was fed by Montanari and spoiled Bernie's potential shut-out.
Ayr came out for the second period really fired up and spent a considerable amount of time in the Bees zone. Bees defence was the equal to it and on several occasions we saw players, notably Cote, Schulte and McKinlay, hurl themselves to the ice to block a shot. Bees 3rd goal came after 26mins when a good bit of forechecking from Stewart kept the puck in the Ayr zone. Brant pounced and fired a shot which went through the netminder's legs for the goal. Ayr had a glorious opportunity less than a minute later when three forwards broke with only Cote and Bernie to beat. Cote it was who got his stick in the way to send the puck harmlessly towards the side boards.
Bees fourth goal was a beauty. With Ward homing in on goal, and the Ayr defence waiting for him to pass the puck, he calmly flicked a backhand shot into the net. On the 35th minute we at last got to see a McKinlay slapshot. I say 'saw it' but in reality we only saw the movement of the stick. The puck travelled so fast nobody saw it but Reindeau certainly felt it as it thudded into his chest. The rest of the period continued to be all out attacking hockey from both sides but no further goals.
Bees put the game beyond doubt after 5 mins of the third when Kelman found Manganaro steaming in towards the goal. Manganaro had the relatively easy task of touching the puck past Reindeau to give Bees a 5-1 lead.
This was an excellent game played between two really good sides. Ayr are at least as good as last season but on last weeks performance coupled with tonights, Bees are something else. At times their speed of attack and the quality of their passing was awesome. I don't know how both sides kept up the pace of the game when playing with such short benches but the fact that they did is a tribute to their commitment, fitness and skill. Ferraccioli got MoM for Bees but really every player deserved it.
Thanks to Bobblehat, for this report......
Well following last week's excellent display against the Devils, was this a flash in the pan, or are the Bees really that good? This game was to make the last point I think.
Both side opened with good attacking hockey, and it really was and to end stuff, exciting and both sides went close in the opening attacks. It wasn't long before the Bees were on the scoresheet, as following an excellent passing movement between Todd Kelman, and Sal Manganaro, Norm Dezainde put the puck in the net at 3min 8secs. This stirred the Eagles into action, and the next few minutes saw them bombard the Bees net, but good old Bernie was there to keep the puck out. With 5 minutes on the clock, Purdie was on the breakaway and only excellent covering by Rob Stewart prevented him from getting a shot on goal. The hockey continued to be fast and furious with the Bees just shading it on points. Then as the 15 minute mark approached, the Chief got possession of the puck on the left with his back to goal - the famous Chief spin around and shot saw Joe Feracciolli tip the puck in for the Bees second goal at 14min 51secs. At this point the Bees were good value for their lead although the eagles were still highly dangerous on the attack. this was proved in the 16th minute as the Bees defence seemed to lose concentration and there was the Big Bad Woolf stealing in to score for the eagles at 16min 10secs, with assists going to Mark Montanari and Sam Groleau. This hiccup did not stop the Bees' momentum and they finished the period on top with the Eagles back on their heels. So 2-1 to the Bees and both sides cheered off the rink at the end of the first.
The second period began with the Eagles all out on attack and taking the game to the Bees. Us Bees stalwarts have seen this before, and in the past unfortunately the Bees have tended to crumble. Not this time though. The defence stood up well and the forwards were tackling back as though their lives depended on it. The Eagles were throwing everything at the Bees, and around the 21 minute mark, Bernie made about 4 saves in the space of about 5 seconds. The Bees weathered this storm and gradually came back into the game. An innocuous looking pass out of defence from Rob Stewart got a funny rebound off the boards which fooled an incoming Eagle, and the Chief picked up the puck, skated down the left wing and there was only going to be one result as he wound up for a shot. 3-1 to the Bees at 26 minutes 36secs. This only brought more pressure from the Eagles and again they pinned the bees back behind their own blue line for a good 5 minutes. Bodies were everywhere as shots rained in and defenders fell to block. Great hockey and everyone off their seats. Again the Bees got to grips with the game and began a series of counter attacks. The second line of Ward, Junkin and Schulte put together a great passing move, and as the crowd and the eagles defence waited for Colin Ward to pass into the centre for Paxton Schulte, he produced a wicked backhand shot that completely fooled Riendeau in the Eagles goal. 4-1 at 32 min 20 secs with Dale Junkin getting the assist. I reckon this was the turning point in the game, for the Bees now started to dominate. Although the Eagles always looked dangerous coming forward, when they got into the Bees Zone there was always a defender or forward coming back and doing just enough so that the final pass went astray. So the period ended and the crowd paused to catch their breath.
The third period was something of an anti-climax. Both sides still came on with attack on their mind, but the defences were in ascendancy. I have never seen the Bees defence so resolute, and once again nobody got passed Big Mack. Again the Bees first line of Sal Manganaro, PC Drouin and Norm Dezainde clicked into action, and Todd Kelman joined them as a fourth attacker. The puck was taken deep into the corner by Norm and his pass out found Sal standing all alone with only Riendeau to beat. No contest! It was 5-1 at 45 minutes 4 secs. The game ended with both sides still attacking and both sets of defenders holding firm.
This was one of the most exciting games I think I have seen at the Hive. The Eagles came to attack and did so. The Bees of old would, I am sure, have caved in under the pressure, but not tonight. We have found a heart of steel, and with a first line of Manganaro, Drouin, and Dezainde have a strike force that any side would envy. Junkin, Ward and Schulte aint that bad either. And with the Chief, Joe Feracciolli and Jeff Johnstone making up the other line we have three lines all capable of scoring good goals. Defensively, the acquisition of Big Mack - Barry McKinlay has beefed us up - in more ways than 17, and Dave has brought a real toughness to the side.
The Eagles are a good side, and with the majority of their team coming back will again be a tough nut to crack for any side. The Bees at the Hive are becoming formidable, if only they could play like the Eagles do away from home then we might just surprise a few sides this year. This was summed up for me by a remark made by an Eagles fan to my mate Frank as they queued up for chips in the first interval. He said, "The Bees are awesome at home, why do you play like **** away from home?" Come on Dave get the team firing on all cylinders away from the Hive.
I just hope we haven't peaked too soon :o))