Canterbury Red Devils To Host National League Final
Wednesday 1 August 2007, 8:48AM
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Devils Captain Hamish Lewis screens the goalie while Lukas Kavka lets one go Credit:
Peter Idione
Canterbury’s Red Devils have secured hosting rights for the 2007 Final of New Zealand Ice Hockey’s National League competition. In front of a capacity home crowd at the Alpine Ice arena, the Devils scored back-to-back wins over Southern and West Auckland over the weekend of July 27 and 28. In Saturday’s game against Otago’s Southern Stampede, the Devils started strongly and led at the end of the first period by 3 goals to 1.
In the second period, Canterbury’s ill discipline allowed Southern to claw their way back into the game, when they scored twice on the power play. However a powerful unassisted goal from Devils playmaker Janos Kaszala chased Southern’s starting goalie from the net, and, despite Southern threatening to tie the game up in the third period, Canterbury were able to ease to a comfortable 7-4 win.
Canterbury surprised Southern with a new strategy, playing a forechecking game and tying up the puck in the Stampede zone. Another stellar performance from Andreas Ericsson in goal also tipped the balance in Canterbury’s favour.
Having booked a place in the final, it now remained for Canterbury to win hosting rights by finishing top of the table. In their last remaining game of the regular season Canterbury faced the speedy West Auckland Admirals, who were desperate to notch their first win of the season. In the first period, Canterbury struggled to bring the puck out of their zone, yet still led at the end of the period by 3 goals to 1 thanks to their first liners. Defencemen Loren Nowland and Troy Crittenden were the stars of the first period, with each scoring a goal and Crittenden adding an assist. Janos Kaszala scored also, beating both defencemen and the goalie on a run from his own blue line.
For West Auckland, the first period was one to forget as they were once again caned, justifiably, by the referee for a range of foul play penalties. Unable to use the speed at their disposal, and shut down by a much slicker than usual Canterbury defence, the Admirals’ only consolation throughout the game was a brace of goals to Gareth McLeish and one to Steven Huish.
In the third period, with a certain victory and home final beckoning, the home fans cheered on the team, who, despite earning a string of late penalties were still able to restrict West Auckland to only one goal halfway through the period. For Canterbury, Lukas Kavka added a short-handed score, and local youngster Dale Harrop potted one after some good Canterbury passing.
The grand final will be played in Christchurch on September 8 against Auckland’s Botany Swarm, and while the Canterbury squad will be injury free, the only real problem for coach Dmitry Gunchenko will be to find some quality opposition for practice games in the coming weeks.
In the second period, Canterbury’s ill discipline allowed Southern to claw their way back into the game, when they scored twice on the power play. However a powerful unassisted goal from Devils playmaker Janos Kaszala chased Southern’s starting goalie from the net, and, despite Southern threatening to tie the game up in the third period, Canterbury were able to ease to a comfortable 7-4 win.
Canterbury surprised Southern with a new strategy, playing a forechecking game and tying up the puck in the Stampede zone. Another stellar performance from Andreas Ericsson in goal also tipped the balance in Canterbury’s favour.
Having booked a place in the final, it now remained for Canterbury to win hosting rights by finishing top of the table. In their last remaining game of the regular season Canterbury faced the speedy West Auckland Admirals, who were desperate to notch their first win of the season. In the first period, Canterbury struggled to bring the puck out of their zone, yet still led at the end of the period by 3 goals to 1 thanks to their first liners. Defencemen Loren Nowland and Troy Crittenden were the stars of the first period, with each scoring a goal and Crittenden adding an assist. Janos Kaszala scored also, beating both defencemen and the goalie on a run from his own blue line.
For West Auckland, the first period was one to forget as they were once again caned, justifiably, by the referee for a range of foul play penalties. Unable to use the speed at their disposal, and shut down by a much slicker than usual Canterbury defence, the Admirals’ only consolation throughout the game was a brace of goals to Gareth McLeish and one to Steven Huish.
In the third period, with a certain victory and home final beckoning, the home fans cheered on the team, who, despite earning a string of late penalties were still able to restrict West Auckland to only one goal halfway through the period. For Canterbury, Lukas Kavka added a short-handed score, and local youngster Dale Harrop potted one after some good Canterbury passing.
The grand final will be played in Christchurch on September 8 against Auckland’s Botany Swarm, and while the Canterbury squad will be injury free, the only real problem for coach Dmitry Gunchenko will be to find some quality opposition for practice games in the coming weeks.