Ice Hockey: Solent Amazons 6-4 Peterborough Phantoms Women: Phantoms narrowly beaten in first away outing of 2021/22…

Peterborough Phantoms Women were narrowly beaten in their first road trip of the 2021/22 WNIHL Division One (South) season after falling 6-4 to the Solent Amazons at Planet Ice Gosport (Saturday November 20).

A Chantelle Air hat-trick proved to be decisive in this close-fought and competitive contest, with the Amazons forward also adding an assist for an impressive four-point game.

The Amazons opened the scoring just before the 10-minute mark of the opening period as Joanna Orlik fired past Katie Plumb in the Phantoms goal.

The home side then extended their lead minutes later with Air scoring the first of her three goals. Saara Karvonen then halved the deficit for Phantoms Women just after the 15-minute mark of the period.

Phantoms Women then found themselves level just after the restart after Karvonen fired past Thisby to complete her brace. The tie was short-lived, however, as Air scored once again unassisted. Phantoms tied the game once again minutes later as Elouise Porter weaved her way through the Amazons defence to shoot past Thisby.

The middle frame also saw both sides draw a penalty. First, Phantoms saw themselves shorthanded following a hard body-check from Hana Meszarosova and soon found themselves behind again after Air completed her hat-trick with a powerplay goal at the 28-minute mark.

Solent’s Olivia Winn then sat for tripping just before the halfway point of the game, however Phantoms couldn’t capitalise on the resulting powerplay.

The home side then extended their lead once again after Francesca Hughes fired past Plumb, following a pass from teammate Tamsin Ribton-Turner.

Phantoms Women completed their scoring late in the period after Ruby Allen saw her shot fizz past Thisby.

The final period began with the Amazons completing their scoring as Orlik bagged her second goal of the night after teaming up with Air to shoot past the impressive Plumb in yet another much-improved performance that proves the first win following the rebrand probably isn’t too far away.

The next game for Peterborough Phantoms Women is a rematch against the Solent Amazons on Saturday December 11, with the game facing off at 6pm at Planet Ice Peterborough.

Game recap…

Period 1
9:53 #23 Joanna Orlik, unassisted (Solent 1-0 Peterborough) – EHG
14:24 #70 Chantelle Air, unassisted (Solent 2-0 Peterborough) – EHG
15:06 £6 Saara Karvonen, unassisted (Solent 2-1 Peterborough) – EHG

Penalties
None

Period 2

21:23 #6 Saara Karvonen, unassisted (Solent 2-2 Peterborough) – EHG
21:47 £70 Chantelle Air, unassisted (Solent 3-2 Peterborough) – EHG

27:36 #50 Elouise Porter, unassisted (Solent 3-3 Peterborough) – EHG
28:46 #70 Chantelle Air, unassisted (Solent 4-3 Peterborough) – PPG
33:13 #18 Francesca Hughes / #36 Tamsin Ribton-Turner (Solent 5-3 Peterborough) – EHG
37:47 #9 Ruby Allen, unassisted (Solent 5-4 Peterborough) – EHG

Penalties
28:04 Peterborough Phantoms Women #15 Hana Meszarosova (2mins – Body-checking)
29:56 Solent Amazons #3 Olivia Winn (2mins – Tripping)

Period 3
46:38 #23 Joanna Orlik / #70 Chantelle Air (Solent 6-4 Peterborough) – EHG

Penalties
47:30 Peterborough Phantoms Women #6 Saara Karvonen (2mins – High-sticking)
55:27 Peterborough Phantoms Women #9 Ruby Allen (2mins – High-sticking)
57:05 Solent Amazons #23 Joanna Orlik (2mins – Tripping)
58:02 Peterborough Phantoms Women #5 Kodie Duguid (2mins – Tripping)
58:35 Peterborough Phantoms Women #15 Hana Meszarosova (2mins – Tripping)

Ice hockey: Peterborough Phantoms Women 1-9 Swindon Topcats. Opening day loss for rebranded Peterborough side, but huge improvement made…

Peterborough Phantoms Women dropped their first game of the new WNIHL Division 1 (South) season as they fell 9-1 to high-flying Swindon Topcats at Planet Ice Peterborough (October 16).

A hat-trick for Topcats #12 Ellie Wallace proved to be the difference maker in what was a much-improved performance for the Phantoms Women, following their summer rebrand and subsequent recruitment.

It was Phantoms Women who got off to a great start in the game as #50 Elouise Porter saw her breakaway attempt saved by Topcats goaltender Mali Easton. Easton was also on hand to stop shots from both #5 Kodie Duguid and #15 Hana Meszarosova in the opening exchanges.

Swindon managed to match the home side in the opening minutes with Ellie Wallace forcing a stop by Phantoms goaltender Katie Plumb, following a break from inside the blue line, before Topcats #26 Annabelle Cuss fired her team into the lead with a shot that just evaded the blocker of Plumb.

Phantoms #19 Laura Brooks digs in against Swindon #77 Katie Edginton

The visitors doubled their lead seconds later when Ellie Wallace hit the target from the restart before newly appointed Peterborough captain Sara Dawson saw her goal-bound effort stopped at the second attempt by Easton, who was forced into another fine save from Phantoms #8 Emma McCarthy soon after.

Swindon kept piling on the pressure in the Phantoms’ offensive zone, however Plumb stood tall in the Phantoms net, making great save after great save – most notable of which was a 1v1 with the impressive Ellie Wallace. However, Plumb was then beaten just past the 14-minute mark by Topcats #86 Joy Scott-Russell who capitalised from the resulting puck drop.

Porter then put Phantoms on the board after picking the puck up from centre ice to fire a shot over Easton’s blocker and into the net. Joy for the Phantoms was short lived, however, as Ellie Wallace scored the second of her three goals, lifting the puck over Plumb’s left shoulder.

The visitors then carried whatever momentum they had in the opening 20 minutes into the middle frame, with Ellie Wallace completing her hat-trick inside the first two minutes of the period. The goal came on a wrap-around despite three consecutive good saves from Plumb, who continued to stand firm in the home goal.

Phantoms #98 Katie Plumb (centre) was the star of the show for her team, facing 61 shots

Phantoms then found themselves in penalty trouble during what was a feisty spell of the game. First it was Porter who found herself in the penalty box for a body check, which the home side successfully killed. Next it was the turn of #32 Sherrie Booth, again for a body check, which was again successfully killed.

Swindon also drew a penalty of their own with Katie Edginton going off for a body check, however they capitalised on the situation with Annabelle Cuss scoring the first of two short-handed markers for the Topcats. The visitors then extended their lead even further with the second short-handed goal from #19 Leah Wallace just before the halfway point of the period, after what appeared to be a deflection.

Booth again found herself in the penalty box for another body check, which was again successfully killed by the Phantoms. Swindon scored their eighth goal just 54 seconds from time in the second period as Edginton picked the loose puck up out wide before aiming high over Plumb in the Phantoms goal.

The final 20 minutes saw the visitors with penalty trouble of their own, as they lost Edginton for the majority of the period after she picked up a 2+10 penalty for a body check. They were further in trouble when the officials called #5 Alice Edmonds for tripping, however both penalties were successfully killed.

Swindon completed the scoring in the final stages of the game after Holly Morris shot through traffic, allowing the puck creep in through the nearside post to ensure the visitors took home the two points, despite a clear improvement from the newly rebranded home side after the last time these two sides met.

The next game for Phantoms Women is an away trip to face the Solent Amazons (November 20, 6pm face off), before then returning home to play same opposition on December 11 (6pm).

Game recap…

Period 1
8:19 #26 Annabelle Cuss, unassisted (Peterborough 0-1 Swindon) – EHG
8:28 #12 Ellie Wallace / #26 Annabelle Cuss (Peterborough 0-2 Swindon) – EHG
14:08 #86 Joy Scott-Russell / #77 Katie Edginton (Peterborough 0-3 Swindon) – EHG
14:19 #50 Elouise Porter, unassisted (Peterborough 1-3 Swindon) – EHG
16:21 #12 Ellie Wallace, unassisted (Peterborough 1-4 Swindon) – EHG

Penalties
16:50 Swindon Topcats #77 Katie Edginton (2mins – Body checking)

Period 2
21:09 #12 Ellie Wallace, unassisted (Peterborough 1-5 Swindon) – EHG
28:07 #26 Annabelle Cuss, unassisted (Peterborough 1-6 Swindon) – SHG
29:23 #19 Leah Wallace / # 12 Ellie Wallace (Peterborough 1-7 Swindon) – SHG
39:05 #77 Katie Edginton, unassisted (Peterborough 1-8 Swindon) – EHG

Penalties
23:56 Peterborough Phantoms Women #50 Elouise Porter (2mins – Body checking)
26:17 Peterborough Phantoms Women #32 Sherrie Booth (2mins – Body checking)
27:41 Swindon Topcats #77 Katie Edginton (2mins – Body checking)
30:04 Peterborough Phantoms Women #32 Sherrie Booth (2mins – Body checking)

Period 3
57:24 #60 Holly Morris, unassisted (Peterborough 1-9 Swindon) – EHG

Penalties
43:47 Swindon Topcats #77 Katie Edginton (2+10 – Body checking)
51:14 Swindon Topcats #5 Alice Edmonds (2mins – Tripping)

NHL: Montreal Canadiens acquire Eric Staal from Buffalo Sabres…

Montreal Canadiens have acquired Eric Staal from the Buffalo Sabres for a third and fifth round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, it has been announced.

Staal, a centre, is in the final season of a two-year, $6.5m contract, signed when he was a part of the Minnesota Wild in 2019. He can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season, with the Sabres retaining $1.625m of the player’s salary.

According to Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, Staal will arrive in Montreal on Saturday (March 27) to begin a seven-day isolation period, after Canada relaxed the rules concerning quarantine for incoming NHL players to the country as a result of the upcoming April 12 trade deadline.

This means Staal will be first eligible to play for the Canadiens in their home game with the Edmonton Oilers on April 5, however Bergevin is leaving the decision, concerning when and where in the lineup he will play, to head coach Dominique Ducharme.

The 36-year-old, who is the brother of fellow current NHLers Marc and Jordan, has scored a total of 10 points (3G, 7A) in 32 games played this season, after being acquired by the Sabres in a trade with Minnesota on September 16.

He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes as the no. 2 pick in the 2003 NHL Draft and has scored 1031 points (439G, 592A) in 1272 regular season games played when a member of the Sabres, Wild, Hurricanes and the New York Rangers. He has also played 62 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring 51 points (21G, 30A) as well as winning the Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006.

The Buffalo Sabres are 0-15 since February 25 – currently the longest losing streak since the NHL replaced ties by implementing the shootout in the 2005/06 season. The 2009/10 Hurricanes, 2010/11 New York Islanders and 2014/15 Sabres lost 14 consecutive games each, while the Winnipeg Jets franchise holds the record for the most consecutive games without a win – 30 straight games without winning (0-23 with seven ties) between October 19 and December 20 1980.

Speedway: Sheffield swoop for title winner Batchelor…

The Sheffield Tigers have announced the start of their 2021 team rebuild with the signing of Australian star Troy Batchelor.

Batchelor was a prominent part of Swindon Robins’ Premiership league and cup double winning side in 2019, however the Robins are sitting out the 2021 season due to redevelopment work at their Abbey Stadium track.

Troy Batchelor is now a member of the Sheffield Tigers as the team begins a restructure for the upcoming 2021 Premiership speedway season

New rules including the mandatory addition of a British youngster coupled with the departure of prolific winter signing Nicki Pedersen due to new league restrictions in Poland, also paved the way for the Tigers to sign Batchelor.

However, that does also mean no place in the Owlerton side for another 2020 signing, Richard Lawson, who is now available to speak to other Premiership clubs.

Batchelor also becomes the first new signing for a side which, in addition to losing both Pedersen and Lawson, will not be tracking another 2020 signing in Todd Kurtz, after the Australian announced his retirement from speedway in December.

NHL Opinion: Commercialising the league…Good or bad idea?

Sponsorship and advertising – something that has been around in the various ice hockey leagues across the UK and Europe for decades. Now the National Hockey League (NHL), the biggest and best league in the world, has adopted it.

As we are all aware, the current coronavirus pandemic has forced many sports and sports clubs to rethink ways of gaining an income, mostly due to the lack of supporters in the stadiums. The 2019/20 season was paused on March 12, with no fans admitted once it resumed for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which were played in Covid-secure bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. Fans were also banned from the recent World Junior Championships, again held in Edmonton.

The original idea for introducing sponsorship to the NHL was raised during a conference call between the league’s governors in December. This would include advertising on player’s helmets as a way to test the market ahead of potential jersey sponsorship in the future. The move is also seen by the league as an important new source of income for its clubs, if confirmed. According to Forbes, league revenue was down 14% to US$4.4billion during the halted 2019/20 season, while operating income was down 68% to US$250million.

Players will be wearing sponsorship adverts like this on their helmets this season, the NHL has announced

Not long after the introduction of helmet sponsors, the league announced it had sold the naming rights of its four divisions to corporate sponsors from the US and Canada as another way to recoup lost revenue. This is believed to be only for the current season due to the realignment of the league in order to minimise travel during the pandemic.

The @NHL partners with @Discover, @Honda, @MassMutual and @Scotiabank to name divisions for the 2020-21 NHL season. https://t.co/gwBySMQgis pic.twitter.com/dV2io6Rimv

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 5, 2021

While the idea of commercialising the league may not sit well with some fans, others seem to think it will go some way to helping teams get through these unprecedented times and generate some kind of income during the coming season. Here’s what they have to say:

Peter Bradbury: ‘While I prefer the jerseys to be ad-free, I don’t mind helmets having sponsors as seeing NBA vests with logos on seems to cheapen them for me. Plus, it’s still money being generated if put on the helmets and not on the jersey, so a plus on that side of things.’

Dale Peet: ‘I think the jersey has to stay ad-free, but having them on the helmet is a nice touch to bring in some extra cash to clubs. I think, done the right way and not displayed anywhere and everywhere, it’s a great opportunity for teams and businesses to form a partnership and generate more cash flow for both sides.’

Dan Breen: ‘I’m surprised it’s taken this long to be honest! Given how many other endorsements, sponsorships and tie ins there are in US sports already, why hasn’t it happened already?’

With these new deals, the NHL has become the latest league in North America to increase its sponsorship inventory as a direct result of the Covid pandemic and the lack of crucial game day income during due to the 2019/20 season being completed behind closed doors.

For example, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has allowed sponsors on its clubs’ practice jerseys, while easing any restrictions on deals with alcohol, casino and sports betting companies.

Due to lost revenue as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, NBA basketball teams will be allowed to sport sponsorship logos such as this on their practice jerseys.

Meanwhile Major League Soccer (MLS) reported that it would allow teams to introduce sponsorships on their shorts as a way of recouping lost income due to the pandemic.

NHL: NHLPA execs expected to approve a 24-team ‘Return to Play’ proposal…

A return to action could be on the cards for the National Hockey League (NHL), as a 24-team ‘Return to Play’ proposal is expected to be approved by the Executive Board of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), reports TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

The proposal, put forward by the NHL, will see the top four teams in each conference go head-to head, while the other 16 teams battle it out in a best of five series play-in round for a chance of winning the Stanley Cup, and is subject to the league being able to resume the 2019/20 campaign this summer.

McKenzie tweeted Thursday night’s conference call between the NHLPA executive committee ‘got a little heated at times’, however despite individual players’ concerns, it is expected to get at least 18 out of the possible 31 votes it requires to be approved.

While last night’s NHLPA executive committee conference call got a little heated at times, and various individual players still have a wide variety of views on the NHL’s RTP format, the exec committee vote by team is expected to result in NHLPA approval of the NHL plan.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 22, 2020

McKenzie also added that despite a format announcement, it is not expected to be announced with a timetable or start date. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger also tweeted Thursday night, saying: “If voting passes additional details [need] to be negotiated with the NHL,”

NHLPA Exec Board is voting on return to play proposal. (24 teams, top 4 teams per conference play each other, 16 teams have a play in round). If vote passes additional details to be negotiated with the NHL. Voting process likely completed by tomorrow night.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 22, 2020

Along with the ‘Return to Play’ proposal, the league has put forward, and is considering, a number of hub cities to resume play but has said it is not close to finalising which cities-if any at all- will be used.

The NHL regular season was paused on March 12 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers eye up Gronk trade…

Rob Gronkowski has reportedly come out of retirement to join former Patriots teammate Tom Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Retired New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski could be set for a return to the NFL, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020

The Patriots have agreed to trade Gronkowski and a seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thus reuniting him with quarterback Tom Brady. The trade is pending a physical and should it go ahead, the Patriots will receive a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft.

Prolific NFL quarterback Tom Brady is now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after announcing he would not re-sign with the New England side

Brady signed a two-year, $50million contract with the Bucs after announcing he would not re-sign with the Patriots and ending his 20-year association with the New England side. This also includes a no-trade and no-tag clause as well as $4.5million in incentives.

Per a league source, the Buccaneers are the only team that Gronkowski is willing to play for, which was subsequently confirmed by his agent Drew Rosenhaus. The Bucs currently have tight ends OJ Howard and Cameron Brate on their roster, so the addition of Gronkowski would be a notable one.

Speaking to SportsCenter, Rosenhaus said that Gronkowski had contacted him about the possibility of joining Brady after the prolific quarterback left New England for Tampa last month.

He said: ‘Rob and I had a conversation that this is a situation that would be appealing to him.

“Obviously, this was a deal that New England had to feel good about, Tampa had to feel good about. This wasn’t just about Rob. All the parties involved had to be in agreement.”

Gronkowski announced his retirement in March 2019, ending a nine-year career which saw him win three Super Bowls, all with the Patriots, and become one of the NFL’s most colourful personalities.

Like Brady, he has spent his entire NFL career to date with the Patriots.

KHL: League eyes up possible UK expansion…

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is looking to expand to the UK, according to reports.

The league, which is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in Europe and Asia, has held talks with potential owners as it looks towards its next phase of expansion.

KHL president Dmitry Chernyshenko believes the prospect of bringing a team to the UK would be exciting, but wouldn’t comment on when it would happen, if it was to go ahead.

“I wouldn’t like to put a time frame on it because we have to make sure we go with the right people,” he said, “We would want them to be in it for the long haul, but I am optimistic it can happen.”

A KHL side coming to the UK has been rumoured for some time, however it is the first time a league official has confirmed it as an option, with sites in Reading or London’s Wembley Arena being considered as potential venues.

The KHL, which draws in around six million fans a season and has teams from countries such as Finland, Latvia, Russia and even China, is also looking at possible franchises in Paris or Seoul as well.

Currently, the UK Elite League is enjoying one of it’s most competitive seasons to date, while the Great Britain national team remains in the top flight of the World Championships.

Also five out of the ten teams in the EIHL have players with previous KHL experience, including Glasgow Clan forward Chad Rau (formerly of teams including Kunlun Red Star and Neftekimik Nizhnekamsk) and Nikolai Lemtyugov of the Sheffield Steelers.

Speedway Grand Prix: 2020 calendar confirmed…

The 2020 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series calendar has been revealed, with the event heading to Russia for the first time.

The series will land at the Anatoly Stepanov Stadium in Togliatti next August, following the city’s successful staging of the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations finals, where Russian stars Emil Sayfutdinov, Artem Laguta and Gleb Chugunov retained the world team title.

Now, riders will go for individual honours in one of the biggest meetings ever staged in the country as it joins nine other venues on the calendar for next year.

The Anatoly Stepanov Stadium in Togliatti, which will stage the first ever Russian SGP on August 29, 2020

SGP 2020 launches in the Polish capital Warsaw with the PZM Warsaw SGP of Poland on May 16. It will then be followed two weeks later by a historic German SGP at the Bergring Arena in Teterow as the circuit celebrates its 100th event and 90 years of racing with a speedway and longtrack double header.

The series then moves to Prague as the Marketa Stadium once again hosts the Czech SGP – a record 24th year that the picturesque Czech capital has hosted such an event – on June 13.

A break then follows for the Speedway of Nations before the series resumes with the flagship Adrian Flux British SGP at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on July 18th. 2020 marks the 20th year of the event in the Welsh capital so fans can expect the event to be bigger and better than ever.

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will stage its 20th Speedway Grand Prix on July 18, 2020

The following week sees the action switch to Sweden as Hallstavik plays host to the Swedish SGP on July 25, before the series returns to Poland when the Betard Wroclaw SGP of Poland takes place at the Olympic Stadium, where last year’s event was hailed as one of the all time great meetings and saw the first Polish winner of a Polish SGP as Bartosz Zmarzlik topped the podium on his way to his first world title.

Another of speedway’s great tracks follows as the Scandinavian SGP heads to Malilla, Sweden on August 15.

Vojens plays host to the Danish SGP on September 12 – two weeks after the first ever Russian SGP in Togliatti, before the season concludes with the Revline Torun SGP of Poland at the Marian Rose Motoarena on October 3, as fans from all over the world gather to see who will be crowned the 2020 World Champion.

Football: Ole Gunnar Skolsjær appointed permanent Manchester United manager…

Premier League Manchester United have moved to appoint club legend Ole Gunnar Skolsjær as their permanent manager.

The Norwegian, who previously managed teams such as Cardiff City and Molde, has signed a three-year contract after arriving at Old Trafford on an interim basis following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December.

As a player, Skolsjær spent 11 seasons with United and scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final.

Speaking about his appointment, Skolsjær said: ‘This is the job that I always dreamed of doing and I’m beyond excited to have the chance to lead the club long term,”

“From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club. It was an honour to be a Manchester United player, and then to start my coaching career here.

“The last few months have been a fantastic experience.”

United were sixth on the Premier League and 11 points from the top four when Skolsjær took charge. Since his appointment, they have lost just once in 13 league games – away to Arsenal this month – and now lie two points behind the Gunners, who occupy the final Champions League qualifying place.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward called Skolsjær’s appointment ‘richly deserved’.

He said: “Since coming in as caretaker manager in December, the results Ole has delivered speak for themselves,” he said.

“More than just performances and results, Ole brings a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a coach, coupled with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club.”

Skolsjær also became the first Manchester United manager to win his first six league games, beating a record previously held by Sir Matt Busby, and even helped them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2014 after overturning a 2-0 deficit against French giants Paris St Germain.