Coventry Blaze 2 Manchester Storm 3 challenge cup report

Manchester Storm progress to the next round of the challenge cup after a fantastic win away against Coventry.

The game started at a frightening  pace with Adam Hughesman working Jamie Philips in the Coventry goal early on.

Coventry were looking to test the Storm and had chances of their own in the 1st period with Evan Bloodolff and Andrew Jonson testing Matt Ginn in the Storm goal.

Manchester took the lead with a great goal, Dallas Ehrhardt found space took a shot at goal Coventry keeper Phillips could only parry and Hughesman was on hand to make it one nil to Storm.

It got better for storm a couple of minutes later as Hughesman attacked the left side of the Coventry defence and unleashed a fantastic strike beating Phillips and extending Storms lead going into the 2nd period.

The start of the 2nd Period Tyson Fawcett had a scrambled opportunity pushed away by the Coventry defence.

Coventry grew into the 2nd period and Manchester Storm started to feel the pressure.

Janne Laakkonen had a golden opportunity for the Blaze but Ginn  Storm goalkeeper stood tall and deflected the shot wide.

With Coventry in the ascendancy the goal came deep into the 2nd period, a static Storm defence allowed  a great finish by Chris Pohlkamp to make the score 1-2.

The 2nd period ended with Storm new signing Henrik Samuelsson having a chance blocked.

The final period was full of drama with a dramatic finish.

Kyle Hope and Fawcett had opportunities to extend Storms lead again but we’re denied.

John Curren went on a Mazey  run for Coventry but his shot was saved by Ginn in the storm goal.

Coventry battled back and were rewarded when Drew Schiestel found space and tied the scores with 16 minutes to go.

Both sides had opportunities to win the game but it was Manchester Storm who won the game in a high pressure last 10 minutes

Manchester Storm build pressure with Critchlow and Fawcett testing the Blaze defence as lapse of concentration from Coventry goalkeeper Jamie Phillips allowed Layne Ulmer to smash home from distance.

The Storm Faithful enjoyed that moment with 2 minutes to go it was all hands to the pump for Manchester Storm.

The team defended the lead putting the Storm through to the Quarter Finals where they will face Sheffield.

Report by Rob Parkinson

Manchester Storm 1 Cardiff 4 Match report

Manchester Storm suffered defeat at the Storm Shelter against Cardiff Devils on Saturday night as they were unable to recreate the magic from their Sheffield win the week before.

It was a bright start in the 1st period for Storm when Adam Hughesman tested Ben Bowns in the Sheffield goal.

Sheffield grew into the contest putting pressure on the Storm defence and were rewarded when Sheffield forward Joey Haddad swept the puck past a routed to the spot Matt Gin to give Cardiff the lead 1-0.

Tensions grew in the 2nd period as Manchester Storm tried to get themselves back into the contest. Captain Dalas Ehrart put in a solid performance throughout the game, he tried to fire up the storm with a physical challenge on Matt Pope which resulted in both being pulled apart by players from both sides.

Manchester Storms best chance of the 2nd period fell to defender John Negrin who worked Bowns in the Cardiff goal.

Cardiff extended their lead deep into the 2nd period, lovely work by the welsh side caused a defensive laps which was taken advantage of by Mike Mcname and the Devils lead by two.

Storm supported by a big vocal crowd on Saturday night had their chances as both Raymond Greenwal and Jason Aulin went close.

You could feel a goal was coming for Storm and after more pressure Scott Simmons popped up to half Cardiff’s lead, the video referee check to see if it was a goal and it was decided it was 1-2.

Cardiff forward Blair Ryley had two golden opportunities in the dying moments of the 2nd period both superbly saved by Ginn in the Storm goal.

In the final period Storm had chances as Tyson Fawcett and Finlay Ulmer both gave Cardiff lots to think about with lots of aggression in and around the goal.

Unfortunately for Storm Cardiff weathered the pressure and scored the next crucial goal. A high class finish by Haddard again to the delight of the traveling Cardiff faithful in the corner of the Storm shelter.

It finished 4-1 as Storm put on a power play leaving their goal unattended Mark Richardson spotted this and finished from distance to send the Devils back to Cardiff with the win.

Manchester Storm face two big away games in the next few days, a visit to Guildford on Sunday and Coventry on Wednesday in the challenge cup will give Coach Ryan Finnerty chance to right a few wrongs from tonight’s game.

Match report from Rob Parkinson.

Pictures by All sports photography 

Manchester storm 4 Sheffield 3 Match report

Manchester Storm got back to winning ways against Sheffield Steels with help from a two goal burst by Adam Hughesman in this War of the Roses contest.

Storm started the 1st period well with some intense Ice Hockey testing Sheffield Goalkeeper Tomas Duba several times.

Sheffield weathered Storms early onslaught and took the lead with a great strike from Aron Brocklehurst who beat Ginn to give the Steelers the lead.

In the 2nd period the game sprung into life. After some good work from the Storms attacking unit Mario Pursrich levelled the scores with a sweet effort which few past Duba in the Sheffield goal.

In this period Storm were on top and after a few minutes of pressure Adam  Hughesman finished off a smart move to put Storm 2-1 ahead.

In this ding dong Derby contest Sheffield showed why they are a top team as they surged back into the match testing the Storms defence lead superbly Dallas Ehrhart.

Unfortunately for Storm The Steeler constructed a fabulous counter attack which resulted in Brendan Connolly equalising for the Steelers sending their travelling army into raptures 2-2.

Sheffield’s goal scorer Brocklehurst spent some time in the sin bin which turned the game Storms way.

Cheered on by a insane amount of noise from the Storm faithful Lane Ulmer put the hosts ahead with a fantastic strike and with Adam Hughesman who was full of confidence smashing in number 4 it all looked good for Storm.

The Steelers rallied late in the 3 period as Antony De-Luca   scored but Storm hung on to record a fantastic win down at the Storm Shelter.

Manchester storm 4 Sheffield Steelers 3

Report by Rob Parkinson

Picture by All Sports Photography 

Manchester Storm 1 Nottingham Panthers 3

Manchester Storm will need a Challenge cup playoff against Coventry to progress through to the next round of the Challenge Cup after defeat against Nottingham.

Storm Started well at the Storm Shelter putting Nottingham under pressure making goal keeper Kevin Carr produce a string of saves to keep the scores level early in the 1st quarter.

Manchester Storm scored the opening goal after captain Dallas Ehrhardt found space to score beating Carr with a stunning drive to send Storm into the 1st quarter break leading 1-0.

The 2nd quarter Nottingham started to dictate possession and put pressure on the Manchester Storm.

After a frenzied few minutes Nottingham were rewarded as Brett Bulmet shot passed Storms goal keeper Matt Ginn to tie the scores.

Storm stuggled to find the attacking fluidity of the 1st period as the game went on had opportunities for Finlay Ulrick who worked Carr again from close range to get Storm infront.

Manchester Storm and Nottingham had Kyle Hope and Jason Desantis drop the gloves and spend time in the sin bin as tensions started to rise.

Just before the hooter in the 2nd period Bulmer again was alert to steer a shot come cross past Ginn to give Nottingham the lead going into the 3rd quarter.

In the 3rd period storm put pressure on Nottingham looking for a opportunity to equalise, Captain Dallas Ehrhardt had a opportunity Mario Puskarich tested Nottingham’s defensive unit but with 2 minutes to go and Storm chasing the game on a power play Nottingham forward Jake Hanson broke away to seal Nottingham’s place in the next round and resigned Storm to the playoffs

Ryan Finnity would have been disappointed with the result but knows he has the players to bounce back starting with Sheffield next week at the Storm Shelter.

Report by Rob Parkinson

Pictures by All sports photography / Manchester Storm