Metros A vs. Hull Ice Hogs

Manchester end opening skid, drop 10 spot on Hull and solve the revolving goalie problem via a strong game from Iain Foster. Win 10-2 at home.

Metros A jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the 1st period to capture the first win of the season after losing the first three games, allowing 21 goals in the process.

Though much was changed on Friday night, as the Metros fielded, arguably, their best team of the season, including newcomer goaltender, Iain Foster. Although his work load was light due to the impressive forecheck by the Manchester forwards, he made a slew of impressive saves, one on a penalty shot, and another big glove save late on in the third period to keep the game well out of reach. The consistency between the pipes gave the team a tremendous boost. He made 35 saves on the night.

Defensively, Manchester put their foot down as Hull only scored one even strength goal with the other coming on the a five minute power play. Manchester limited Hull's looks on goal by forcing them into long shots that Foster easily turned away.

The offensive attack was led by the Lowry-Wilson-Gunn line who combined for 4 goals, and 5 assists. The trio forced the Ice Hogs into many offensive and neutral zone mistakes which translated into chances. Max Drakeley came up big scoring two goals. B Teamer, Jack Walker, tallied his first A Team goal when he connected on a pass from Shayne Langlois. Victor Graf, Callum Notman, also added goals.

Manchester A travel to the newly rebranded Birmingham Lions on Sunday, December 1 with face-off at 21:15 from Solihull Ice Rink.

For a comprehensive game sheet click here.

Metros A @ Hull Ice Hogs

Matt Lowy's hat-trick not enough as Manchester's woes continue against Hull, lose 7-5.

Manchester Metros A hoped any sort of positive form would have found them in their travels across the M62 to Hull on Thursday night, but defensive mishaps again plagued the team's chances at a late rally against Hull.

Thursday night's game saw the introduction of two call-ups for their A team debut with the Metros as Oliver Wallace and Matt Crouch received early-season action. Crouch, a defensive player from Kent, was called up to help keep the puck out of Robyn Maby's net (who also made her return to the A team lineup). Wallace filled in a slot as a winger for the team.

Matt Lowry keep his form up by notching a hat-trick. His first goal came from a 2-on-1 shot from the slot that snuck under the Hull goalie (asst. Allen Gunn, Topi Jylha). Goal two he finished off of a rebound on the power play (asst. Tom Wilson, Allen Gunn). The hat-trick goal was a shorthanded, individual effort. From the defensive zone face-off, Lowry made a great play at the blue line to dink the puck around the Hull defender. He then went onto slot the puck home on a nifty move.

Manchester spent a good portion of the second and third period on the power play, but unable to capitalise consistently on the man advantage. Hull had one player sent of for boarding, and then ended up with another player in the box whilst the 1st penalty was still going giving the Metros a 5-on-3 for 2 minutes.

Jylha was a Finnish trooper continuing to work hard after sustaining an injury to his cheek after being checked into the high boards. Also, a Canadian trio of Shayne Langlois, Tyler Schock, and Mike De Paoli, spent time in the box together after some physical play in the offensive zone culminated in a scrap along the boards. Of course, led by "Shayne the Train".

Upcoming game: Manchester (0-3) welcome Hull Ice Hogs (1-0-1) to Deeside on Friday, September 22 with face-off at 2230.

Don't even bother with the gamesheet, it wasn't filled out properly...

Metros A vs. Edinburgh Eagles

Defensive woes for Metros A continue at home, drop contest 6-4 to Edinburgh Eagles after losing lead late -- start season 0-2.

In what appeared to be a necessary offensive surge to spark their season early on, the Metros opened the scoring 1:52 into the 1st period from a goal by Bradley Valentine (asst. Kieren De'Ath).

Manchester held off Edinburgh for an extended period of time before they equalised 10 minutes later at the 11:11 mark. The home side would edge in front four minutes before the end of the 1st on a great individual effort goal scored by Thomas Revesz (unassisted).

Edinburgh head a slight 3-2 advantage heading into the 3rd period after holding Manchester scoreless. But a quick goal from Allen Gunn (asst.  Revesz, Max Drakeley) to start the 3rd period positioned the Metros to retake the lead via a well-taken shot by Matt Lorwy (asst. Gunn).

Several chances for Manchester to extend the lead were put to bed by Edinburgh's, Berke Ricketti, who at one point blanked Revesz on a breakaway. He made a number of saves against an onslaught of shots late in the game. Ricketti saved 50 of the 54 shots he faced.

With the scoreline 4-3 in favour of Manchester, it was all about puck contentment whilst minimising mistakes. Edinburgh could not be counted out as they banged in two unanswered goals in quick succession. The first coming with seven minutes remaining in the 3rd and then jumping out in front 3 minutes later. The Eagles secured their away win with an empty net goal.

Manchester's goalie, Phil Pearson, finished with 41 saves in the loss.

Manchester Metros A returns to the ice away to Hull Ice Hogs on Thursday, November 14th with face-off at 21:15, where the will look to right the ship. Hull drew with Nottingham 4-4 in their first game.

To view the full game sheet click here.

Photo credit: Rob Hutchinson Photography

Metros A @ Edinburgh Eagles

The Manchester Metros A dropped their opening Cup Competition game on the road to Edinburgh Eagles 8-4 on Sunday night (3/11). 

The trip north was unkind to the team as they lost Victor Graf to a misconduct penalty midway through the 2nd period, which ultimately derailed any comeback.

Alex Thomas stepped back into defence following the penalty to Graf and played solid for the final 30 minutes of regulation. Kieren De'Ath, Gino Poulin, and Tom Wilson completed the Metro defence that made the trip.

The Metros were led offensively by the line of Gunn-Jylha-Lowry who combined for 8 points. As a line, the trio created several chances around the Eagles net by moving the puck quickly. Their transition from defence to offense put pressure on the Eagles D, and sustained pressure from the line showed what the line was capable of.

Poulin added a power play goal rounding out the Metros' scoring.

Metros A will be back in action on Friday, November 8, as they welcome Edinburgh Eagles to Deeside with face-off at 2230.

A full game sheet can be viewed here.

Uni of Manchester 5: Man Met 3

The second annual Manchester Metros varsity game took place this past Tuesday at Silver Blades Altrincham with University of Manchester reclaiming their title in a 5-3 victory over Manchester Metropolitan University using a 3-0 jump in the 1st period to win.

After UofM's three breakaway goals in the first frame, it was ultimately a battle of simply outlasting their opposition, MMU. MMU did storm back in the second period to bring the game within a goal at 4-3 with goals from Allen Gunn, Ben Brown, and Victor Graf, but that would be the closest the challenger would get.

MMU did threaten in the 3rd period, but UofM's defence held strong under the direction of Max Drakeley and Kieren De'Ath. The varsity game was a return to the Metros jersey for those away from the team last year such as Drakeley, Alex Thomas, Thomas Revesz, Joe Greaves, Rikk Renshaw, and a few others.

Each roster was graced with players from outside of Great Britain, including Switzerland, Finland, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Players from other nations always add to the spectacle as it brings light on the different styles of hockey across the globe, reminding us that hockey is a strong international sport.

The game was a success from a crowd standpoint as well with an estimated 400 plus coming through the doors. The draw bodes well for future varsities as the sport continues to grow at the university level in the Greater Manchester area.

Manchester Metros A begins their BUIHA campaign on Sunday, 3 November, away to Edinburgh at Murrayfield and the varsity served as a great measure of the potential and strength of the team. Spectators got to see the likes of new players Victor Graf, and Topi Jylha in action, with first tallying a goal in the varsity game.

VARSITY ROSTERS
University of Manchester - 41 Jamie Bower, 89 Matt Crouch, 3 Kieren De'Ath, 4 Mike De Paoli, 40 Max Drakeley, 97 Joe Greaves, 78 Topi Jylha, 73 Matt Lowry, 14 Gino Poulin, 67 Thomas Revesz, 72 Matthew Rohani, 20 Tyler Schock, 39 Alex Thomas, 37 Patrick Thomson, 83 Oliver Wallace -- Goalies: 22 Nicole Jackson, 42 Liam Jacques, 25 Robyn Maby.

Manchester Metropolitan University - 5 Ben Brown, 18 Chris Brumby, 35 Jonathan Brumby, 78 Victor Graf, 21 Allen Gunn, 10 Sarah Hutchinson, 2 Cade King, 13 Shayne Langlois, 16 Callum Notman, 17 Adam Perona-Wright, 3 Lee Pollitt, 25 Rikk Renshaw, 8 Ashaan Waithe-Bousquet, 88 Jack Walker, 31 Tom Wilson -- Goalies: 42 Tom McDonald, 43 Phil Pearson.

Links to full photo galleries of the game can be accessed via the Manchester Metros Facebook page.