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Szucks to be me, Roman
Referee Roman Szucks, please look away now.
Second thoughts, as the following relates to Saturday’s clash between MK Lightning and Guildford Flames (which you were supposed to take charge of) you may want to stay tuned. I’m pretty sure you weren’t paying attention at the time.
Now, this may already sound like the ramblings of a frustrated fan on the wrong end of a result or two. And you are right.
Milton Keynes have not led a game for two full weekends - despite picking up two points against the Basingstoke Bison after winning a shootout the Sunday before last.
In the past four games we have been turned over by three of our closest rivals and played eight periods and one lot of overtime without registering a goal.
Not much fun, on the whole, despite the spirited, but ultimately futile, comebacks against Slough and Manchester.
Still it is Szucks, the headline writers’ dream, who is the target of the Lighting fans’ wrath for what was widely regarded as an abysmal performance on Saturday.
I know ice hockey is a tough, full-contact sport. That one of the reasons we love it so much. But on Saturday Szucks allowed Paul Dixon’s men to get away with challenges which could have caused Nicky Chinn to call in the constabulary. (Only a joke Mr Chinn, you are a legend.) And why not from the Flames perspective, it’s up to the ref to make a call.
There were countless decisions on the night from the weak whistler which raised more than an eyebrow. The first occurred in the opening period with MK on the power play. Michael Wales tried to tip on a shot from in front of the net and was correctly called for slashing after his stick wrapped Guildford goalie Miroslav Hala across the gloves.
What was obvious to all but Szucks was the savage check in the back from Neil Liddiard a split second later which went unpunished.
By the time the MK number six returned from the penalty box, the home side were two goals down courtesy of a double strike from the excellent Nathan Rempel.
Rempel’s first, only moments after Wales had taken a seat, had the Lightning players screaming at Szucks in protest. Michael Farn led calls for the goal to be chalked off as Rempel’s stick had been at head height as he delivered the killer touch close in. Szucks, obviously, allowed it to stand.
Guildford’s second, the blink of an eye later, was down to a defensive error. Leigh Jamieson was robbed of possession as he tried to break away. David Longstaff fed Rempel on a two-on-one burst and the light was on once again.
Rempel’s hat-trick goal in the second period was pure class. The Flames forward jinking through to slot past the exposed Barry Hollyhead in the Lightning net. Again the attack had begun after Jamieson was dispossessed.
Lightning rallied in the third after Jamieson was switched from the blue line to the right wing. The Brit struck twice and Lightning threatened an unlikely comeback – at which point the game got nasty.
(Has anyone else noticed Guildford play much more physically when they are in front?)
Guildford defended for their lives and Szucks crumbled, unable to make even the simplest calls for blatant and at times cynical infringements both on and off the puck.
The incident which riled the home fans and players the most was Hala’s wild hack at Gary Clarke.
Hala (a keeper whose net is off its moorings more frequently than a Thames River taxi) swung his stick and clattered Clarke in full view. While the home crowd called for Hala’s blood, Szucks skulked away.
It’s called cheating, Miroslav. Don’t do it.
Szucks should also be aware that a player can’t sprawl on top of the puck if he loses possession. That is a penalty. The same goes for a player smothering the puck with his hands near the goal before ‘sneakily’ shoving it under the net minder. Did you get both of those, Roman?
Soon after Hala’s hack Lightning coach, Nick Poole, withdrew Hollyhead for the extra skater and the inevitable empty netter secured the game for the visitors.
As Szucks left the ice he avoided the deafening boos which accompanied Joy Tottman’s last visit to the Thunder Dome. The home faithful presumably thought he wouldn’t understand anyway.
Lightning were turned over again by Manchester on Sunday to complete a run of just two points from a possible eight. Now that really Szucks.
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-5 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-4 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
5-8 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-2 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
3-7 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
