It can't have been much fun for the Bison last weekend as they stalled en route to Altrincham. But, as they say, it could be worse.
While Eric Braff called the RAC, Josh Garbutt and his Phoenix team-mates were hanging around wondering if they would have a game. And when news came through that the Bison couldn't make it, Garbutt couldn't help but be a little sympathetic.
He's been in the same position before. In fact, an even worse predicament, as he told the Phoenix game programme...
"When I played in the CHL for New Mexico we were taking a long trip to Laredo, Texas. The bus ended up breaking down in the middle of nowhere and it was about 85-90 degrees outside. We were obviously a little concerned with what was going on and we ended up being stuck in the same spot for about 12 hours.
"We ended up getting a bus out to us and then flying to Laredo. I’ve been in some frustrating situations and it’s part of life I guess. You’ve also got to understand that there are safety regulations towards taking your kit from one bus to another as it’s busy on the motorways. "It’s disappointing that we had to cancel the Bison game, but we can still play the game and jam it into our busy schedule."
You wouldn’t even notice it for most players in the league. But for a player who is on course to shatter the 100-point mark, any night when David Beauregard fails to get on the score sheet appears strange.So strange in fact that four games passed by recently without Beauregard lighting the lamp. By his high standards, it was a slump. But it didn't last long.“I was expecting a small slump at some time, but in my slump I had chances to score so I wasn’t so worried,” Beauregard told the Phoenix game programme. “I know that teams are really trying to stop our line. And it’s getting harder and harder, but I wasn’t expecting to keep this pace all year long. I knew that if I kept working hard and kept my confidence high I would find a way to get my game back.”After he ended his four-game drought in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Basingstoke on February 4, Beauregard started another scoring streak that has seen him edge closer and closer to Joe Tallari's 55-goal haul from last year. In the last six games heading into the weekend double-header against the Bison, Beauregard has tallied nine times, including a marker in the Knockout Cup win against Newcastle.“Our line had a rough month, but we’ve been trying hard and a slump can happen at any time,” Beauregard continued.
“If teams try to stop you more than normally then you have to work harder and try new stuff to get back.”
"If you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready." - Suga Free: "If U Stay Ready"Nothing like taking it back to 1997 with some West Coast hip hop on a freezing January night, but Suga Free's lyrics sum up the ideal Elite League mentality after the Christmas break.For sure, most teams have stayed active throughout the last week, but coaches often take it easier as players enjoy a relaxed training schedule and more family time.Steelers boss Dave Matsos made an exception, promising that his players would be either back on the bike or the ice the day after they scraped a 3-2 win against the Giants.However, the Phoenix enjoyed a lighter schedule with no formal training, but defenceman Carl Graham made sure that he stayed busy. Coming back in game shape after Christmas is a big priority and Graham got a few workouts in to stay ready. “You could take about six days off and I’m sure that throughout the league there are guys who will do that,” Graham told the Phoenix game programme. "You need to hit the gym and ride the bike otherwise coming back and trying to play is hard."
And the British D-man has an additional incentive to be ready to go. Following the departure of Dwight Parrish on Boxing Day, there's more work available on the Manchester blueline. Somebody will have to eat Parrish's minutes, meaning that Graham could get some extra ice time.“I’m hoping so,” Graham added.
“It’s hard to go from playing only a few minutes per game to play between 15 and 25 minutes but I’ve got to comeback from Christmas with the mindset that I’m going to be playing."
The Manchester Phoenix have grown quite used to that "winning feeling" this year.Thanks to the exploits of David Beauregard and company the Phoenix have chalked up more Ws than Ls. A home game in Altrincham always results in the Johan Molin-inspired Swedish wave celebration that became popular in the new rink, but this year's roster have their own winning traditions.During his time playing for the Lakers of Lake Superior State University, D-man Alex Dunn took part in a unique college tradition and he shared his fond memories of with the Manchester Phoenix game programme."After we won a home game we used to ring what they called the Victory Bell, which was an experience itself," Dunn said."After the game you’d come in and take your skates off and run outside into the snow and ring the bell. Each player would ring take their turn to ring it once.The University that I went to was really small and I met some great people there, some of my lifetime friends." Asked what the team did after losing, Dunn replied: "Sit around in the locker room."Not quite so much fun, eh?
After coming up through the ranks in Bradford and Hull, Luke Boothroyd is now continuing to learn his trade with the Manchester Phoenix. The Phoenix D is a versatile crew marshalled by standout blueliner Kenton Smith and Boothroyd says he's got plenty to learn from his team-mates. As he told the Phoenix game programme:Kenton Smith – "A hard working captain, leads by example, an intense character."Dwight Parrish – "A good teacher, he always tells me if I’m doing well and if you make mistakes he won’t get on your back, he just encourages you in a positive way, which I find helps."Josh Garbutt – "He’s good physical D-man, and he’s got such a hard shot."Alex Dunn – "Alex is very clever on the puck, he brings it forward very well – so you can see that between them I’ve got different things to learn and these will all help me to become a better player."Besides learning from his team-mates about the game itself, Boothroyd could also teach them a thing or two about the mental approach to hockey - he's studying Sports Psychology at Huddersfield University!
If you've seen Cardiff's Derek Campbell play this year then you've seen one of the premier heavy hitters in the Elite League.Campbell's right up there with the likes of Newcastle's towering slab of granite Chris McAllister or Manchester's whirlwind winger Kyle Bruce when it comes to separating other players from their senses.Campbell notched a six-point weekend and no doubt threw in a string of checks to boot in the road wins against the Bison and Capitals, showing that he can hit the scoreboard just as hard.But what's the secret to a good check? What makes a good hit? How does Campbell do it?"Just staying nice and low and exploding through the check," Campbell told the Cardiff Devils game programme."Trying to get as much speed as you can without being called for a charge. Obviously, hitting the gym helps."Campbell's fellow glass rattler Bruce agrees."You want to stay low and if your legs are straight your centre of gravity will be higher," said Bruce, in an interview with the Manchester Phoenix game programme."You need strong legs and a strong core, which is what we’ve been working on lately in the gym – strengthening our core muscles."You want to catch guys when they’re off guard and not expecting it. You have to stay low to generate the power to knock them off their feet. Obviously, you don’t want to go straight for a guy’s head."
Continuing elite hockey today's coverage of the build up to next week's Olympic qualification tournament, here's an update on the Team GB goalie battle between Stevie Lyle and Stephen Murphy.
Belfast goalie Lyle might have lost his chance at being the starter after conceding five goals on 24 shots on Saturday as the G-men crashed 6-3 at home against Hull.
Phoenix netminder Murphy allowed the same amount of goals in a 5-4 defeat to the Panthers. However, considering the relative strength of the opposition, looking at the league table, Saturday's results could give Murphy one hand on the starting job.
With the Giants out of action tonight, a good outing from Murphy at the Altrincham Ice Dome, where the Phoenix host the Devils, could help him lock down the position.
At this point, it's fair to say that head coach Paul Thompson is no wiser about who should start, unless he's secretly made up his mind already.
Maybe Murphy will make his decision much easier tonight.
"Hand feeds the puck to Molin... GOAL!!"
"Hand passes to Tallari... GOAL!!"
"Hand finds Beauregard... GOAL!!"The year has changed, the players have changed, but the outcome remains the same. Tony Hand has unearthed another gem in Phoenix forward David Beauregard (14 goals, 9 assists) and has re-established the playmaker-sniper relationship that has worked perfectly for the last two years in Altrincham. Beauregard, a former San Jose Sharks draft pick, previously scored 47 goals in the UHL and is tied for the Elite League lead with Belfast's Paul Deniset. The scary thing is that he says he's never played with an All Star playmaker like Hand before."Before I came over to the UK everybody was telling me how many goals I would score just playing with Tony," Beauregard told the Manchester Phoenix game programme."I can understand that now. Throughout my career I’ve been scoring goals without really playing with a true playmaker on my line. "You can read the entire interview in this week's Manchester Phoenix match night programme.
