Elliott picked for GB Under 18’s

January 14, 2009 by sam · Leave a Comment 

Kingston Jets forward Adam Elliott has been chosen to play for Great Britain Under 18’s.

Elliott, 17 will represent the nation twice in March of this year. Elliott will be away on the 4th/5th March and will play in Estonia between the 13th and the 20th of the same month.

Meanwhile, Kingston Jets make the short trip down the M18 to Sheffield this weekend to face the Sheffield Spartans. Face-off at iceSheffield is at 4.30pm.

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Jets stun Blaze in pursuit of play-off spot

January 13, 2009 by clint · Leave a Comment 

Kingston Jets gave themselves a fighting chance of a play-off spot thanks to a 7-2 home victory over Coventry Blaze ENL.
The game began at a frantic pace and the Jets were quick to extinguish the Blaze as they secured a 4-0 1st period lead.
New signing Patrik Zgibor continued his fine form since signing from Sheffield Scimitars as he bagged the opener with a wrist shot after skating the length of the ice.
3 minutes later the Jets were 2-0 up thanks to a shorthanded marker from former Hull Thunder forward Mark Florence. Florence latched onto an inch perfect, tape to tape pass from Zgibor.
On 7:38 the hosts made it three as the same partnership combined for a second shorthanded goal on the same penalty kill.
Kingston all but ended the game 32 seconds before the first intermission when Dan Sayer and Matt Jeffcock assisted Adam Elliott for the Jets’ fourth.

It was obvious what had been said in the away dressing room during the break as it took the Blaze just 23 seconds to grab their first of the night.
However, Rodgers held strong between the pipes to eliminate any pressure the visitors had.
The Humberside outfit extended their lead on 38:14 through Matt Jeffcock with assists from Dan Sayer and Mark Florence.

The third period began with the Jets again on top. A scuffle behind the Blaze goal led to Jamie Cobley and Dan Sayer sitting 2+2 for roughing along with Hunt and Jones for the visitors.
Last seasons 7th place team weren’t finished yet though as pacey forward Ben Lowe celebrated his 18th birthday with a brace to end any hopes of a pleasant debut for Blaze back-up Jacob Smith.
Coventry did grab a late consellation but the night belonged to the Jets as they enjoyed a well-deserved victory.

Sam Cooper

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Jet Blast 10-01-08

January 9, 2009 by clint · Leave a Comment 

The Blaze currently sit in place in the league, points behind the leaders Nottingham. The teams met twice back in October. Here in Hull we managed only two late goals in a convincing 8-2 win for 20-man Coventry, and were outshot 65-31.

A similar high sniper rate (shots 51-31) from Coventry at the Skydome a couple of weeks later saw us concede two goals in the first 24 seconds. Players from both teams stopped to turn away for the icing call, and when amazingly the call didn’t come, Coventry reacted first to score after just 17 seconds. With our players seriously annoyed, the restart saw Ledgard bag another. He finished the game on 2+2, and despite good work by our two lines, Blaze won 6-3.

This season Coventry have lost 5 home games, drawing 2, and winning 2…giving 6 points. Their away form has been better with 2 losses, 1 draw and five wins…giving 11 points. They host Sheffield tomorrow night.

We come into tonights’ game with three games in hand on Coventry and Billingham, and straight off the back of two tough games.

Last Saturday we lost 0-3 at home to Whitley Bay Warriors. After conceding in the 13th minute, we kept busy and produced some excellent chances…but failed to score. Matching Warriors in shots on goal, we couldn’t find a way past Murdy. He was amazing! We were very much on top of the Warriors for long periods, and did well to stay out of trouble (only one minor penalty for us in the whole game!) but at 53:05 Nathan Taylor converted, followed by a third Warriors goal from Dale Howey.

The lads were disappointed not to have taken something, and this added a determination to our play the following evening in a ‘nothing’ Cup game in Blackburn. With new coaches Millie & Abel in place, Hawks have had quite a shake-up recently and look to be capable of climbing out of trouble. The game was played in front of an excitable 500 crowd, and with full passion from both teams.

Hawks took the lead after 12:31, despite us outshooting them. Andy had given the call to shoot on sight, and the lads responded well. With goals from Flo & Hacko, we led 2-1 at the end of the second. Clearly some chunky discussions had taken place in the Hawks dressing room and they started the final period in great style…three goals in less than three minutes for 4-2.

Jets wobbled, and Andy called a time-out to re-focus. With Hawks Millie in the box for tripping, Jets scored through Adam Elliott who showed much character by making an impressive & welcome return to the side. 4-3.

Less than a minute later, Kinder picked up a 2+10 penalty for a cheap hit on Holmsey, and rushed out of the way of trouble to the penalty box. Dunny approached him, and as he did so, Hawks’ Downey left the home bench and dropped the gloves. Dunny obliged, and as he reached to take off his helmet, Downey took the opportunity to rugby tackle him to the ground. Dunny flipped him over and completed a tidy job on him. This lifted Jets, as they watched a wobbly looking Downey head for the dressing room. Dunny got a 2+2.

Ben Lowe scored on the resulting power-play, before (just a minute later) Meikle grabbed a late powerplay equaliser for the Hawks.

Dunny ended the game with a strange shaped ‘popped’ shoulder, and Craig had a nasty cut to his finger. Both should be fine for today.

James Maughan returns this weekend, and for a few weeks now we have stayed out of the penalty box, allowing us to roll the lines.

Both Andy and I firmly believe we can push for the play-offs, and with the talent at his disposal, we have every chance!

This is a big game, make no mistake. Coventry had a terrible run where they took just one point from six games. They seem to have stopped the rot, and have taken 5 points from their last three games.
It should be a great game.

So, thank you for being with us this evening.
Enjoy this evenings’ game, and please join us afterwards in The Whittington & Cat.
Mine’s a lager…no sugar!

Cheers!
Slim-Clint.
Ps. We are in Nottingham tomorrow. Join us for a 7.30pm start. It will be a barn-burner!

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Jet Blast 03-01-09

January 3, 2009 by clint · Leave a Comment 

The Warriors sit in third place in the league, eight points behind the leaders Nottingham, but like ourselves, have games in hand.

The teams met 4 weeks ago, when a 22 strong Warriors team was too much for us to handle with just 13 players. We were outshot 34–16, and Warriors won convincingly 6-2.
Again, we had a two man referee system in use…again! And again, offside decisions played a part in frustrating both sides. However, we were beaten fairly & squarely. Six different Whitley scorers illustrated the strength in their squad. We’ll need to be at our very best to get the points tonight.

We come into tonights’ game off the back of two victories. On Sunday 21st December we met strong resistance from Newcastle. An early goal from Flo at 4:45 was the only impression we made in a tight first period. A further Flo goal at 30:11 was immediately answered by two Vipers goals in 2 minutes. 2-2 at the end of the second. A Wile slash was penalised on 57:24, and with just 40 seconds left, a well constructed powerplay was rewarded with the game winning goal. Craig scoring in great style with Ben Milhench grabbing his second assist. Richard Haggar made a welcome (& very impressive) return to the team, also grabbing an assist on the winner.

After the Christmas festivities, we travelled last Sunday to Billingham Bombers for a mid afternoon game. Out of form Bombers were clearly looking to this game to turn their fortune around, having lost ground with the league leaders recently. Adam, Dunny, Maughno & Barney were missing. Jets iced new ‘import’ signing, 19 year old defenceman Patrik Zgibor. Slovakian Patrik joins us from EPL team Sheffield Scimitars.

Bombers scored with a long range shot from Richie Thornton midway through the first, and shots were even at the break. However, a Bomber penalty at the start of the second period led to a well worked powerplay goal on 22:11 as Craig & Sayo assisted Patrik for his debut goal. A period of safe goaltending and some secure puck possession led to us getting a go-ahead second powerplay goal at 28:46, from Cobs. Bombers captain Windridge tied the game at 2:2.

As the third began, Ben Lowe was harshly adjudged a high-sticking minor. The Bombers tried everything, but time after time the Jets cleared their zone to kill off the penalty. This frustrated Bombers, and two minutes later, Ben Milhench scored a beauty after he headed half the length of the ice at breakneck speed to meet an inch-perfect pass from Flo, after good work on this line by Beachy. Yes…Milhench / breakneck speed! Just need to work on the stopping now Ben…he ended up in the boards!

There was no end to the drama, and as the home fans rallied their team for one last push, Bombers rewarded them with a Gibbon goal. 3-3 with ten minutes to play! Two minutes later, Craig grabbed his third assist as Jeffo fired the Jets into a 4-3 lead. After a stunned silence, the Bombers fans appeared to turn on their team (and their website forum has been lively ever since.) Jets added to the frustration with a sensible demonstration of solid puck possession, movement & passing. Nothing risky or cocky, just sensible possession. Bombers pulled the netminder Thurman in favour of an additional forward, but met with Jets forceful face-off strategies and good old ‘icing-the-puck!’

A marvellous road win for us, putting us right in there with a chance of a climb into a play-off spot. The secret here was our self belief and amazing discipline, just two penalty minutes in such a hostile rink.

Everyone played well. Stu stepped up onto a forward line, Karl was solid, and our debutant Patrik was assured and lively. He was fully deserving of his man of the match award. It was good to see how this performance lifted the dressing room, and we need to bring the same level of focus to the rink tonight.

Looking at the remaining games, and our chances of a real strong finish this year…

Billingham play in Blackburn, Newcastle (twice), Sheffield, Whitley and here.
They have home games with Blackburn, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield & Whitley (twice!)
I predict they will finish on 22 points.

Blackburn have to go to Coventry (twice), Whitley (twice), Sheffield & Billingham.
They will host us (twice), Sheffield, Whitley, Coventry & Billingham.
I predict they will finish on 18 points.

Coventry will play in Hull, Blackburn, Sheffield, Nottingham & Whitley.
They host us , Blackburn twice, Newcastle, Sheffield & Whitley.
I predict they will finish on 24 points.

We play in Blackburn (twice), in Whitley, and in Sheffield (a 4-pointer on 17th January at 4.30pm.)
We’ll host Whitley (twice including today), Nottingham (twice), Sheffield, Coventry & Billingham.
I predict we will finish on 23 points.

So, I reckon…

COVENTRY 24 (last play-off spot)
——————————
KINGSTON 23
BILLINGHAM 22
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BLACKBURN 18 (relegation / promotion play-off spot)
==================
NEWCASTLE 10 (max) (relegated)

It will be very tight, and even to achieve safety will take a monumental effort…but that’s what we are about. As Andy constantly reminds the lads, we have a room full of talent. We can, if we use that talent, beat any team in this league. We are looking at a possible play-off finish here!

Enjoy this evenings’ game, and please join us afterwards in The Whittington & Cat.
Mine’s a lager…no sugar!

Cheers!
Slim-Clint.

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