Kingston Tournament Review – Playoff Stage

Playoff stage of the tournament review:

Semi-Final vs Solihull Vikings

The second semi-final would see Kinston face group A runners-up Solihull Vikings for the second time over the weekend. Cobras won the earlier game 4-1 and would be looking for a repeat victory to take them through to the final to face Paisley who had beaten Blackbears 2-1 in the first semi-final.

The Cobras got off to the best possible start with Andy Ward opening the scoring with barely 40 seconds on the clock. Kristaps Pete doubled Cobras lead at 4.55 assisted by Harley and Daintith. Ant Rogan got the Vikings off the mark three minutes later to leave the score line 2-1 in favour of the Cobras at the end of the first period.

The second period saw the Harley-Winn-Pete line combine for goals two minutes apart, Harley adding the first (21.05) with Andy Winn adding the second (23.49) to extend the Cobras lead to three goals with the game poised at 4-1. Ben Woollaston tested Cobras’ nerves when he reduced the deficit back to two goals with a strike on 26.01. The two goal lead would prove to be enough for the Cobras who progressed to the final to face Paisley Blackhawks,

Cobras Stats

Kristaps Pete (1+2), Andy Ward (1+1), Chris Hogarth (0+1), Kristaps Pete (0+1)

Final vs Paisley Blackhawks

So onto the final and the Cobras were matched up with Paisley Blackhawks, the only side to beat Kingston over the weekend so far and the team that knocked them out in the semi-final the year before. Paisley would be without forward Graeme McCamley following a match penalty picked up in the semi-final versus Altrincham. The final would be played over three fifteen minute periods.

The first period started out with both teams sparring it out like the opening round of a heavyweight boxing match. Little action was seen at either end as both teams battled for the puck with numerous full icings of the puck taking place. Shots in the first period Kingston 6 – 5 Paisley.

The second period saw the game spring into life, Turnbull put Paisley ahead on the powerplay at 21.43 as Chris Shepherdson sat in the box for an elbowing call. Cobras needed to respond quickly and Captain Gary Embrie duly obliged 30 seconds later on 22.28 assisted by Matt Sewell. Cobras continued to take the game to Paisley and were rewarded when Blackhawks netminder Anderson spilled a dump in and Mike Roddy was on hand to put the Cobras in front 2-1 (25.25). Second period shots: Kingston 17 – 10 Paisley.

Into the third and Cobras were 15 minutes from winning the tournament for the second time. Tom Harley put the Cobras further in front four minutes into the final period assisted by Andy Winn and Kristaps Pete. The game continued back and forth as chances dried up for both teams. Cobras tightened up on defence and changed to a trap game as they looked to run the clock down. A late penalty on Paisley saw Kristaps Pete cap a fine weekend roofing a powerplay chance with three minutes to go to put the game beyond Paisley. Frustration kicked in for Paisley with Heggie and Wishart ejected in the closing minutes. Kingston Cobras were crowned the tournament champions beating the holders 4-1 in the final.

Cobras Stats

Kristaps Pete (1+1), Mike Roddy (1+0), Gary Embrie (1+0), Tom Harley (1+0), Matt Sewell (0+1), Andy Winn (0+1)

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Latest Result

FINAL	1	2	3	T
Solihull Vikings	0	0	0
Kingston Cobras	0	0	0

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