News Report

Chieftains outshine Stars

A fantastic game, a season highlight, and a great result!

• admin
• 31 January 2023

It was annouced last Tuesday that Coach Mark Saunders had been released from his duties, with inconsistent results and performances, the management felt it was time for a change at the helm. How would the Chieftains fare after this news?

The answer to the above question was answered very quickly. Within 22 seconds of the first period, Grant Bartlett had managed to get himself on the score sheet. This was to set the tone for a great first period. The passing was much improved, the pace was great, the team were working as one on the ice. It was a joy to watch. Grant Bartlett soon made it 2-0 at 5.27. The Chieftains really had control of the game, but at 8.01, Keiran Raynor got 2 minutes for high sticks and this allowed Oxford to make it 2-1 with a power-play goal. To be honest, because the Chieftains were playing so well, the fans didn't seem concerned. They knew if the play stayed like that, there would be alot more to come. At 9.34, Cameron Bartlett joined his brother on the score sheet with a great goal, making it 3-1, and at 10.27, Oli Baldock soon made it 4-1. The Riverside was rocking, the fans were having a great time. Oxford City Stars called a time out. The crowd were chanting loudly for the Chieftains, hoping that the great momentum would continue. Over at the Oxford bench, they had decided to change their netminders in a desperate attempt to stem the tide of a great Chelmsford onslaught. The game did settle down slightly, but Chelmsford were very much in control. All of the players just seemed to gel together, the play was creative, fast, and each and every one of the players were supporting each other. An amazing sight to see! The first period ended 4-1 to the Chieftains.

The second period was a slightly more feisty affair, the play was more even, but penalties were creeping in. At 32.31 it all went a bit crazy. Oxford had managed to score, making it 4-2. Immediately after Oxford had scored, Cameron Bartlett and Dan Hedges had dropped gloves. Cam got the better of Hedges, but whilst this fight was going on, Dan Fay and Moody from the Stars were also going at it in the corner. All 4 players got 5 minutes for fighting and Cameron Bartlett got an additional 2 minutes for interference. There was a long pause after the above before the second period eventually got back underway. At 33.49, Oxford scored to make it 4-3. Were the Chieftains starting to lose their hold of the game? - not if Callum Burnett had anything to do with it. At 37.40, Callum, from distance, struck a beautiful shot through the various players on the ice, to make it into the top corner of the net. You could tell he was really proud of himself, and rightly so, what a goal! It was now 5-3 to the Chieftains and the scoreline remained this way for the rest of the period.

The third period had started much like the second. The play was end to end, and there were quite a few penalties, however, the Chieftains were slowly gaining control of the game once again, they were really applying pressure on Oxford, and at 54.08, Grant Bartlett secured his hat trick with another great goal. It was now 6-3. As the shots on goal were increasing, it was inevitable that another goal would be scored. At 56.07, up stepped Oli Baldock to make it 7-3, the goals were coming thick and fast, and with only 37 seconds left of the third period, Ethan Reid made a sublime, from distance, jaw-dropping shot, to make it 8-3 to the Chieftains, for me, one of the best goals this season.

This was a game to remember. You could tell that every single player had played with fire in their bellies, there were displays of individual skill and brilliance, but ultimately, they had all supported each other on the ice, worked great as a team, and they were rewarded with a fantastic result.

If you'd like to see the stats for the game, just click here.

Well done Chieftains, we couldn't be more proud of you if we tried.

#LetsGoCheiftains #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #WalkTallChieftains