Welshman Phil Leads Cardiff Fire To Away Success

Welshman Phil Manny was Cardiff Fire captain for their first win of the National Ice Hockey League season in Kent on Saturday.

The versatile Manny, who can play on defence or in the forwards, wore the C on a night when Alan Armour was not in the team.

Fire defeated Gillingham-based Invicta 4-2, hitting back from a goal down to take the points.

Cardiff Fire’s Jackson Price celebrates a goal.

This was a third fixture of the season for head coach Chris Douglas and his team and the victory sends them into Sunday’s home match against Bracknell Hornets full of confidence.

Tamas Elias, a forward born in Hungary, led the charge for Fire at Invicta, scoring one goal with two assists, while Jackson Price, Chris Fox and Elis Sheppard completed the tally.

Cardiff-born goalie James Whiting, aged 21, was between the pipes for Fire and played the whole 60 minutes.

The three main netminders in the Fire squad have now played once each, Douglas played a week ago, while Lewis Davies was on the ice for their first match of the season.

Swedish defenceman Viktor Langseth was a key player for Cardiff Fire, who fired 77 shots on home goaltender Matthew Passmore.

Swedish defenceman Viktor Langseth plays for Cardiff Fire.

Joe Bliss fired Invicta ahead on the powerplay (1-04), while Fire hit back with two PP goals of their own. Price (8-33) and Elias (19-16) were on target.

Fox added Fire’s third, an even-handed strike on 36-14, before Luke Thirkettle gave the home team hope with their second goal (45-32).

Captain Manny’s men quickly strengthened their grip again when Sheppard made it 4-2 less than a minute later (46-15).

Tickets for the Fire v Hornets match at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday are available on the door before face-off (6pm).

Match stats: Invicta 2, Cardiff Fire 4.

Scorers, Invicta: Joseph Bliss 1+0, Luke Thirkettle 1+0, Aaron Ferris 0+1, Jarvis Mewett 0+1.

Fire: Tamas Elias 1+2, Jackson Price 1+1, Chris Fox 1+0, Elis Sheppard 1+0, Sam Bryant 0+1, Morgan Evans 0+1.

Shots on goal: Invicta (on James Whiting) 48, Fire (on Matthew Passmore) 77.

Penalties in minutes: Invicta 10, Fire 8.

Referee: Jurijs Solovjovs.

Other NIHL results on Saturday: Solent Devils 15, Lee Valley Lions 0; Romford Raiders Junior 8, Haringey Huskies 4; Bracknell Hornets 6, Oxford City Stars 9.

Sunday NIHL South Two fixtures: Cardiff Fire v Bracknell Hornets (Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff Bay, 6pm), Swindon Wildcats v Bristol Pitbulls (615pm), Basingstoke Buffalo v Guildford (6.15pm), Chelmsford Chieftains v Haringey Huskies (6.30pm).