Swindon Flames .com

Lugano (2003)

After our great win at the Leasowe tournament we looked forward to the International tournament at Lugano. This tournament every year is hot and competitive.

Our long weekend started off badly when one of our players was unable to leave the country as he did not have his own passport. This left the team with one netminder and seven players. We arrived at Lugano where yet again the temperature was in the 90’s.

We traveled a day earlier so we could make the most of the place and enjoy the weather.

BUT guess what our Netminder (Dan Oldland) decided to crash heavily on his skates while having fun. He took skin off his elbows, hips and hands. He looked like the walking dead.

So one player down and a netminder who took ages to get dressed, we entered the tournament on Saturday. The Team played well on Saturday drawing with the eventual winners and winning another. Then in the third game of the day, one of our players was red carded for a standard 2 minutes back checking penalty as would be here. It appears Switzerland are harder on that offence than we are in the UK. That meant we had to play the next two games with only six players. They worked really hard in the last game of the day on Saturday UNTIL our captain (Sean Barnett) had a heavy check with an opposing player. The opposition went down and stayed down while Sean came off and sat down.

He sat there holding his arm and the first-aider was requested. Twenty minutes later I was sitting in an ambulance with Sean being looked after by three very attractive young ladies. After a couple of hours trying to communicate with Italian speaking doctors and nurses we left the hospital knowing he had badly damaged his shoulder ligaments and was told to miss Hockey for at least a month.

So along comes Sunday morning with two of the hardest games to play – Vikings and BorehamWood with only five players and a bandaged up netminder. The team were great, they really played well and also strangely enough enjoyed themselves. We had dancing on the pitch from Laurie Hodge and generally a good atmosphere.

No we did not win those games, but a good time was had by all after a weekend of one problem after another the team eventually came fifth.

2003 Season Finale

Now to the last Junior day of the season at Gloucester. We entered the day knowing we had to win both games and hopefully well. The hawks were equal on points with us but had a better goal difference, but had to play Vikings the already crowned league victors.

The first game was against Weston Werewolves. We pressurised them for twenty minutes playing some very good passing Hockey. By half time we were 5:1 up.

The second half went the same way with some great long shots screaming into the top corners. Unfortunately the team let a few goals in also, ending up winning a well deserved 11:4.

Our second and final match of the season was against the Forest Flyers who really made a great game of the first match. We thought this would be the hardest of the two, but strange things happen. The team went out and played some of our best Hockey ever.

Great team work, accurate passing and good finishing. At half time we were 5:0 up.

Looking down the score sheet after the game it was good to see goals coming from all of our players. The second half continued with more of the same quality hockey, and not to forget our Netminder Dan Oldland who finished the match with a well deserved shutout.

The end score was 13:0, a good way to finish the league well done to the players and supporters. The team now had to sit and wait to see the result of the Vikings V’s Hawks game which was on last.

If Hawks won the game it would be down to goal difference to see who came second and would take that vital second place to the nationals. If Vikings won we would be guaranteed the second place. The game was not one of the best I have seen from these two teams. During the season they had both played some great hockey. It was a very tense game to watch with Vikings coming out victors 3:1.

We were through to the Nationals, what a relief. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Players for making this season a very enjoyable one for me. Let’s carry it on to the Nationals in November.

The latest news on the National dates is detailed below –

8^th & 9^th November PEEWEE.

14^th, 15^th & 16^th November YOUTH.

22^nd & 23^rd November JUNIOR.

29^th & 30^th November SENIORS.

This is correct with the BISHA website as of 28/9/03.

Kevin Osman and Derek Wood.

Managers of the 2003 Swindon Junior Flames.

Further information can be found on this web site: www.swindonflames.com

or by contacting the Croft Centre in Old Town Swindon ( 01793 526622 ).


		Swindon Flames - Junior Update (September 2003) Lugano (2003) After our great win at the Leasowe tournament we looked forward to the International tournament at Lugano. This tournament every year is hot and competitive. Our long weekend started off badly when one of our players was unable to leave the country as he did not have his own passport. This left the team with one netminder and seven players. We arrived at Lugano where yet again the temperature was in the 90’s. We traveled a day earlier so we could make the most of the place and enjoy the weather. BUT guess what our Netminder (Dan Oldland) decided to crash heavily on his skates while having fun. He took skin off his elbows, hips and hands. He looked like the walking dead. So one player down and a netminder who took ages to get dressed, we entered the tournament on Saturday. The Team played well on Saturday drawing with the eventual winners and winning another. Then in the third game of the day, one of our players was red carded for a standard 2 minutes back checking penalty as would be here. It appears Switzerland are harder on that offence than we are in the UK. That meant we had to play the next two games with only six players. They worked really hard in the last game of the day on Saturday UNTIL our captain (Sean Barnett) had a heavy check with an opposing player. The opposition went down and stayed down while Sean came off and sat down. He sat there holding his arm and the first-aider was requested. Twenty minutes later I was sitting in an ambulance with Sean being looked after by three very attractive young ladies. After a couple of hours trying to communicate with Italian speaking doctors and nurses we left the hospital knowing he had badly damaged his shoulder ligaments and was told to miss Hockey for at least a month. So along comes Sunday morning with two of the hardest games to play – Vikings and BorehamWood with only five players and a bandaged up netminder. The team were great, they really played well and also strangely enough enjoyed themselves. We had dancing on the pitch from Laurie Hodge and generally a good atmosphere. No we did not win those games, but a good time was had by all after a weekend of one problem after another the team eventually came fifth. 2003 Season Finale Now to the last Junior day of the season at Gloucester. We entered the day knowing we had to win both games and hopefully well. The hawks were equal on points with us but had a better goal difference, but had to play Vikings the already crowned league victors. The first game was against Weston Werewolves. We pressurised them for twenty minutes playing some very good passing Hockey. By half time we were 5:1 up. The second half went the same way with some great long shots screaming into the top corners. Unfortunately the team let a few goals in also, ending up winning a well deserved 11:4. Our second and final match of the season was against the Forest Flyers who really made a great game of the first match. We thought this would be the hardest of the two, but strange things happen. The team went out and played some of our best Hockey ever. Great team work, accurate passing and good finishing. At half time we were 5:0 up. Looking down the score sheet after the game it was good to see goals coming from all of our players. The second half continued with more of the same quality hockey, and not to forget our Netminder Dan Oldland who finished the match with a well deserved shutout. The end score was 13:0, a good way to finish the league well done to the players and supporters. The team now had to sit and wait to see the result of the Vikings V’s Hawks game which was on last. If Hawks won the game it would be down to goal difference to see who came second and would take that vital second place to the nationals. If Vikings won we would be guaranteed the second place. The game was not one of the best I have seen from these two teams. During the season they had both played some great hockey. It was a very tense game to watch with Vikings coming out victors 3:1. We were through to the Nationals, what a relief. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Players for making this season a very enjoyable one for me. Let’s carry it on to the Nationals in November. The latest news on the National dates is detailed below – 8^th & 9^th November PEEWEE. 14^th, 15^th & 16^th November YOUTH. 22^nd & 23^rd November JUNIOR. 29^th & 30^th November SENIORS. This is correct with the BISHA website as of 28/9/03. Kevin Osman and Derek Wood. Managers of the 2003 Swindon Junior Flames. Further information can be found on this web site: www.swindonflames.com or by contacting the Croft Centre in Old Town Swindon ( 01793 526622 ).