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Ravens rampage over Wolves

The Ravens opened up their new campaign with a comprehensive win over a weakened Dublin Wolves team. Last year, it was the Wolves who knocked the Ravens out at the semi-final stage, by an 8-2 scoreline, and you could sense that there was a score to be settled. It didnt take the Ravens long to open the scoring, with power-forward Stephen Hayes opening the Ravens tally. He added a second soon after, and it was looking like the Ravens first line were going to be a threat all night. They didn't disappoint, as they added a third and fourth goal after a barrage of shots on the Wolves net. Jason Monahan opened his tally, and with solid defending from Flanagan, Hughes, Carney and Kerley, the Ravens produced attack after attack. Ravens goalie Miceal O'Neill stayed awake to stop the only real attempt from the Dubliners, and in doing so, kept his shut-out intact. In the second and third period, the Ravens added more goals as star man Stephen Hayes picked up his fourth and had one assist on the night, with Monahan having three and two assists and Michael Rogan scoring one with three assists. In front of a crowd of over 120, mostly made up of students, the Ravens have begun with a win as they did last season, but know that sterner tests lie ahead. The next game is an away fixture in Dundonald International Ice Bowl, against the Belfast Bruins on the 3rd of November.

Final Score* | Ravens 8-0 Wolves

*Scoring to be confirmed by official match report.

Words by Rogan

Monahan Hat-trick defies Bruins

Entertainment, drama, goals, saves, penalty shots, controversy, this game had it all. The DkIT Ravens took on the Belfast Bruins in the development division, and even with the late starting time, this game was full of twists and turns. The Ravens having put aside the Wolves B in their opening game were looking to keep their encouraging start going, as were the Bruins who easily dispatched the Bulls Ladies in their first game. Neither team were too familiar with the other, but as we later found out, it was a going to be a exciting and end-to-end affair. After a tentative start from both teams, it was the Bruins who dominated the early exchanges, creating some decent scoring chances only to be denied by Ravens goalie Miceal O'Neill. The students took their time to get settled into the game, and after a giveaway in the neutral zone, the Bruins opened the scoring with a goal from _______. After winning the puck ________ broke down the left, hitting a low shot that crept under the Ravens goalie. The Bruins Pressure had finally paid off, and took a deserving 1-0 lead into the first intermission. In the second period, the students started to gain some composure and Jason Monahan picked up a wrap-around goal _______ into the 2nd, after some good work from Stephen Hayes and Michael Rogan. Later in the period, the Ravens and Bruins exchanged needless penalties, the Ravens being more the guilty party. The bruins moved the puck around very well, looking for openings in the Ravens defense. With a lot of luck, blocked shots, scrambles in front and some good goaltending from O'Neill again, the Ravens killed off a 5-on-3 penalty with both Monahan and Hayes in the box. It turned out to be a crucial penalty kill. But just as the Ravens had begun to build in confidence, the Bruins scored short-handed. After catching the Ravens on a long shift, the Bruins rushed down the right and scored courtesy of a shot from _________, the Bruins went into the break a goal to the good, 2-1. The third period began with even more intensity. End-to-end hockey ensued, with neither team giving an inch. The Belfast-men piled the pressure on the Ravens again with some good work to their impressive point-men, but thanks to some lucky deflections and Ravens forwards diving in front of shots, the college-men weathered the storm. Robert Flanagan made one of the plays of the night by getting from his bench and got back to deflect a great Bruins chance halfway through the third. Following that, the Bruins were disallowed a goal due to players in the crease, spotted by excellent refereeing from William Fay. Belfast were running out of ideas, and the tide began to turn. DkIT countered down the ice on the next shift and with some great vision Stephen Hayes put a pass through to Monahan, who cut into the middle and rifled a shot, hitting the bruins right post before settling in the back of the net. It was Monahans 5th goal of the season, and tied the game at 2-2. With minutes to go and both teams going for a win, the Bruins created 2-on-1 chances and were unable to find a winner. Rogan and Hayes both had breakaways to find the winning goal, but Bruins goalie, __________ , had different ideas making some great saves to deny them. With a 1:30 left on the clock, Monahan had a partial breakaway saved, but as the puck was fluttering through the air, a Bruins defenseman palmed the puck in the crease, which meant a penalty shot. It was well picked up by referee Fay, who it must be said had an excellent game. With Ravens first choice penalty taker Rogan skating injured, the pressure mounted on Monahan to score. With a deke to the forehand he forced the shot under the Bruins goalie's right pad, and Monahan scored to put the students ahead 3-2. Somehow, the Ravens had done it. For the last minute, the Bruins threw the kitchen sink, but with yet another blocked shot from Rogan, and clearances from Flanagan and Jarratt, the score ended 3-2. The Bruins would feel as though they should have won, while the Ravens know they found a win from somewhere.

Final score | Ravens 3-2 Bruins.

Blank space denotes missing player details from Bruins

Words by Rogan

Bulls avenge Ravens with solid display.

The Bulls B took on the DkIT Ravens in the Development League, and as always it was going to be another intense affair. Last season the Ravens did the double over the Bulls in the League and pipped them for the fourth play-off spot by a single point. Both teams were unbeaten thus far, so it was a crutial game. The Bulls supported a full cast of players and welcomed back goalkeeper Sean Pepper, who had been away. The Ravens were missing both Patrick Jarratt and Robert Flanagan, two first choice defensemen. From the opening faceoff, it looked as though it was going to be an even contest. Both teams had players capable of playing in higher divisions, and some developing players too. The Bulls B dominated the exchanges, but Ravens goalie Miceal O'Neill was equal to everything. But the Bulls pressure then paid off. As Bulls forward Roman Culak cut into the slot, he got his own rebound to take the lead. The Bulls kept the pressure on too, and were unlucky to be going into the second period only one goal up. In the second period, the collegemen started to find their legs a little, and had some good build up work from their forwards. Hayes, Monahan and Rogan had chances but Pepper was equal to them. The Bulls then doubled their advantage with a shot from the point, Roman Pecho getting the deflection, beating O'Neill just over the shoulder. It looked pure sailing for the Bulls, and were looking good to take the contest by the scruff of the neck. Just as it looked as though the Bulls were dominating, the Ravens got a goal back. Defenseman Michael Rogan joined the rush, and after recieving a heads up pass from Blaine Rennicks, he found himself on a partial breakaway. Making no mistake, he bet Pepper blocker-side to provide a glimmer of hope for the flat-footed Ravens. It didn't take long for the Bulls to restore their advantage. Robert Grochowicz found himself with the puck out on the right wing and bet O'Neill five-hole, with an excellent shot. The Ravens responded soon after on the powerplay, with Aiden Morris taking a penalty for hooking. Stephen Hayes played to puck across the blue line where Rogan hit a shot just wide, and Monahan was on hand to score from the narrowest of angles. It finished 3-2 at the end of the second period. The third period was again dominated by the Bulls, who just out-skated and out-played the Ravens. They finished the game off 9:07 into the third. With yet another faceoff win, a shot from the point was well saved, but Pecho was on the doorstep to finish, and put the game seemingly out of sight, 4-2. The collegiates had a chance late on, with Stephen Hayes denied by Pepper who saved 12 of 14 shots, and got his first win of the season. It was the first loss this season for the Ravens, with goalie O'Neill making 27 saves. The Bulls march on unbeaten, where the Ravens will look back on what was a very poor performance.

Final score | Bulls 4:2 Ravens.

Words by Rogan