Article by Chris O’Brien
As we approach the business end of the NIHL South 2 season, attention naturally turns to end of season permutations and whether teams will expand their campaigns into the play-offs. So - get your calculators, abacuses and lucky socks at the ready; because here we go!
Despite a mixed season so far, Fire’s head coach Elis Sheppard knows he has a roster at his disposal who - on their day - can compete with every team in this league.
“There’s so much talent in that locker room, I always know that if we get one, it gives us a chance,” said an elated Shep, after the amazing recent five-goal comeback against rivals Swindon Wildcats.
His players got one goal - then quickly four more, amid scenes of delirium at the Ice Arena Wales - as they reminded the division what a force they can be.
It wasn’t the only statement the Fire have made to the division this term. Earlier this season, they won away at another bitter rival - Bristol Pitbulls; a team who have a real chance of winning the league this season. A similar roster of players beat an all-conquering Guildford side, Peter Cech and all, last season.
So, even in a season that has seen Fire lose 11 of league 19 games so far, Cardiff’s number two ice hockey team will believe that if they make the play-offs, they have the talent to be a match for anybody; and will no doubt be aiming for a place at Finals Weekend, and even dreaming of silverware. Why not, eh?
But - will they make the play-offs?
Ahead of a weekend which sees Fire make the eight-hour round trip to Kent to face Invicta, Shep's team know they have five games left to secure a spot in the top eight and make those all important play-offs.
Realistically, it’s looking like ‘two from four’ in the race for the remaining play-off spots.
Guildford, Haringey, Bristol, Streatham, Invicta and Peterborough are all going to make it - but who will join them?
Swindon, Fire, Chelmsford and Oxford will all be aiming to sneak into the top eight as we approach, for most teams at least, the final few rounds of matches. But how are the run-ins shaping up as teams race to the mid-March finish line?
Cardiff Fire
Cardiff Fire (currently 8th, 16 points from 19 games)
While Fire face four of their final five games on the road, they’ll fancy their chances of a positive return to secure a play-off spot.
Indeed, the Swindon comeback win has left the team in a strong position in the race for the top eight. Chris Fox’s hat-trick amid a dramatic third period comeback, and the heroics from Ben Scanlan and Iwan Davies in the shootout that followed, could prove pivotal. Fire wrestled back two points from what almost looked a lost cause; and denied a fierce play-off competitor a point too.
Now, a revived Fire have only one game remaining against a team above them in the league - Saturday’s long trip to Invicta. In fixtures against Basingstoke, Lee Valley and two games against the Solent Junior Devils, Fire face the bottom three in the division and will be desperate to put a run together to secure a play-off berth, and build momentum for that end-of-season tournament.
Fire beat Basingstoke 6-4 in the Welsh capital earlier in the season, and patiently broke down Lee Valley at home to ultimately beat the Lions 7-0. Clearly, there's reasons to be optimistic that Fire can extend their season.
Remaining fixtures:
Invicta Mustangs (A): 11 February
Solent Devils 2 (H): 18 March
Basingstoke Buffalo (A): 19 March
Lee Valley Lions (A): TBC
Solent Devils 2 (A): TBC
Swindon Wildcats 2
Swindon Wildcats 2 (currently 7th, 19 points from 18 games)
The Wildcats have been busy since they fell victim to Cardiff Fire’s remarkable comeback a fortnight ago.
They were well beaten by an impressive Bristol side 7-2 in an all West Country clash the following weekend, but returned to winning ways against Chelmsford the next day with a comfortable 8-3 win. That’s a victory that could help see Swindon over the line - and, given their own challenging run in, may have put pay to hopes the Warriors have of squeaking into the play-offs.
It would now take a poor run of form from Swindon to risk missing out - as they boast a five point cushion over 9th-placed Chelmsford, and will be favourites to win a number of the games left on their schedule.
Swindon return to action on 26 February against Lee Valley, and still have to visit the Lions too, as the East London club face a backlog of home fixtures to quickly rearrange. While a home clash with Bristol Pitbulls will be tough, Swindon will be hoping that they can essentially secure their play-off hopes at Basingstoke before that one comes around.
Whether the game against fellow play-off hopefuls Oxford has much riding on it on 18 March will depend on how the two teams fare in the weeks leading up to that game.
Streatham away completes Swindon’s schedule in a run of fixtures which, on paper at least, will give fans of the Wiltshire club much belief that they're heading for the play-offs.
Remaining fixtures:
Lee Valley Lions (H): 26 February
Basingstoke Buffalo (A): 5 March
Bristol Pitbulls 2 (H): 12 March
Oxford Rising Stars (A): 18 March
Streatham Black Hawks (A): 19 March
Lee Valley Lions (A): TBC
Chelmsford Warriors
Chelmsford Warriors (currently 9th, 14 points from 18 games)
On paper, Chelmsford currently pose the biggest challenge to Cardiff’s play-off hopes - sitting just two points behind the Fire, and with a game in hand.
But the Warriors’ tough end-of-season schedule means they face a real uphill battle to make the top eight - with their five remaining games all against teams currently in the top six.
However, Chelmsford’s recent shootout win over Guildford - only the Phoenix’s fourth reverse over the campaign - sent a statement that Chelmsford shouldn’t be ruled out against the league’s biggest teams, and will instil confidence ahead of this toughest of end-of-season runs.
Chelmsford renew rivalries with Guildford this Sunday, before back-to-back games against Peterborough. Away trips to Invicta and Bristol then end the regular season campaign.
With four games on the road, and some of the league’s biggest names to face, the Warriors have a lot to do. They’ve won just one game away from their Silverdome rink so far this season - at Solent.
Remaining fixtures:
Guildford Phoenix (A): 12 February
Peterborough Phantoms 2 (A): 4 March
Peterborough Phantoms 2 (H): 11 March
Invicta Mustangs (A): 18 March
Bristol Pitbulls 2 (A): 19 March
Oxford Rising Stars
Oxford Rising Stars (currently 10th, 12 points from 19 games)
A scan of the league table would suggest Oxford Rising Stars’ chances of making the play-offs may be the most remote of the four - but their run-in perhaps suggests otherwise; with a definitive weekend now on the horizon.
Warren Jones' team, an affiliate of NIHL 1's Oxford City Stars, have a two game weekend ahead - and a four point return could suddenly boost their chances and throw pressure on Swindon, Cardiff and Chelmsford.
The Rising Stars host Lee Valley on Saturday, before visiting Basingstoke on Sunday - two teams who are below them in the league. Depending on how Cardiff fare in Kent, then a maximum return could suddenly put Oxford level-pegging with the South Walians.
Things then get trickier for Oxford - with two games against fifth-placed Invicta, before a potentially crucial final game of the campaign at home to local rivals Swindon on 18 March.
If the coming weekend goes well for Oxford, nobody should rule them out - but their patchy home form; with just two wins from nine to date, would be to blame if they don’t find the momentum to launch a late assault for the play-off picture.
Remaining fixtures:
Lee Valley Lions (H) : 11 February
Basingstoke Buffalo (A): 12 February
Invicta Mustangs (H): 25 February
Invicta Mustangs (A): 4 March
Swindon Wildcats 2 (H): 18 March
Whatever happens in the coming weeks, there's a huge amount of ice hockey still to be played this season - and you won't want to miss out.
Fire’s final regular season home game of the season, against Solent Junior Devils, isn’t until 18 March - but you can get your tickets now.
Whether there'll be another home game after that remains to be seen, but you might want to blank out the weekend of 24 March for quarter-final weekends too, just in case!
'Mon the Fire! Let's Go Fire!
Article: Chris O'Brien | Photos: James Assinder
