Botany Swarm vs Southern Stampede
Paradice Botany Rink Saturday 28 August 2011
The evening opened with special guest singer David Wallace who
lead the crowd in the National
Anthem in Maori and English.
A ceremonial puck drop followed by Libby-Jean Hay - one of two
New Zealanders qualified for the
2012 Youth Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria.
The NZIHL grand final pitted the defending champions (The
Botany Swarm) against the Southern
Stampede. The game began with both teams playing at high
intensity, scoring did not open until the
final four minutes of the first period when Ian Wannamaker won
the face off to Josh Hay who made
a onetime slap shot and beat the goaltender clean.
The Stampede equalized the score soon after with a goal by
Mlivic assisted by Zizian to end the first
period 1-1.
The second period was a scoreless frame in which both teams
had equal penalty minutes but the
Swarm more than doubled the Stampedes shots on goal.
The third period saw a lead change, with Stampede Captain
Simon Glass scoring at the 17.38 mark.
Glass came down the wing and let a slap shot go that beat Zak
Nothling between the legs.
After a few minutes the swarm responded with two goals in
quick succession from Polozov (coming
around the back of the goal) unassisted and KC Ball assisted
by Martin Lee and Charlie Huber. A
third goal from Brian Moseley cemented the Swarms lead. Hope
was resparked for The Stampede
with a goal by Brett Speirs who took a pass from Zizian from
the corner, a onetime shot from the slot
to bring the score to 4-3 to the Swarm with just 5.58 on the
clock.
The Swarm victory was sealed by a goal from Polozov assisted
by Jordan Challis to bring the final
score to 5 3.
The Swarm was presented the Birgel Cup and are now the NZIHL
champions for 2011, the 4th time in
the New Zealand Ice Hockey Leagues history of 7 years.
MVP for the final was Alexandr Polozov, Swarm #16
Shots on goal:
Swarm 47: Stampede 24
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