Selected photos from the Blackwood Inline Hockey A grade game between Phantoms and Burners played on 30/03/2024 at the Blackwood Recreation Centre. Tricky light conditions that day. The Phantoms were heavily depleted with only 4 skaters available on the day. Sixteen year old Jordan Kutsche from the B Grade Rocks Stars team was called up so they would at least have one interchange on the bench but he would be facing intimidation of the experienced Burners players. The Burners on the other hand had at least 2 full lines of players. It would be a tall ask for the Phantoms against the strong Burners team which comprised many Premier League Blackhawks Ice Hockey Players. Goaltenders for the game was Angus Schuppan for the Phantoms and Alex Palmer for the Burners.
The Burners Josh Holland would post the first goal 2mins into the first period with the assist coming from Caleb Staehr. Josh would follow up with his second goal of the game at the 7:14 with the assist coming from Darren Corstens. The pain continued for the Phantoms as the Burners posted their 3rd goal of the period with 1:39mins remaining as Paul Joyce scored unassisted. Josh Holland would score his hat trick goal with under a minute left in the period for the Burners to well and truly take control of the game. The assist came from Corstens. The Phantoms had struggled to find a playing style to put shots on big Alex Palmer. Angus Schuppan on the other hand had, had a big workout. Shots on goal were Phantoms 3, to the Burners 19 shots.
The 2nd period started the same as the 1st with the Burners dominating play. Three minutes in, and Reggie Mattschoss scored the Burners 5th goal of the games. The assists came from Corstens and Mitch McLean. Deep into the period and the Phantoms finally got onto the board with Sam Schuppan scoring unassisted. A late penalty to Burners Lucas Grist gave them another opportunity but no change in the score occurred. Shots on goal for the period saw Schuppan face 14 shots, and Burners Palmer face 5 shots.
A pep talk at the half time break realised a fighting spirit from the Phantoms, who would have 3 shots on goal out of 4 including a goal scored by Lucas Giveen, unassisted. The Phantoms were now finding a way to play against the Burners with their mainly young players posting many shots on goal. Eventually it would pay dividends, as Rory Moffat found a way past Palmer at 3:09 left in the period. The assist came from Sam Schuppan. Late in the period there was some frustrations with a late attack on young goal tender Angus Schuppan from the Burners player that didn’t go down too well with father Sam Schuppan and after many words Sam headed to the penalty box at 1:10 for roughing, and Burners Reggie Mattschoss for roughing at 0:46 left on the clock. Sam Schuppan would receive a further minor penalty at the end of the period for unsportsmanlike conduct. Shots on goal for the period saw Phantoms Angus Schuppan face 13 shots, and Burners Palmer face 11 shots. The score was 5-3 in favour of the Burners.
The last period was tight as the Burners tried to shut down the comeback of the plucky Phantoms. Unfortunately opportunities that were there for the Phantoms didn’t result in goals and the Burners continued to dominate the shot count. No more penalties occurred, or goals so the score remained at 5-3 to the Burners. Shots on goal for the game saw Phantoms Angus Schuppan face 54 shots (!) to Burners Alex Palmer, 22 shots.
