Coventry Blaze conclude productive pre-season with third home win

Local ice hockey outfit Coventry Blaze wrapped up their preparations for the new Elite League season with a 3-2 win over Guildford Flames on Sunday, in no small part thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of netminder Dershahn Stewart.

The Blaze’s recently-acquired Canadian was preferred in net to usual first choice Mat Robson, and certainly proved his credentials as more than just an understudy with a total of fifty saves to close out his side’s perfect home pre-season record.

Coventry carried a 3-1 lead into the final period thanks to goals from returning captain Kim Tallberg, as well as new attacking additions William Boysen and Grant Mismash, but saw their advantage halved just two minutes in by Flames forward Tyler Preziuso.

However, the visitors’ late assault on the Coventry goal came to no avail as a stubborn Stewart refused to be beaten for a third time, even denying a penalty shot for Josh Nixon thirteen minutes from time. Guildford threw the dice by pulling netminder Taz Burman in favour of an extra skater during the closing moments, but still failed to make their pressure count.

Victory made it three wins from three pre-season outings at the Skydome Arena for Coventry, following on from meetings with Milton Keynes Lightning and Dutch side Tilburg Trappers one week prior.

The Blaze started slowly against last season’s second-tier champions in what was their first run-out of the campaign, and found themselves 2-0 down within the opening exchanges thanks to a Jordan Cownie double, the second coming via a Lightning powerplay.

Goals from American defenceman Colton Saucerman and Matthew Gleason did see Coventry equalise before the first interval, but the impressive visitors regained their lead shortly into the second period through Dominik Gabaj.

After a sluggish start the Blaze’s quality finally began to show, with a further five goals from Boyson, Saucerman, Mismash, Elijah Barriga, and Mack Stewart all contributing to an eventual 7-4 win.

Coventry enjoyed markedly less attacking joy against the Trappers thanks to the stopping power of Dutch international keeper Cedrick Andree, but the side’s exciting new trio of Barriga, Boyson, and Saucerman all continued their encouraging scoring form to help record a 4-1 home victory.

The historic Dutch outfit, who now compete in the more competitive German league system, proved an intriguing test for the Blaze, but the biggest challenge of pre-season came in the form of Saturday’s trip to last year’s Elite League play-off champions, Nottingham Panthers.

After giving up an early goal at the Motorpoint Arena, prolific forward Alessio Luciani scored his first of the season to tie the game for Coventry, but the Panthers demonstrated their credentials as champions by running out deserving 4-1 winners at home.

The response against Guildford the following day concluded preparations for the Elite League kick-off on a positive note, with the Blaze keen to build on what was an encouraging first season under new head coach Kevin Moore last time out.

Failing to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Challenge Cup in the early stages of the campaign, strong late home form saw Coventry finish fifth in the league standings and comfortably qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Quarter-final defeat to eventual runners-up Cardiff Devils saw the season ultimately end in disappointment, but encouraging performances earned Moore a new two-year contract as coach in March.

Moore’s renewal has been accompanied by a host of key player arrivals and departures this off-season, with the American looking to reshape his squad.

Saucerman has been joined in defence by fellow additions Connor Russell, Ivan Chukarov, and Jere Vertanen, while forwards Mike Pelech and Sam Ruffin accompany those who have already got their names on the scoresheet in pre-season.

Chase Gresock and Nick Seitz, whose outstanding attacking performances saw the pair finish second and third in the league’s scoring charts last season, have both left Coventry for pastures new this off-season, with the latter signing for Elite League rivals Sheffield Steelers.

Despite an encouraging pre-season, coach Moore is refusing to let confidence turn to complacency.

“For me, I know the pre-season games are over but I consider next week’s practice still training camp [ … ] We’re planting seeds and we’re watering them, the flowers aren’t quite there yet but we’re working on it,” he said.

Coventry Blaze finally return to competitive action this weekend with a doubleheader against Manchester Storm in the Challenge Cup.