Posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Belfast Giants 8 - Newcastle Vipers 3
Pierre-Luc Faubert’s hat-trick and assist earned him man of the match award as the Giants saw off the Newcastle Vipers with an 8-3 victory as both sides opened their pre-season tonight at Dundonald International Ice Bowl.
The game started off at a quick pace with the Giants getting the better of the play taking an early lead when Colin Shields fed the puck to defenceman Michael Jacobsen fired a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Vipers netminder Michel Robinson.
Moments later the Giants were once again on the attack this time converting a 3on1 opportunity. Pat Bateman fed the puck to Colin Shields who again turned provider, opening up the netminder for Faubert to slot home his first of the evening.
With the Giants on the attack once again, a Mark Morrison shot was blocked and rebounded past the Giants defence leaving Jason Tejchma on a breakaway, slipping the puck beneath a sprawling Nathan Craze.
Craig Peacock, who really impressed on his Giants debut, forced a turnover on the Vipers blueline and unleashed a bullet wrist shot forcing a save from Robinson. Unfortunately for Robinson he could not gather the rebound as new signing Brandon Benedict was on hand to restore the Giants two goal advantage.
As the period was nearing completion Mark Morrison bundled the puck into the Vipers goal as the horn sounded giving the Giants a 4-1 lead into the intermission.
The early going in the second mirrored the play of the first period with the Giants on the offensive. A period of tic-tac-toe passing in the Vipers defensive end had the away team scrambling to clear the zone. Pierre-Luc Faubert latched onto a loose puck, side stepped the defenceman and netted his second of the evening and the Giants fifth.
The Giants then added a sixth when high persistence from Mark Morrison on the forecheck allowed the puck to string loose to George Awada to fed Peacock into the slot allowing him to pick his spot to tally his first goal in Giants colours.
Midway through the middle frame with the Giants firmly in control Michel Robinson gave way to young British netminder Richie Lawson who was immediately called upon as the Giants continued to reign shots on goal.
The Vipers then added their second marker of the evening as against the run of play. Todd Griffith’s wide net drive allowed him to outskate Graeme Walton before cutting into the slot and roofing a backhand shot past Craze.
The resurgent Vipers then had an opportunity to capaltise on a 5on3 situation with Morrison and Bateman serving time in the penalty box for hooking and tripping respectively. The Giants defensive core boxed Newcastle out well, laying down their bodies to block shots and quashing the Vipers advantage to see out the action in the second period.
Newcastle had a good spell to open the third and with Lawson putting on a show at the opposite end of the rink the Vipers seemed to be coming back into the game. Their brief revival was once again to be suppressed as the Giants went on the attack with Mark Morrison adding his second of the evening showing composure infront of goal with a nice move to beat the outstretched Lawson.
Vipers man of the match Todd Griffith added his second of the evening when Matus Petricko and Richie Thornton combined for the Vipers third of the night.
In the final minute of the game with the clock ticking down ‘Lucky’ Pierre-Luc rounded off his hat trick as the puck trickled through Lawson’s five hole as he collapsed backwards into the Vipers goal.
The Giants next take to the ice this Saturday night at the Dundalk Ice Dome where they face an IIHL Select team. Tickets, priced at 10 Euro for adults and 8 Euro for conessions, are available from the Giants office, the Dundalk Ice Dome and can also be purchased on Saturday morning at the meet and greet event in the Odyssey Pavilion.
© 2008 Belfast Giants Limited, unless otherwise stated. Imagery © Michael Cooper Photography.
