Planet Ice Mk played host to the inaugural game of the newlyformed Milton Keynes bolts Friday 6th May against the experienced Medway Madness.

The Bolts looking resplendent in their home white, blue and yellow strip (design courtesy of sponsor tortoiseshellblack and produced by b2 design in conjunction with Rhino) initially came out nervously allowing an early goal to be scored by the #58 from #95 for the Madness.

If anything this settled the nerves of the Bolts into a smooth playing rhythm allowing freedom of passing around the ice and some great work to set up #81 Andy Watt from #11 Rich Jacobson for the Bolts and his first goal to even the score to 1 – 1 and the Bolts bench erupted with rapture!

What followed between the two teams was very close with the game ebbing and flowing between them. Then 16 minutes into the first Medway #72 was penalised with an Elbows penalty.

This led to the Bolts first ever powerplay, and to be honest you would not think this was the first time they had ever done it as a team. The passing was smooth and precise with movement all over the Medway zone until #11 Rich Jacobson slotted a sweet pass through to #81 Andy Watt who crashed the net shot and scored on the rebound past Enl standard Goaltender Steven Nightingale.

Nerves now well and truly settled the game continued in back and forth style until the end of the first seeing the Bolts finish their first ever period of competitive hockey up 2 to 1.

Bolts came out of the dressing room at the start of the second period knowing full well that this game could be theirs if they continued to play in the manner they had in the first and play smart hockey. Coach Linton was keen to elaborate that if the Bolts took a penalty the Madness would pounce and be straight back in it.

The D were impressive in front of ex Mk Thunder goaltender David Cassidy, with gameplay switching between them and the slick forward lines at all times. Again there were tense exchanges between both teams neither one wanting to give up that vital next goal.

Then midway through the second Bolts #37 Scott Fitzgerald and Madness #72 were penalised which left both teams playing four on four. Seven seconds in #22 Lewis Mayhew slicing through Medway and found Bolt Russian import #76 Anatoly ‘Boris’ Obhukov to impressively beat the aformentioned Medway Nettie. The Russian was so excited and focussed he even forgot to congratulate with his teammates and reset ready for the impending face off! When he returned to the bench he was quoted as saying “the ref made me do it!” Bolts 3 – 1 Madness.

The Bolts continued the pressure with a high forecheck and masses of energy against a strong Medway side until again at 35 minutes, Manager, Assistant and Bolts Sponsor #49 Andy Crichton-Smith hit the hot handed ex Mk Kings #81 Andy Watt for his hat-trick! Bolts 4 – 1 Madness.
With time closing in the second period Bolts had a minor malfunction allowing Medway #86 to score through a sea of white shirts after Medway stacked the crease. This saw the Bolts return to the changing room up 4 – 2.

That goal by Madness towards the end of the second period must’ve set the nerves running with some of the MK bolts as they came out a little flat at the start of the third period. After just three minutes into the third Medway pulled another one back to make the score Bolts 4 – 3 Madness.

Madness at this point were composed whereas the Bolts came undone just a little bit with Captain Paul ‘Fine’ Price called for slashing and the penalty kill remained strong to keep the game where it stood.

The Bolts composure returned which lead to the game winning goal scored by #49 Andy Crichton-Smith assisted ably by #5 Brad Lancaster and #81 Hot hands Andy Watt (finishing the game with 4 points). Bolts 5 – 3 Madness

Medway maintained their pressure and were awarded a dubious goal by the referee, with the puck clearly hitting the side netting! “Scored” by Medway #89 from #72 Bolts 5 – 4 Madness.

The following minutes were pressured on both sides with Medway continuing to utilise their 2 man screen in front of the impressive Bolts netminder David Cassidy. Clumsy penalties by Bolts #78 Andy Hall and Bolts #72 Mark Thornton left many Bolts (including those sitting in the penalty box with their hearts in their mouths). Thankfully the ever capable penalty kill lines ensured the net wasn’t pressured again.

At the final buzzer the Bolts had managed their first win in their first game with an impressive team performance throughout.

Man of the Match for Bolts was David Cassidy with the Bolts Super Hero award going to Andy Watt.

• p. Many thanks go out to all who helped getting us this far and thanks to sponsors Two-D Photography, Tortoiseshellblack and MK Diagnostics.*

Bolts next game see’s them face off against fellow MK rec team MK Jesters at PI MK on Saturday 14th May.