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MK Bolts entertained a relatively new side in the form of the Kingston City Knights from just outside of Hull on Saturday night at Planet Ice Milton Keynes.

Bolts iced a relatively inexperienced team to match that of the Knights. The first period was a game of chess with both sides evenly matched Playing back and forth until the back end of the first period until Andy “Slapshot” Hall scored the only goal for the Bolts to go to the changing room 1 – 0 up.

The Bolts came out in the second period with renewed vigour and after six minutes into the period Rich Jacobson slotted a sweet top shelf goal with the assist going to Karl Fairhurst. Jacobson seemed to be all over the ice all night frustrating the Knights with his signature move learnt over 26 years of playing hockey and still working!

This seemed to settle the Bolts a bit and Mark Thornton was assessed for a checking penalty which in reality was more due to the inexperienced d man’s inability to stop whilst he was missing inspirational captain Price than any malicious checking he joked!

This then lead to the experienced linemates Steve Greenaway and Stuart Haynes both scoring two goals short handed!

This would bring the end of the second period with the bolts up by six goals to nil in what was a much better period of hockey by the Milton Keynes side.

The third period started with Steve Greenaway again opening the scoring followed shortly after by Andy Hall and then an own goal by the visitors which is assessed to be given to bolts finish import Mikka Iilkko who had an all-round outstanding game. During this period Bolts player Karl Fairhurst had a goal disallowed from the face off as the visitors goalie had not put his helmet on! By this point the bolts were in full control of the game and saw the game closing out with goals and assists being shared between Hall and Crichton-Smith.

The game close down in the dying seconds with a late fumble which tested the bolts D men who were desperately trying to get Sy Stevens’s first competitive shut out after being steadfastly resolute for the whole game between the pipes and the game came to close with the Bolts winning 10 – 0 on the back of immense performances from Stevens,Jacobson, Haynes and Greenaway, 2 – 0 for self appointed stand in Captain Crichton-Smith with a penalty free game for Andy “Slapshot” Hall with 2 + 1.

Crichton-Smith 2+1
Hall 2+1
Haynes 2+1
Greenaway 2+0
Illkko 1+0
Jacobson 1+0
Clough 0+1
Fairhurst 0+1

Mom: Rachael Clough

Bolts keeping the streak alive!

Posted by Milton Keynes Bolts at Jun 30, 2016 4:04AM PDT ( 0 Comments )
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Bolts travelled to Gillingham, Kent to play the Medway Madness in the return game of Bolts first ever game which the Bolts won. Travelling with only 10 players and a goal tender meant that a nervous first period saw Medway opening the scoring very early in the first with Bolts equalising soon after.

Both teams were evenly matched trading goals but at one point in the first Bolts were down by 2 but pulled it back to close out the first 4 – 5 in their favour.

Bolts came out a different side in the second playing with confidence and shape with Goaltender Sy Stevens not letting the puck in his net for the whole period and the Bolts finished the second 4 – 7 up.
Bolts were fully aware that the Kent side had every ability to pull back this scoreline and in the third Bolts controlled the puck to keep Madness at bay.

Goaltender Stevens of the Bolts had a hot hand not conceding a goal until the last minute of the game but also Finnish Defenseman Miika Iilko had a laser like strike from the blue line to secure the Bolts win 5 – 9.

Man of the match was clearly Goaltender Stevens who wasn’t expecting to play and stepped in at last minute to ably fill in for Bolts Tender David Cassidy who was ill and unable to travel. All in all this was a massive win for the Bolts and the team spirit, support and sheer determination of all involved just showed what they were capable of putting their minds to it.

This Saturday see’s Bolts face Kingston City Knights on Saturday 3rd July at PI MIlton Keynes at 16:15.

Scorers and Assists

Hall 3+2
Harper 2+2
Ilkko 2+1
Crichton-Smith 2+0
Thornton 0+2
Fairhurst 0+1
Mayhew 0+1
Porter 0+1

#GoBolts

MK Bolts Vs Nottingham Sheriffs

Posted by Milton Keynes Bolts at May 27, 2016 3:36PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
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Milton Keynes Bolts next home game is Sunday 5th June, face off at 16:15, with Nottingham Sheriffs making the trip to Milton Keynes.

#GoBolts

Bolts suffer first loss

Posted by Milton Keynes Bolts at May 27, 2016 3:30PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
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Milton Keynes bolts suffered their first loss at the hands on fellow Milton Keynes team, Milton Keynes Jesters.

The score ended 10-5 in jesters favour.

Bolts Scorers:
Crichton-Smith 1+1
Fitzgerald 1+1
Clough 1+0
Hall 1+0
Watt 1+0
C. Mayhew 0+1

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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.