Photography by Tadamasa Nagayama
Week two action in the SHL saw KCG beat Aware 6-3 in the first match while the Novotel Spitfires defeated Siam Mandalay 4-3 in the evening’s second game, despite being outshot 34-21.
In game one, Thai-Japanese star Masato Kitiyama staked Aware to a 1-0 lead and then rookie Roger Promthong made it 2-0 for Aware netting an early candidate for goal-of-the-year when he undressed KCG keeper Leo Liao with a between the legs pullback move and then went top shelf over a stunned Liao. Aware struck back with three straight goals as KCG captain Harrison Oztemel netted a pair of goals and Thai rookie Time Phatigulsate a single.
Early in the third, Roger scored again, tying the game, but KCG answered once again with three straight goals as Oztemel added a hat-trick marker, Mel Dhiranusomkit scored his first of the year on a nice rush and Andy Tse put in an empty-netter to make it a 6-3 final. Oztemel was awarded the Rolling Stone Pizza player-of-the-game award for his hat-trick and game-winning goal.
KCG fired 29 shots on substitute Aware goalie Gabor Toth, while Aware shot 25 pucks at KCG keeper Liao.
In game two, Tomas Stastny, the son of former NHLer Anton Stastny, continued to impress scoring a hat-trick, including the game-winner on substitute goalie Greg Beatty, earning Rolling Stone Pizza player-of-the-game honors. Novotel was on cruise control leading 2-0 late into the second period when Siam Mandalay woke up and struck for three quick goals on Novotel keeper Lance Parker as SHL newcomer Mitch Morrison and defensive stalwart Alex Phelps scored within 40 seconds of each other, the latter on a nice wraparound goal.
Tan Limpinphet opened the third period with a goal to stake Siam Mandalay to a 3-2 lead. Then Thai National team captain Ken Kindborn went to work for Novotel first setting up Mangkorn Sukwiboon for the tying goal and then hitting Tomas Stastny for the game winner.
SHL games take place at the Imperial Samrong ice rink every Sunday night. Week three action will see the two undefeated squads (Novotel & KCG) face off at 9pm while the two winless teams (Aware & Siam Mandalay) square off at 10pm. Please check out the weekly SHL podcasts, helmed by Dom Dumais, and sponsored by the Big Chilli magazine at www.siamhockeyleague.com.
