Predators Match Reports     Date Game Report 10th October 2009 Predators v Kilmarnock Devils Competition:     U16 League   Period Scores:   0-0/2-0   PiM                        12-16   Shots on Goal:   34-14   Statistics:            Predators            Ryan Adams 2+0. Netminders:  Callum Yeardley 9/0, Keiran Hobbins 5/0 Devils                    Netminder: Chris Coles 34/2     Predators claw their way to victory North Ayrshire Predators hit the ice for the first time this season with their opening league match of the campaign against local rivals Kilmarnock Devils. Games between these two sides are always closely-fought and this one was not going to disappoint.   Devils started the livelier of the two sides creating a number of shooting chances, but could not find a way past netminder Yeardley who was standing tall for the home side. Both sides pushed and probed and gradually the Predators began shaking-off any early-season rustiness to start asking questions of Coles in the vistors’ net. Predators comfortably killed a minor penalty and took the game to the Devils, creating more direct chances but Coles was in fine form and continually denied them that elusive first goal. So all square at the break and the crowd warmed up for more action in the second period.   Predators iced Hobbins between the pipes for the start of the second period, but the game would continue as before with most of the action down the other end. With less than two minutes of the second stanza played, Devils’ Parkin received a 2+10 for checking from behind and although the initial minor penalty was killed, the visitors appeared to lose shape at the back. With 26.17 on the clock, Predators’ captain Adams found space to break through the Devils’ lines to slot the puck under Coles and put the home side into the lead. Predators were fired-up now and Adams ghosted past a static Devils’ defence at 27.33 for a quick-fire second, the home side clearly now in the driving seat. Predators peppered the Devils net with shots but Coles continually denied any further goals. Devils never gave up and continued to probe, but the final buzzer sounded to record a shutout and fine team effort with a great result against one of their biggest challengers.     Man of the Match: Predators: Callum Yeardley Devils: Fraser Kerr   17th October 2009 Predators v Dundee Stars Competition:     U16 League   Period Scores:   0-3/2-5   PiM                        10-31   Shots on Goal: 16-26   Statistics:            Predators            Ryan Adams 1+0, Connor Brooke 1+0, Lee Kirkland 0+1. Netminders:  Callum Yeardley 14/5, Keiran Hobbins 12/3. Stars                      James Smith 4+2, Jordan Cownie 1+3, Zander Rourke, John Gordon, Adam McNicoll 1+0, Robbie Hill 0+2, Darryl Steed 0+1. Netminders: Craig Chalmers 14/2, Frankie Buchan 2/0.     Predators tamed by sparkling Stars North Ayrshire Predators faced-off for their second league match of the season in this teatime tussle against Dundee Stars at the Magnum, looking to build on their opening day victory. However, this match was to have a very different outcome from the previous week.   Stars were straight out of the blocks and looked the livelier of the two sides, marking their intent with an early strike from Smith with only 2.52 on the clock and setting the scene for the period. Predators probed their visitors’ defence but Stars doubled their advantage with a powerplay goal from Gordon on 15.31. A match penalty for Stars’ Vincent at 15.31 offered the home side a 5 minute powerplay opportunity but they could not find that elusive goal and when Smith broke free for a short-handed Stars’ third on 17.21 it was looking bleak for the home side.   The second period started in a similar fashion and Smith marked his hat-trick goal and his side’s fourth at 20.47. But the Predators did not let their heads drop and sharp-shooter Adams immediately hit back with a solo effort on 20.57. Both teams continued to push and probe but it was the visitors who made their pressure count, extending their lead with markers from McNicoll at 26.12 and Cownie at 29.48. Predators looked dead and buried at this stage but did score the goal of the match at 30.55; Kirkland managed to release the puck in a goalmouth scramble to the diminutive Brooke who twisting and turning away from the net, dropped to his knees and slotted the puck through a melee of players and under Chalmers into the Dundee net. But any signs of a comeback were quickly extinguished when Rourke scored Stars’ seventh at 32.25 and the impressive Smith wrapped-up proceedings with the final goal of the game at 32.3 to record a deserved win for the hard-working Dundee Stars.     Man of the Match: Predators: Connor Brooke Devils: James Smith   7th November 2009 Murrayfield v Predators Competition:     U16 League   Period Scores:   0-1/0-0   PiM                        20-18   Shots on Goal: Not recorded   Statistics:            Raptors:               Netminder: Edward Fennell /0   Predators            Ross Coubrough 1+0, Conor Smith 0+1. Netminders: Callum Yeardley /0 Keiran Hobbins /0     Capital gain for Predators First road trip of the season for the North Ayrshire Predators when they travelled east to face the Murrayfield Raptors and an opportunity to get back to winning ways. This was an interesting challenge for the team on the big Murrayfield ice pad which always challenges the fitness levels.   Predators started the game the livelier of the two sides and took the game to their opponents, creating a number of chances and it was surely a matter of time before they could make their advantage tell. With 5.40 on the clock, following a melee in front of the Murrayfield net, a loose puck fell to Coubrough who calmly slotted it into the back of the net for a dream debut goal. The rest of the period continued in a similar fashion with Predators creating most of the chances but Fennell looking comfortable in the Raptors’ net. At the other end, ‘Big Easy’ Yeardley was rarely troubled and easily mopped-up the occasional Murrayfield forays into the Predators end. So only a one goal advantage to the visitors at the break to show for all their possession and chances created.   A fired-up Murrayfield team came out of the blocks for the second period and started to create more opportunities to get forward. Predators were still creating chances but the Raptors’ netminder was equal to the task. Tulloch for the home side and Smith for the visitors were both given extended penalties for some ‘afters’ following a check on the boards as the game became a bit more physical. The vociferous travelling support was becoming increasingly frustrated with perceived inconsistency in some of the officials’ calls from and this clearly affected any fluidity in the play. The large ice pad was also starting to affect the skating legs and Raptors were finding some open space, though any attempts on target were comfortably dealt with by Hobbins. Further end to end action but no more goals as Predators recorded a well-deserved but narrow victory in the Murrayfield gloom.   Man of the Match: Raptors: Edward Fennell Predators: Ross Coubrough 14th November 2009 Predators v Elgin Competition:     U16 League   Period Scores:   2-0/8-1   PiM                        4-6   Shots on Goal: 39-17   Statistics:            Predators            Ryan Adams 4+0, James Wallace 2+1, Jamie Barr-Cairns, Stuart Andrews 1+1, Lee Kirkland, Conor Smith 1+0, Ben Jackson 0+2, Darren Adams 0+1. Netminders:  Keiran Hobbins 7/0, Callum Yeardley 10/1. Devils                   Gregor Hutcheson  1+0. Netminder: Patrick Feeley 39/10.     Predators in for the kill North Ayrshire Predators back on home ice, looking to deliver their own Saturday evening version of the X-Factor. Despite creating many chances in the matches so far this season, their hit rate has not reflected this and an expectant Magnum crowd was looking for a more convincing scoreline against their opponents from the far north of the country.   From the start, Predators were straight on the offensive with Connor Smith looking particularly lively and it was no surprise when he fired his side ahead with only 1.08 on the clock. Both teams were probing each other with nothing to show for their efforts but when Devils’ Andrew Rae was given 2 minutes for Elbowing, Predators took full advantage at 10.01 with Ryan Adams pinging the puck in off the underside of the bar. The Elgin supporters behind the goal were adamant that the puck had not hit the net but the stripey was having none of it and Predators had doubled their lead. Both teams traded further penalties with home side in the driving seat, but no more goals on the scoreboard and Predators’ netminder Keiran Hobbins delighted to have recorded another shut-out on his shift.   Predators were straight out of the blocks in the second period and a nicely worked play at 20.30 allowed Jamie Barr-Cairns to score his first of the season, ably supported by Darren Adams and Ben Jackson. Devils were having the occasional foray into the Predators’ end and at 22.02 the home side allowed Gregor Hutcheson to skate free and he made no mistake with his finish. This fired the Predators back in to action, and shades of Ovechkin at 24.32 when Ryan Adams broke away for a one-on-one with the netminder and a sublime back-handed movement for his team’s fourth of the evening. This knocked the stuffing out of a stubborn Devils’ team and by now the traffic was all one way, Patrick Feeley in the Elgin net being called into action again and again. Lee Kirkland at 28.24 and a hat-trick goal from Ryan Adams at 31.51 further extended the lead, and Predators were in seventh heaven at 35.07 with a fine strike by James Wallace. Stuart Andrews had been rampaging through the Devils’ lines all evening and was finally rewarded with twisted-wrister goal at 36.15. Fellow D-man James Wallace powered a shot from distance at 37.08 to put a smile on his face, but last word to Ryan Adams who took the goals into double figures and the convincing scoreline reflecting a much more effective Predators’ performance.   Man of the Match: Predators: Ryan Adams Devils: Daniel Grant 21st November 2009 Predators v Murrayfield Competition:     U16 League   Period Scores:   1-0/6-0   PiM                        4-2   Shots on Goal: 36-17   Statistics:            Predators            Ben Jackson 3+0; James Wallace 2+1; Ryan Adams 1+2; Lee Kirkland 1+0; Jamie Barr-Cairns, Darren Adams, Liam Riddell, Stuart Andrews 0+1. Netminders: Callum Yeardley 6/0; Keiran Hobbins 9/0. Devils                   Netminders: Patrick Feeley 31/4; Fraser Young 5/3.     Predators in seventh heaven The match started right on cue and Predators immediately set-up camp in the Raptors end zone, marking their intent from the start. First blood to Predators at 6.21 when Lee Kirkland pounced after a stramash in front of the Murrayfield net and gratefully slotted the puck home. Predators mounted wave after wave of attack but found goalie Edward Fennell in fine form as he made a number of crucial stops. Raptors were pinned back and only able to make the occasional foray into the Predators end, but found the home - D were giving nothing away. So only one goal to show for their dominance at the turn and Predators looking to step up a further gear in the second stanza.   It did not take long for Predators to add to their tally, some clever play by the home side and Ben Jackson was well-positioned to deliver a sweet finish with 25.25 on the clock. His second goal at 29.07 following some fine interlocking movement with Barr-Cairns and James Wallace, the Predators starting to stretch away from their opponents. A deft finish from James Wallace at 33.22 and this match was effectively over as a contest, Raptors taking the opportunity to switch their netminder and Edward Fennell received a well-deserved ovation for his performance. Ryan Adams finally got a goal to reward his efforts at 37.47 and a trademark power shot from James Wallace burst the net at 38.24. It was left to Ben Jackson to wrap-up proceedings with his hat-trick goal at 38.59 and a comfortable win in the end with the goal tally reflecting their dominance throughout this match.  Cigars and brandy for both Predators netminders as they recorded yet another shut-out, helping their side to their fourth victory in five league games so far this season.   Man of the Match: Predators: Ben Jackson Devils: Edward Fennell

Team Training times for this season are   U16 – Thurs 8.00 – 9.30pm