Ice Hockey: New role for Parent: Beavers trounce Warriors

BASINGSTOKE BEAVERS lead the embryonic Premier Division table after the first full league weekend, writes Steve Pinder.

On Saturday they beat Whitley Warriors 7-3, a match that saw Russ Parent revel in his new forward role, scoring five goals, including a hat-trick in the first period.

The following day, against Bracknell Bees, Beavers triumped 11-3 but the victory was marred by an injury to the Bees goaltender, Matt Cote, who was taken to hospital with a fractured skull after being struck by the puck.

Cardiff Devils, flushed with European success, had to work hard against Fife Flyers and Peterborough Pirates. Devils took a 5-2 lead in the first period against Fife , only for Flyers to pull back to 5-5 six minutes into the third period. Claude Dumas and Hilton Ruggles put Devils back in front. The highlight was the performance of two teenagers: Devils' Steve Lyle and Flyers' Ricky Grubb in goal.

Pirates should have been easier for Devils, as 7-2 at the end of the first period indicated. But Pirates refused to lie low, recovering from 10-6 down to 10-9 before launching a final onslaught which was rewarded when, with 26 seconds left, Randy Smith struck to salvage a point.