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Vychodil delight at Gordie Howe treble

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Manchester Phoenix defenceman David Vychodil laughed last Saturday night when his team-mates ribbed him over his Gordie Howe performance in the overtime win over the Nottingham Panthers. 

The Czech blueliner tallied an assist on the first Phoenix goal in Nottingham, fought with Panthers Paul Moran in the second period and then blasted home the game-tying third goal in the final period to complete the fabled Howe hat-trick, so named after the legendary NHL star. 

Vychodil noted, “when we got back in the locker room, the guys were calling me Gordie Howe and we all had a good laugh about it. The game against the Panthers had been a tough one to play in and we were pleased with the way things turned out.” 

Vychodil has come in for some criticism this year for his aggressive style of play that has seen him take a number of minor penalties, but his enthusiasm and determination for the cause cannot be faulted. “I do get pretty intense,” he admitted, “it’s the only way I know how. Sometimes things get a bit heated as they did on Saturday when I got involved in a fight, but I like to think that I can help the team too by joining the offensive rush.”

With eight goals to his credit including Saturday’s howitzer blast, Vychodil is indeed contributing to the Phoenix cause and he said, “I’m here to defend our goal and stop the other side scoring, but when the time is right, I do like to get forward and hopefully help the team out.”