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Hot-shot Huppe keeps title charge on track

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Curtis Huppe resumed his rich scoring vein as Manchester Phoenix overwhelmed Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night.

The sharp-shooting forward bagged four in a 9-3 thrashing to take to his tally to 22 in as many games.

Marcus Kristoffersson and James Archer also notched two apiece – Tom Duggan adding another – as Phoenix continued their pursuit of Guildford Flames at the top of the English Premier League.

Manchester fired 22 shots in a first period that could have seen them at least six to the good if it wasn't for James Hadfield in the Wildcats goal.

After early chances for Tony Hand and Ladislav Harabin, Phoenix hit the front in the sixth minute through Marcus Kristoffersson whilst his side was shorthanded.

Ten minutes later, Curtis Huppe was in the money, latching on to Hand's shot that squirmed out of Hadfield's glove.

And it got better as James Archer showed all his strength to hold off the Wildcats' defence and fire low for a 3-0 fired period lead.

Any thoughts of a Wildcats' revival were dealt a severe blow with Tom Duggan's high finish early in the second period.

Huppe added his second just shy of 24 minutes when he polished off a fine move; claiming his hat-trick two minutes later.

Josef Liska then gave Swindon hope, but it was business as usual within seconds as Luke Boothroyd and Hand got Phoenix up the ice for Huppe to score again.

At 7-1, youngster Adam Summerfield replaced Stevie Fone in goal to gain valuable ice time, and he made some sharp stops as the period closed.

Swindon pulled two back in the final period once Archer and Kristoffersson had given the scoreboard a headache, whilst Andrew Sharp could count himself unlucky to get a Misconduct penalty for dropping the gloves with an unresponsive Ryan Watt after he took exception to a late hit on James Neil.

And the title race became neck and neck again on Sunday night, as Phoenix played a perfect road game at Sheffield Steeldogs and came away with a 4-0 win courtesy of goals from Hand, Huppe, Kristoffersson and Wallace.

Phoenix are now level on points with Guildford Flames at the top of the league, after Flames suffered a shock 5-4 overtime defeat at home to Telford Tigers.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “It’s been a good weekend. We’ve taken four points and done our goal difference no harm at all.

“It was nice to see Curtis get back into the scoring habit, though I knew he would.

“Our challenge is back on track, and that’s the most important thing.”