Metros January, February and March Roundup

Written by club volunteer, Leon Higgins.

January marked a return to the Ice for all the Metro teams across their divisions with matches also taking place across February and March.

The Metro’s have had major success this term by winning the Checking Division 2 North title. The first match of the term was a frustrating one at Planet Ice Altrincham losing 4-3 to Northumbria Kings. The loss meant the Metro’s went in search of the title at home to Sheffield Bears B knowing a win should be enough to claim the title with a superior goal difference over the Northumbria Kings. The Metro’s got the job done in sensational style winning 19-3 meaning Northumbria had to overturn a 49 goal difference against Glasgow Stags but were unable to do so with the Kings winning 11-4. The Metro’s travel to Solihull Ice Rink next on Thursday the 27th of March to face the Birmingham Lions in IceBull Varsity before Nationals.

Final Standings:

					GP	W	D	L	Pts 	GF	GA	GD

Manchester Metros 	6	5	0	1	10	84	29	+55

Northumbria Kings 	6	5	0	1	10	32	19	+13

Sheffield Bears B		6	2	0	4	4	24	41	-17

Glasgow Stags			6	0	0	6	0	23	74	-51

The Metro’s B team have been busy playing four games this term in the Non Checking Division 1 North. The term started off the term at the end of January with a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Bears C at IceSheffield (Bauer Arena). A week later the B’s were on the road again this time in Whitley Bay to take on Northumbria Kings B. In a tight affair it was The Metro’s who came out on top with a 6-4 victory. 10 days later the B’s returned home to host Sheffield Bears and just like the reverse fixtures a few weeks ago it ended in a 2-2 draw. The B’s started March off with a double header against Nottingham Mavericks C. The first of the games took place on the 1st of March where it was a tough night for the Metro’s losing 10-0 at the National Ice Centre. A much better performance 11 days later at Planet Ice Altrincham, a fixture that was due to take place before the trip to Nottingham, just saw the Metro’s lose 4-2. In the final league game last week it was much happy readings for the Metro’s with a 5-3 home victory against Northumbria Kings B’s. 2 goals from Katie Fairclough saw the B’s end their campaign off in winning style and finish 3rd in the league table.

Final Standings:

						GP	W	D	L	Pts 	GF	GA	GD

Nottingham Mavericks C		10	9	0	1	18	108	22	+86

Sheffield Bears C			10	7	2	1	16	82	25	+57

Manchester Metros B		10	5	3	2	13	46	32	+14

Leeds Gryphons B			10	3	1	6	7	37	57	-20

Northumbria Kings B		10	2	0	8	4	27	94	-67

Newcastle Wildcats		10	1	0	9	2	29	99	-70

After not playing any games in January or February, The C team returned to the Ice on the 2nd of March to take on Leeds Gryphons C’s at Planet Ice Altrincham. It was well worth the wait as the Metro’s showed no signs of rustiness to win 19-0 to start their Non Checking Division 3 North title charge off in style. A week later the C’s title charge took a blow losing at home to Sheffield Bears E 2-1. 4 days later, the Metro’s knew they had to win to keep any title hopes alive but were just overpowered by the Bears losing 7-4 while wrapping up the league title. The C’s have 3 fixtures before Nationals hosting Blackburn recreational side Wyre Seagulls in a challenge match at the Altrincham Ice Rink Trafford on Sunday the 23rd March (22:45 Face Off) before concluding the league campaign on the 29th March (22:00 Face Off) at the Hull Ice Arena against the Hull Ice Hogs B, 18 hours before Birmingham Lions B’s travel up to Lancashire to face the C’s in a challenge match (Sunday 30th March - 16:00 Face Off).

The D team have played 2 challenge matches this term. A 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Bears F at Ice Sheffield followed by 9-2 defeat on Sunday at home to the Newcastle Wildcats B side. The D’s had only played 1 game prior to this at the end of November, losing at home to Sheffield 9-3. There are 2 fixtures left for the Metro’s before Nationals travelling to Newcastle on Tuesday 25th March (23:45 Face Off) and then hosting Birmingham Lions D on Sunday 30th March (22:45 Face Off) as part of a IceBull Varsity double header with the B team game taking place before.

The Women’s team have played 2 games this term in their league campaign. A 22-1 home victory against Leeds followed by a tight 4-3 defeat at the Braehead Arena to Glasgow saw the Metro’s finish 2nd. These 2 games follow 2 games in November with a 4-2 home victory to North East Angles at the start of the month followed by a 4-2 away defeat to Sheffield at the end of the month.

Final Standings:

						GP	W	D	L	Pts 	GF	GA	GD

Sheffield Bears Women		4	4	0	0	8	42	11	+31

Manchester Metros Women	4	2	0	2	4	31	11	+20

North East Angels			4	1	0	3	2	17	26	-9

Glasgow Stags Women[1]		4	1	1	2	2	6	20	-14

Leeds Gryphons Womens[2]	4	1	1	2	2	10	38	-28

[1] Glasgow Stags Women deducted 1 points for forfeit 

[2] Leeds Gryphons Womens deducted 1 points for forfeit 

Next up for the Metro’s is the Battle of Oxford Road as Manchester Metropolitan Uni take on the University of Manchester at Planet Ice Altrincham for the first time since 2013. Just over 300 tickets have been sold already with the University of Manchester having blocks 101-108 and Manchester Met Uni taking blocks 110-117.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Battle of Oxford Road - 22nd March - UOM v MMU - 17:00 Face Off - Altrincham Ice Rink

Challenge - 23rd March - Metros C v Wyre Seagulls (EIHA) - 22:45 Face Off - Altrincham

Challenge - 25th March - Newcastle B v Metros D - 23:45 Face Off - Whitley Bay

IceBull Varsity - 27th March - Birmingham Lions v Metros A - 19:00 Face Off - Solihull

Non Checking Div 3 - 29th March - Hull B v Metros C - Hull

Challenge - 30th March - Metros C v Birmingham B - 16:00 Face Off - Altrincham

Challenge - 30th March - Metros D v Birmingham D - 22:45 Face Off - Altrincham

Nationals Non Checking Tier 2 and 3 - 5th and 6th April - Sheffield

Nationals Non Checking Tier 1 and Women’s - 19th and 20th April - Sheffield

Nationals Checking Tier 1 and 2 - 26th and 27th April - Sheffield

National’s Tier Allocations:

Non Checking Tier 3:

Bristol Bloodhounds

Birmingham Lions D

Glasgow Stags C

Imperial Devils C

Leeds Gryphons D

Manchester Metros D

Newcastle Wildcats B

Northumbria Kings C

Nottingham Mavericks F

Sheffield Bears F

Sheffield Bears G

Southampton Spitfires D

UEA Avalanche B

Warwick/Coventry Panthers B

Non Checking Tier 2:

Birmingham Lions C

Cardiff Redhawks B

Hull Ice Hogs A

Hull Ice Hogs B

Imperial Devils B

Leeds Gryphons C

Manchester Metros C

Nottingham Mavericks D

Nottingham Mavericks E

Oxford Vikings C

Sheffield Bears D

Sheffield Bears E

Southampton Spitfires C

UCL Yetis B

Non Checking Tier 1:

Birmingham Lions B

Cambridge Huskies

Glasgow Stag B

Kent Knights

Leeds Gryphons B

Manchester Metros B

Newcastle Wildcats A

Northumbria Kings B

Nottingham Mavericks C

Oxford Vikings B

Sheffield Bears C

Southampton Spitfires B

UEA Avalanche A

Warwick/Coventry Panthers A

Women’s:

Birmingham Lions

Cambridge Uni Blues

Leeds Gryphons

Manchester Metros

North East Angles

Nottingham Mavericks

Oxford Uni Blues

Sheffield Bears

Southampton Spitfires

10th Team TBC

Checking Tier 1:

Cambridge

Edinburgh Eagles

Leeds A

London Dragons

Nottingham A

Oxford Uni Blues

Sheffield A

Southampton A

St Andrews Typhoons

UCL Yetis A

Checking Tier 2:

Birmingham A

Cardiff A

Glasgow A

Imperial Devils A

Manchester A

Northumbria A

Nottingham B

Oxford A

Sheffield B