With all the games complete in gameweek 10, the scores for the quarter final of the FHL UK Cup are now complete, unless there are minor gamesheet changes by the Elite League before we move to gameweek 11 at midnight on Tuesday.
We had four close results with “Chases Chasers” having the highest score of the week. In our fixture of the week “Royals” beat “You Set My Heart On Fire” by 30 points. Thankfully “Royals” didn’t follow our advice and pick Trevor Cox as captain, as he scored 0 points in the gameweek. The captains pick did prove to be the difference though as GM Stuart played it safe with Scott Conway who picked up 88 points overall. “You Set My Heart On Fire” GM Jamie King went for Daniel Tedesco who just had 14 points doubled to 28. After Josh Waller picked up 40 points the scores between the two teams were dead level without the captain’s picks being added. If Scott Conway would have been picked as captain as well then we would have gone to a tiebreaker.
For our semi final preview we are going to look at “Hard to Yandle” against “Chases Chasers”.
In goal it should be advantage to “Chases Chasers” as they have the second top scorer in the league in Matt Greenfield, as well as Jackson Whistle who has been splitting time in the Belfast goal. For “Hard to Yandle” they have Paavo Holsa for Coventry who will start all three games for Coventry and could be a contender for a captains pick with having games against Dundee, Glasgow and Fife. However, James Downie is the other option in goal who is very unlikely to start Manchester’s one game.
What “Hard to Yandle” may lose in goal they make up for in defence with an extremely strong blueline. Matt Petgrave, Nathanael Halbert, Gabe Bast and Bradley Lalonde are the top scorers in the game this year and with Marcus Crawford also in there you have someone who will also put-up solid points. “Chases Chasers” also have Lalonde, and have good points production from David Clements, Sebastien Piche and Drydn Dow. However, they aren’t at the top of defenceman scoring charts. Reece Cochrane and Archie Hazeldine are good options for 4.0M but aren’t likely to have big scoring weeks either.
Up front both teams have Scott Conway, David Goodwin and Daniel Ciampini but there are six forwards who aren’t in common across both teams. “Hard to Yandle” have Manchester duo Jesper Ohrvall and Ryan Barrow who have cooled slightly after a really fast start. Manchester only play once this gameweek though, so GM Drew Williams will need a high scoring game for the Storm. Elijiah Barriga and Daniel Tedesco are in the top ten in scoring so have the potential to make a big difference. “Chases Chasers” have Glasgow duo Mathieu Roy and Gary Haden who have been struggling along with the rest of the Clan squad. Flames duo Owen Griffiths and Robert Lachowicz are also in the team for GM Charlie Firth, but neither are known for high points production.
We think overall “Chases Chasers” have an advantage in goal but “Hard to Yandle” have a bit more scoring in defence and up front, so are the FHL UK pick to make the final. As ever though captain’s picks could prove vital.
Good luck to both teams in their quest to make the final.
