Romford Buccaneers coach pleased with double-digit display

Having skated to a 12-2 home win over their rivals at the Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre, Buccaneers recorded a 10-1 victory in the return meeting at the weekend.

And although they now face a free weekend, Buckman wants them to maintain momentum in December, when they face Oxford City Stars and Chelmsford Chieftains home and away.

“I was happy with the performance and result at the weekend,” said Buckman.

“It was nice to see scoring across the line-up once again and confidence growing in the team.

“We have to keep the positivity moving forward up to Christmas, and the next few fixtures which can be a turning point for our season.”

Ewan Hill netted the only goal of the opening period and, after Brynley Capps and Luca Pascale had struck in the middle session, recorded his 100th point for Romford’s second string when he made it 4-0 on a powerplay.

Courtney Grant and Pascale widened the gap to six in the final session, before the home side ended the shutout hopes of Niks Romahs, who was making his first start between the pipes in place of Sonny Phillips.

And Buccs scored four more times in the closing 8.41 of play, through Kobe Grinell-Parke, Shay Woolmore, Capps and Hill, whose shorthanded effort took them into double figures for a second successive week.

Hill also overtook Tjay Anderson as the all-time leading goalscorer for the team – in its various different guises as Spitfires, Fury, Raiders 2 and Buccaneers – as he moved to 58.

“The lines are starting to become settled and players are hitting form and that’s going to be huge for us to stay focused and competitive in every game,” added Buckman.

Buccs return to action at Oxford on December 3 (6.15pm), then host the City Stars on December 9 (5.15pm), before visiting Chelmsford the following night (6pm).

They end their 2023 schedule with a visit from the Chieftains on December 16.