Canadian Peter Vaisanen led the way on Saturday as his four goals helped the Invicta Dynamos avoid a potential banana skin on the south coast by overcoming league basement boys Solent & Gosport 10-3 in the NIHL South Division 1.
The Dynamos started their double header weekend with a trip further south but they showed little sign of coach legs when they arrived at the compact Gosport Ice Rink as they broke the deadlock within 45 seconds. Captain Andy Smith fed import Peter Vaisanen who drilled beyond netminder Christian Cole for the opener. The hosts, who have provided stubborn resistance on their own ice throughout 2012/13, recovered from their early setback though and they pulled level in the sixth minute – Mitchell Murray and Kent Johnson combining before George Norcliffe found a way beyond David Wride. They were then able to hold out, despite being out shot by 36 efforts to 14, until just moments before the buzzer as an excellent display from netminder Christian Cole made the Dynamos work for their first period lead. Again the first line trio of Andy Smith, Peter Vaisanen and Callum Fowler did the damage – Fowler the man to fire in and make the score 2-1 come the close of the frame.
Despite the shot count showing that the ice was tilted, Solent fought back at the start of the second and restored parity within three minutes. George Norcliffe was the scorer for the hosts once again with line mates Mitchell Murray and Kent Johnson having a hand in the goal. However, soon after, a slashing minor to Andrew Goddard gifted the visitors the extra man and they made use of the powerplay – Peter Vaisanen claiming his second of the evening to put his side 3-2 to the good. Having provided stubborn opposition throughout the evening, gutsy Gosport then fell out of sight towards the close of the period as they conceded three times in two minutes to trail 6-2. Their demise began when, despite Nicky Lewis being sent to sit a roughing minor for the Dynamos, the away side netted whilst shorthanded with Callum Best beating Christian Cole following work from Justin Noble and Jack Tarczycki. Just moments later, and an interference call to Andrew Goddard saw the visitors go from a man down to a man up and they duly made the difference count – Andy Smith putting the puck away on the powerplay. To compound Solent’s misery, Callum Fowler then doubled his personal tally for the evening with the last of the frame to give the Dynamos a four goal cushion heading into the third.
In the final period the away side picked up where they had left off and Peter Vaisanen’s hat-trick completing third saw them secure a commanding 7-2 edge. However, to their credit, Solent continued to battle on and they pulled one back soon after courtesy of Greg Wyatt – Richard Nembhard and Kristopher Abbott claiming assists. Nevertheless, another quickfire trio from the Dynamos condemned the plucky hosts to an emphatic 10-3 defeat as the visitors struck three times in as many minutes close to time. Justin Noble sent the puck over the line to make it 8-3 before a shorthanded effort from Callum Fowler saw the forward match Peter Vaisanen’s feat and complete a hat-trick of his own. Not to be out done, the Canadian then went one better with the last of the evening bringing his tally to four and putting the Dynamos into double figures – Andy Smith and Callum Fowler claiming points in the build up to the strike.
So it was a comfortable victory for the away side who overcame a dogged Devils team to avoid a slip-up and claim the two league points. Solent & Gosport netminder Christian Cole did well to concede just 10 of 81 shots on his net and goalie could be in demand when clubs go hunting in the summer. Meanwhile Nathaniel Rose picked up the man of the match beers for the Dynamos.
Picture supplied by David Trevallion