Channel Contest 2014 - Report

Southampton Jaguars win the Channel Cup 2014!
First of all the Jags would like to say "Merci Yohann Labreux for the great hospitality. J'adore Rouen!" We hope to see you again next year to defend our title!.




The Jags took an experienced squad of players to Rouen which included the likes of Ian Parsons, Mark Barrow, Jim West and they had Chris Orme in net.
Day 1 of the tournament involved 3 group games.
First up was a tough encounter against an exuberant Elite Juniors team. The Jags started strong and went up 5-1 in the first period with goals from A.West, Vas, Weedon and Barrow.
In the 2nd period the Jags carried on as they started to take the game to 7-1 with A.West eventually tallying up a total of 4 goals. The Jags then seemed to rest on their laurels or maybe tiredness played a part as the Elite Juniors replied with 4 goals in 5 minutes, but the Jags held out and the 1st game finished 7-5. MoM Adam West - Spirit of the Game J.West

The second game was similar to the first with the Jags starting well and going in after the break 3-1 up with a brace from Vas and 1 from A.West.
In the 2nd period the Jags had learned quickly from their first game and did not sit back and kept the opposition on the back foot with the game finishing 8-1 with the rest of the goals from Parsons (2), Randula (2) and Weedon. MoM Parsons - Spirit of the Game M.Barrow

3rd and final game of the day was against the hosts Cyclones. The Jags went down with a 3-6 loss. A brace from A.West and 1 from J.West was not enough to out score the experienced Cyclones. The Jags seemed to get rattled and it showed as they tallied up 26 minutes in penalties, with N.Perry getting the most with 8 minutes. MoM J.West - Spirit of the Game I.Parsons

After a bit of team bonding the night before, the guys were ready for the quarter finals!
The Jags were to face Phoenix. Each team exchanged heavy blows with Phoenix taking an early lead in the 4th minute, Jags replied almost straight away with a solo effort from Weedon to level up at 1 all. The Jags then went up 2 - 1 from Barrow but it was Phoenix this time to reply straight away to make it 2 all. A minute before the break, Jags took a lead by N.Perry with his first of the tournament to make it 3 - 2 but yet again they could not hold out and Phoenix went into the break at 3 all.
After a good team talk, the Jags were able to iron out their issues and were able to refocus on their game plan, and this showed early on as the Jags took a 2 goal advantage via Parsons and J.West within the first 5 minutes of the 2nd period but yet again Phoenix replied and just reduced it to a 1 goal advantage to the Jags. This goal seemed to spark A.West into life as he returned with a brace and then a 9th from Barrow ended the game 9 - 4. MoM M.Barrow - Spirit of the Game A.West

Onto the semi final the Jags faced the tournament favourites the Warriors, the Jags were a man down as Parsons took a knock in the previous game. They topped their group unbeaten and were in the better form out of the two.
It was the Jags who started the better out of the two with Barrow scoring in the 5th minute from Vas. They then got the second with a cheeky Michigan goal from Vas. The Warriors then hit back with 2 quickfire goals to make it 2 all but the Jags replied via N.Perry to go into the break 3 - 2 up.
Into the 2nd period it was a very tight and cautious affair but with the pendulum swinging in favour with the Warriors as the Jags were racking up penalties the equaliser was always looking likely. So it did, in the the 33rd minute, a power play goal led to the game being all square after 36 minutes... so to sudden death overtime.
After a quick team briefing the Jags felt it would be best to get the game done and dusted as soon as possible as fatigue was playing a big part with just 2 lines compared to their 3. So 56 seconds into the overtime, Vas won the faceoff to A.West who slotted around the goalie. Jags make the final of the Channel Contest 2014. MoM C.Orme - Spirit of the Game Vas

Onto the Final...
The Jags were to face the hosts the Cyclones....the team they lost 3 - 6 too in the group stages.
The Jags were very fatigued and started sloppy, this showed when they allowed Allan Labreux an open shot on the goalie after 5 mins who ruthlessly finished to allow his team to go 1 - 0 up. For the majority of the half the Jags were holding on but eventually struck back after 13 minutes from Weedon. The Jags were not content with just equalising before the half but after good team play took the lead through Randula 1 minute before the break. Jags 2 - 1 up.
At half time not much was said apart from keep it steady and keep the puck, as everyone seemed to be running on empty they were all just trying to refuel and get some oxygen on board.
Into the Second, the Jags came straight out of the traps and Vas scored the 3rd from A.West after just 7 seconds! And again another 45 seconds later Jags made it 4 - 1 with A.West, his 10th in 6 games. The Cyclones fought back and were able to capitalise on a J.West penalty in the 21st minute and made it 4 - 2. In the end the Jags were too dominant and J.West finished off the scoring with an effort from his own half to finish the final 5-2.