Ice hockey fans were treated to a 21-goal scoring fest when the Bison faced Guildford Flames on Saturday and then Bracknell Bees the following day.
Despite notching up six goals, the Herd could not overhaul the Flames’ seven-goal tally in the first clash. The Bison took on the Flames in a packed Basingstoke arena on the Saturday. The home side were hoping to end the visitors’ unbeaten league record.
Sam Oakford returned to the starting line-up after missing last week’s double header against Slough Jets following an injury.
Forward Chris Wiggins missed out due to a neck injury and was replaced by Callum Best.
The Bison took the lead in the fifth minute, with Ciaran Long scoring a back-hand off a rebound from a Steve Moria shot.
The Flames managed to net an equaliser though man-of-the-match, Matt Towe.
At the end of the first period, Ollie Bronnimann ensured the Bison went into the break leading 2-1.
After the restart, David Savage slotted in the equaliser.
It only took a minute for the home side to take the lead after an own goal from Flame’s Paul Dixon while attempting to clear Miroslav Hala’s save off Ondrej Lauko.
Former Bison Neil Liddiard equalised, bringing the scores level at three goals each in the second period.
The Herd then replied with two goals in 39 seconds, with Lauko and Long taking the honours.
Before the close of the second period, the Flames’ David Longstaff helped keep them in the game, scoring 10 minutes before the end of the whistle.
The final session saw the Herd start with a three-goal advantage, with Lauko completing his hat-trick after the restart.
The Flames, however, clawed back into contention, scoring twice in 14 seconds. Towe grabbed his second before being followed by Nathan Rempel, bringing the game to six all.
Ben Campbell grabbed the winning goal 10 minutes before the end from a Rempel set-up.
The Herd set things right with another high scoring thriller away to Bracknell on Sunday, coming away with a 5 – 3 win.
The first period was ended with both sides one a piece, with Tony Redmond scoring for the Herd and Jaroslav Cesky replying for the home side.
The match for the Herd was won in the second session as they built up a 4-1 lead, with two goals from Viktor Kubenko and Ollie Bronnimann getting the fourth.
Bee’s Alex Barker scored just before the second buzzer.
Michal Pinc put the home side within a goal of the Herd’s four, scoring five minutes into the final period.
Victory was secured through Bison man-of-the-match Ciaran Long, who grabbed the Herd’s fifth of the night, five minutes from time.
The Bison face Sheffield Steeldogs in a weekend double header, at home on Saturday and away on Sunday.
