THE LEA Valley Lions roared on Saturday as they banished a four game losing streak and plucked the Slough Harrier Hawks feathers.
The Lions den was the scene of the 16-1 demolition job in the English National Ice Hockey League South Two clash.
The prospects looked good inside the first minute when the Lions thought they had the puck in the Harriers net. But the siren stayed silent and the referee ruled it did not cross the line.
That blip was soon forgotten when Stas Prokofiev deked the Harriers net-minder from a Nick Alley pass, to open the scoring.
Within a minute, new boy Nathan Higgins was in the perfect position to tip home after Ashley Curtin had broken down the flanks and played a centring pass.
The Harriers net-minder had his work cut out but did regularly repel the rampant Lions. But the hosts scented blood and fired home another four to end the first session six goals up.
A brace from Michael Ranby, and one each from Ashley Curtin and Gennadi Yufit did the damage.
Lee Valley faced their first real test early in the second when they conceded two penalties in quick succession and were forced onto the back foot. But they rode out the spell to emerge unscathed.
Michael Ranby made it 7–0 as he scored his hat-trick, picking up his own rebound and slotting a backhand shot home.
Further goals coming from Ruslanas Jegorovas and Michael Ranby, again, made it 9–0.
The big one zero was a gem to rank alongside the best seen at the Lea Bridge Road rink, spectators have said.
Nick Alley skated down the left side as Gennadi Yufit got into position by the goal. He then sent a perfect pass onto Yufit stick who slotted it home.
Michael Ranby netted his fifth on a delayed penalty call to make the score 11–0 at the buzzer.
Into the final period, Stas Prokofiev made it 12 to the Lions.
The Harriers fired in their solitary goal, in the 44th minute, but it was neither the start of a come back nor much of a consolation.
Ranby hit his sixth and Ashlee Cave his first of the season during a power-play.
Alley added to the rout.
By now it was all too much to bear for the Harriers net-minder. He was banished to the sin-bin for abusing the officials.
James Hatfull rounded things off with a 16th goal at 59m 57s.
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