Guildford Lightning are a women’s ice hockey team that play in the British Women’s League Premier Division and we are very lucky to have Daniella West (a longstanding Flames and Lightning fan) giving us updates and match reports on how the Guildford Lightning progress this season. Daniella writes a blog called ‘Strike the Puck’ where you can find even more info on how the Lightning has done over the past few years. Like the Guildford Flames, Lightning play their home games at Guildford Spectrum, but admission is free so no excuse not to go and support our local women’s team!
At 6.30pm on Sunday 13 October 2013 the Guildford Lightning will hit the ice for the first time this season for their League opener against Slough. The game will be Lightning’s first without Louise Adams, Louisa Durnell, Chelsea MacKenzie, Hannah Perkins and Jade Campbell, who all played their last game for Guildford earlier on this year at the end of the previous season (2012/2013). Additions to bolster the team so far are Meghan Sullivan and Paige Parker. However, the Lightning have kept regular players for the upcoming season, including Samantha Bolwell, Kirsty Lake, Kirsty England, Ali Emery and captain Lucy Johnson.
The match up sees the Surrey side visited by Berkshire based Slough Phantoms who were the last visitors to the Spectrum prior to the Playoffs at Sheffield. The game saw Guildford win 5-2 and advance to the Playoffs, where they came away with a 3rd place seeding after a 1-0 loss to Bracknell Queen Bees. Bracknell went on to lose 3-2 in the final and Kingston Diamonds were crowned Playoff Champions.
Slough Phantoms shared the same fate as their Men’s EPL side, Slough Jets by missing out on a look in for the 2013 Playoffs. Looks like a 2013 thing in Slough for that to happen to their men’s and women’s team.
Guildford came close to winning the league but eventually ended up third, eight points behind back-to-back league winners Bracknell Queen Bees. The Lightning ended their 2012/2013 league season with a very respectable 11 wins, 0 draws and 5 losses and her hoping to better that this year.
One to Watch: Jordan Wilshire
After joining Guildford during the season in 2012, young forward Jordan Wilshire is back with the club for her second season, albeit her first full one at the Lightning. The young forward is no stranger to scoring, having bagged two hat-tricks in separate games last season. Jordan is a player who deserves to remain at a top team like Guildford as she is highly skilful- watch out Slough Phantoms!
Daniella West
Daniella’s blog can be found at http://strikethepuck.wordpress.com/