By Tom Pink
Whatever your opinion, you can’t say that they aren’t willing to act. You can’t say that they aren’t actively trying to find solutions.
With Joe Tearall and Scott Anda leaving, the club have gone out and replaced them with two forwards in Courtney Grant and Matt Ganas who have proven NIHL South 1 quality and a AAA pedigree respectively. That’s some bit of business.
I wrote at the start of the season that I thought expectations would have shifted due to losing key players and the change of staff. Although I still believe that anyone watching wouldn’t have expected Haringey to go and win the league this year, the club obviously feels that there remains an opportunity for success in the playoffs. And that that opportunity lies without Head Coach Pete Taylor.
I didn’t see this coming at all (I only found out when someone WhatsApp’d me the club statement) and was completely knocked for a loop, both because it comes two-thirds of the way into the season and only five months into Pete’s tenure.
I think he can feel hard done by. It can’t have been an easy season to come into, especially as the only coach on the bench. However you think this season is going, I think there’s some factors that anyone would have found it hard to deal with.
Firstly, the situation around the netminder over the summer, and up to the end of October, had us living with uncertainty and started us off on the back foot, especially having had such solidity in that position for the past few seasons.
Secondly, we’re operating in a year where there are two other teams who are just very good. Peterborough strengthened significantly over the off-season. Guildford continue to be a dominant force. There’s still just the one regulation-time loss between them this year.
I’m not sure what Pete could have done about either of those. He oversees a fantastic 4-1 win in the league against the Phantoms, and takes us as close as we’ve ever been to a league win over the Phoenix.
The club will point to a woeful showing in the Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup, points thrown away on the road at Oxford, and a lacklustre Wilkinson Cup semi-final against Guildford.
You’ll make your own mind up about whether it was the right decision or not. If they go and win the playoffs, they’re vindicated. Fail to make it to Sheffield, and you wonder what all the fuss was about.
For me, it feels harsh, it’s ruthless, yet it’s a reflection of the club’s hunger and desire for success, and I do find that hard to argue with. Haringey want to win, they want success. They will have spotted something that they believe they can exploit, and the prospect of another year without silverware will have spurred them to act. The club has to come above all else.
Everything now will be geared towards finishing in the best place possible for the playoff quarter-finals. Realistically that’s third or fourth. Winning the remaining five league games is vital, and with Invicta one point better off and both games against them still to play, results will be make or break.
There’s many questions that are still unanswered: What does this mean for the long-term? Will they look to recruit again in the summer, or will Coach Sampson make a permanent return? Will Sam Roberts be a fixture on the bench from now on? It was fantastic to see him back at the Palace on Saturday, and we could sorely do with his leadership both on and off the ice.
Whatever happened on Sunday, it was always going to be difficult to overturn the deficit from Saturday. After the gut punch that was the 4-5 against them the weekend before, I did expect Haringey to throw everything at Guildford in the semi-final. What did they have to lose?
We started badly. We came out and looked timid, a bit tentative, and we didn’t take the game to Guildford at all. Certainly nothing like our performance the weekend before, the good parts of it anyway!
The Phoenix take the lead; a pass across centre ice is received on the blue line, the forward holds off his man and chips in from close on the right.
We equalise soon after; Marton Szasz picks it up on the left, twists and slings it nearside down by the bottom corner making a very good tight finish.
Guildford are back in front moments later though. We lose possession on the boards and the puck’s turned over. They bring it across the slot and the Phoenix forward goes 5-hole at the crease.
They get their third soon after. One Guildford player holds off and beats three Haringey skaters in our zone. Dylan Phillips makes the save, but the rebound comes out and Phoenix make no mistake; 3-1 and we should have done a lot better for all their goals.
We improved in the second. There’s pressure on the Guildford net early on, but they survive and manage to scramble clear. Pete Toth puts another bomb on net from a very similar position to his goal against them the week before, but it’s saved this time.
It’s another couple of goals in quick succession. Guildford extend their lead with a one-timer from the hash marks, but Haringey peg them back instantly; Jaden Boolkah hits one from the point which is partially gloved but slips out and trickles over the goal line. 2-4.
We have spells. Matt Ganas and Ryan Payne have opportunities. Stephen Woodford goes on a mad one across both lines but his shot fails to beat the Guildford netminder. The period fizzles out; very stop-start with penalties on both sides.
Once they’re ahead, Guildford rarely let you back in. There’s a flurry of Huskies’ chances at the start of the third, with Matt Hepburn and Bryn Griffiths having shots saved. Benet Beldecos comes racing out of the box, 1-on-1 but can’t score from the right. Needed to move the goalie more. Marton finds Courtney at the back door who can only shoot wide.
Guildford end it with a simple goal, direct as you like. Puck’s turned over in the o-zone, they find the forward across centre ice who’s hugging the blue line and he races away to finish from the crease. All over, 2-5 Guildford.
I couldn’t make it to the Spectrum for the second leg, and even with scoring three goals there it wasn’t enough to keep Guildford out and turn the tide. Haringey go down 5-3 on the night, and 10-5 on aggregate.
I’d like to finish here with some thanks to Pete, who I think’s done a good job under difficult circumstances. His time, effort, and dedication over the short period he’s been at the helm should not be forgotten or easily dismissed.
Pete’s always spoken well and openly about his time here in the bits he’s put out for the fans, and whatever you might think of the results, I don’t think it’s ever been for a lack of effort.
It can’t be easy taking charge of a club like Haringey that has such a relentless desire for success. It’s cliched, but ultimately it’s a results business, and some key results just eluded him this year, and the club feels it can get them going in another direction. The very, very best to Pete in whatever he does next. Anyone who represents the Huskies is deserving of our respect, in my opinion.
It’s all change again.
The run-in to the end of the season and playoffs is going to be electric. Fascinating, heart-in-mouth stuff and I just hope that they can reset and kick-on from here.
It starts this weekend. It starts on the road against Bristol. Let’s see what’s changed.
Let’s Go Huskies.