Lakosil Stars For Dundee In Challenge Cup Win

By Love Belfast

September 4, 2015

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The Stena Line Belfast Giants failed to get their 2015/16 campaign off the the start they wanted, falling 3-0 to the Dundee Stars in a Challenge Cup Group A clash. A shutout by netminder Vlastimil Lakosil as well as two strikes by Curtis Leinweber either side of a Bobby Chaumont goal ensured the hosts went straight to the top of Group A following their comprehensive home win.

The Giants began the game with Mitch Ganzak making his debut for the Belfast side, following his mid-week arrival, with the team’s most recent signing Mike Radja arriving next week ahead of the opening home game against the Manchester Storm onSaturday 12th September at The SSE Arena, Belfast.

The first period of the season was an even one, with both sides putting twelve shots on their opposing netminders. However, with only 26 seconds remaining, Derrick Walser was penalised for high sticks and the Stars awarded a penalty shot – with Curtis Leinweber slotting the puck into the roof of the Giants net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Dundee did not look back and took the game to Belfast in the opening minutes of the second period and immediately got their reward. With Brett Switzer sitting out two minutes for a too many men call – Bobby Chaumont, assisted by David Turon and goalscorer Leinweber, scored shorthanded for the Stars to leave the Giants stunned and 2-0 behind.

2:37 later the score was 3-0 and it was that man Leinweber again, assisted by Lou Dickenson and Kevin Hart, leaving the Giants with a mountain to climb only 22:37 into the game.

Despite dominating play for the remainder of the game and outshooting the Stars 28-17, the Giants could not find a way past Vlastimil Lakosil in the Dundee goal and the hosts took the two points with a 3-0 win.