Tycoons and Aces Lay Down Gauntlets in CIHL Hockey Openers

Ice Hockey—CIHL Hong Kong

Puck-drop by Stefan Pouliot of main Sponsor Quam Financial Services under the watchful eye of CIHL Officials, Jeff Nankivell, Canada Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau, (wearing Canada Jersey) and other guests to start the 2016-17 season for the Hong Kong CIHL league at Mega Ice on Thursday Oct 6, 2016. Bill Cox/Epoch Times

HONG KONG—As usual for the opening event of the year there was a ceremonial puck drop to kick off the season with key sponsor representatives in attendance.

The occasion was also graced with the presence of Jeff Nankivell the recently appointed Canada Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau. This continues the support by the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong for the CIHL league. On this occasion the Consul General was sporting a No 1 jersey and cap of the successful Canadian team in the recent 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The puck-drop was by Stefan Pouliot of main sponsors Quam Financial Services.

Jim Fanstone of Hong Kong Tycoons catches the puck during their match with South China Sharks in the opening game of the 2016-17 CIHL hockey league at Meg Ice on Thursday Oct 6, 2016. Bill Cox/Epoch Times

In the opening round of the 2016-17 season the Hong Kong Tycoons and the Macau Aces got down to stamping their authority on the sporting proceedings. Tycoons came away with a 7-2 result against South China Sharks, while Macau Aces in the 2nd match of the evening pulled away to a 9-3 victory over Kowloon Warriors.

In the early match, Patrick Waller got Tycoons rolling against the Sharks with a strike in the 6th minute of session 1. Tycoons then chalked up 4 more goals in stanza 2 with Ronald Fishman, Lucas Eshleman, Joel Ankarberg and Waller (his 2nd) adding to the scoresheet. Sharks could only muster 1 goal in reply by Jamie Stark to go into the break at 5-1.

Jim Fanstone of Tycoons added to Sharks misery by taking a brace after the break, and a 2nd in the match for Stark brought up the 7-2 final score.

Macau Aces goal under pressure from Devin Welsh of Kowloon Warriors in their CIHL season opener at Mega Ice on Thursday Oct 6, 2016. Bill Cox/Epoch Times

In the Aces to Warriors match it was even pegging in session 1 with Michael Yoshino scoring an 8th minute goal for Warriors and Ryan Wong equalizing for Aces just a minute later. Warriors pushed ahead to 3-1 with early goals in the 2nd session from Eric McKenna and Devin Welsh, but then the onslaught started with 5 goals by Aces with Magnus Berglind, Stefan Northman, Yannick Wong, Jeff Ceccacci and Dennis Lo making their mark to take them into the break on 6-3.

Further goals by Marcus Taeck, Magnus Berglind and Fenton Garvie in the final session wrapped up a 9-3 win for Aces.

Face-off between Devin Welsh of Kowloon Warriors and Jeff Ceccacci of Macau Aces during their match in the CIHL at Mega Ice on Oct 6, 2016. Bill Cox/Epoch Times

This week

Thursday’s (Oct 13) matches (Round 2 of the CIHL) at Mega Ice, Kowloon are Sharks against Warriors while Tycoons confront Aces.