“WE STILL believe we can achieve our goal.”
That was the message from Bracknell Bees player-coach Lukas Smital after his side ended an 11-game losing run with a 7-2 victory over Hull Pirates on Sunday night.
The goals were shared around the side with Alex Barker (2), Shaun Thompson, Smital, Carl Thompson, Olegs Lascenko and Harvey Stead all on the score sheet as Bees stormed away in the final period to pick up maximum points.
And Smital admits the win was needed to keep spirits high.
“We kept working hard and we believed and it finally paid off for us,” he told The Wokingham Paper.
“We had a good, disciplined game and we had a few good breaks there and we finally put the puck in the net.
“You always believe you can turn things around, that’s why you do what you do.
“I’ve been around sport a long time to see both sides of the table.
“You always go to the game to win and you feel that win eventually comes and makes a big difference to everyone’s confidence.”
Bees had to wait until right at the end of the first period to break the deadlock thanks to a powerful Stead strike.
The second period saw blows traded with two goals each, Lee Bonner and Ugnius Cizas for the hosts and Smital and Barker for the Bees.
And the visitors pressed home their advantage in the third period after seeing out a difficult spell when Hull had an extra man following a Smital hooking penalty.
Four goals in the third stanza came from the Thompson brothers, Lascenko and Barker to wrap up a joint biggest win of the whole campaign.
“It just went for us,” said Smital.
“Hull are still a good team but like I say, we had good breaks and the momentum was on our side pretty much the whole game and that made a big difference.
“I think our penalty kill is pretty strong anyway and we just kept going in that third period. We didn’t change anything, we stuck with what was working for two periods and it paid off, scoring three goals late on.”
Hopes of snatching the final play-off place in the EPIHL looked bleak after losing 4-0 to the side currently sitting in that spot, Sheffield Steeldogs, last weekend.
But after the gap was closed to six points with the win over the Pirates, Smital retains belief that his side can sneak above them.
“Hockey in this country is a game of breaks,” he said.
“There’s a good bunch of guys here and we still believe we can achieve our goal and we’re going for it.
“There are still 17 games left. We are playing two tough teams this weekend (Basingstoke Bison and Milton Keynes Lightning), two of the top teams in the league.
“We are going to do our best to get a result. That’s the way we have to approach it.”
And Smital also had special praise for youngster Rio Grinnel-Parke.
The teenager, who was called up to Great Britain’s Under-18 squad last week, was named Bees man-of-the-match during Saturday’s defeat to Telford Tigers and has been in fine form after making his breakthrough into the first team.
“He’s been great,” said Smital.
“When he started I told him what the deal was, that you have to prove yourself and keep working hard. You have to be coachable, you have to have a great attitude and he ticks all the boxes.
“He was patient, he waited for his chance, he had a little bit of ice, then he got a little bit more ice and at the moment I reckon in the last few games he was phenomenal for us.
“He is doing all the little things that I’m asking him to do and he’s on great form.
“I’m really pleased for him that he made the GB team and he’s playing well for us.”
Bees go to Basingstoke on Saturday (6.30pm) before hosting MK on Sunday (6pm).
