AFTER two weeks of action in various cup competitions the Chelmsford Chieftains were in league action for the first time this season.
And the defence of their league championship crown got off to a great start with maximum points over the two games against Cardiff NIHL Devils and Invicta Dynamos.
On Saturday, Cardiff were the visitors to Riverside and the Chieftains had to work hard for their 4-2 win.
Chieftains were without Ben Clements, Alex Staples and Grant Bartlett. Warriors netminder Sonny Phillips came into the squad as back-up and another Warrior, Bailey Chittock, was also on Chieftains duty, not for the first time this season.
From the puck drop, it was evident that the Devils had come to defend and held the Chieftains to a 0-0 first period.
But just over a minute into the second period, the deadlock was broken. Great link-up play between James Ayling, Ross Brears and Martin Piecha ended with the latter slotting the puck past a stranded Luke Takel.
John Connolly was sin-binned for interference. And a minute later the visitors took advantage of the extra man and were level, Jamie Hayes the scorer.
But the Welsh side's celebrations were short-lived and eight seconds after the restart Ayling netted to give his side the lad again.
With two minutes of the second period remaining Michael Ranby was given two minutes for cross-checking. And once again Cardiff took advantage, Kieran Latchford scoring to tie the game at 2-2.
In the final period, goals from Darren Brown and Lukas Zatopek secured the win.
Sunday saw one of the Chieftains' main title rivals travel to the Riverside.
From the off, Chieftains looked in dominant form and Danny Hammond gave them the lead against his former club.
A powerplay goal from Piecha at 25.40 made it 2-0 and Chieftains looked to be cruising to victory.
But at the halfway point of the game, Chieftains hit penalty trouble with Ranby sent to the sin-bin for interference. More penalties were to come in the period, Brears and Ryan Giles the guilty parties.
King, who was between the pipes for the Chieftains, was forced into a couple of good saves, but the home side worked hard in the six minutes of five on four to close the Dynamos down.
Two minutes into the final period, the Dynamos' attempt at a comeback was hampered as club captain Anthony Leone was sent to the dressing room after receiving a game misconduct from the referee.
Chieftains began to pile on the pressure and, with ten minutes remaining, Brears beat Douglas to almost guarantee the points.
Further powerplay goals from Brown and Zatopek completed the job, the only disappointment coming 57 seconds from the buzzer when a lapse in concentration in the Chieftains defence allowed Greg Chambers to spoil King's shutout attempt.
But 5-1 on the night and maximum points over the weekend was a great result for the defending champions.
This weekend, the Chieftains are at Bracknell Hornets in league action on Saturday.
Then, on Sunday, they return to the Bracknell ice pad to face the Premier League Bees in the English Challenge Cup.
At Riverside the Chelmsford Warriors are in action in NIHL Division Two South action against the Invicta Mustangs on Sunday (6.30pm face-off).
