Cam Hough broke the NIHL National record for goals in a season as the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms comfortably dispatched of the Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday night. Hough notched his 62nd and 63rd goals of the season, surpassing Kieran Brown’s record of 61.
It was a frantic start from the first puck drop as both sides went in search of a quick early opener. Ralfs Circenis and Luke Ferrara saw efforts saved, whilst Janne Jokinen was denied by Hayden Lavigne.
MKL went close again when Josh Kelly chased in a rebound after a Lavigne save, but fired wide, whilst Hough was hooked as he attempted to finish off a clever feed from Janne Laakkonen.
Despite the chances, the opening goal didn’t come until the second period. It took just 33 seconds of the middle period for the Phantoms to strike, as Laakkonen pounced on a close range rebound for 1-0.
MKL hit back a few moments later when Sean Norris chased the rebound from his own blue line effort to send the puck into the back of the net.
And after Dominik Gabaj was denied from in close, it was Archie Salisbury who shot through traffic to put the Lightning ahead.
But Phantoms were in no mood to hang around and hit straight back two minutes later when Morgan Clarke-Pizzo got the finishing touch on a goal against his former side.
Then, with Norris and Patrik Forsberg in the penalty box, Phantoms nudged ahead again as Janne on the spot, Laakkonen, tapped home a similar goal to his first.
And on the second man advantage, Dillon Lawrence blasted home a trademark one timer from the middle of the zone.
The period was rounded off in perfect fashion as Hough jumped off the bench, into the play, and slapped home his 62nd goal of the season to take the league record for goals in a season and send the Phantoms fans into raptures.
Hough returned for the third with a weight off his shoulders and added his second of the night just 32 seconds into the final period, scoring from close range after some lovely work behind goal from Laakkonen.
Luke Ferrara added goal number seven with a big shot from the blue line as the Phantoms went five ahead.
Toms Rutkis grabbed MKL’s third and final goal of the game when his close range effort looped in over the glove of Lavigne.
But the scoring was rounded off by Laakkonen, who completed his hat-trick when he swept home another from in close.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 8-3 Milton Keynes Lightning
Phantoms goals:
20:33 (PP 1-0 MK): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #14 Dillon Lawrence / #2 Tom Norton (PPG)
34:16 (PP 2-2 MK): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #11 Scott Robson / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
36:50 (PP 3-2 MK): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #29 Cam Hough / #14 Dillon Lawrence (PPG)
37:16 (PP 4-2 MK): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
39:27 (PP 5-2 MK): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
40:32 (PP 6-2 MK): #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
43:31 (PP 7-2 MK): #19 Luke Ferrara / #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
56:15 (PP 8-3 MK): #62 Janne Laakkonen (Hat-Trick) / #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
MKL goals:
23:40 (PP 1-1 MK): #86 Sean Norris / #23 Dominik Gabaj / #10 Toms Rutkis (EHG)
32:15 (PP 1-2 MK): #4 Archie Salisbury / #63 Janne Jokinen / #5 Jordan Spadafore (EHG)
51:11 (PP 7-3 MK): #10 Toms Rutkis / #23 Dominik Gabaj / #17 Mac Howlett (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #29 Cam Hough
MKL man of the match: #37 Patrik Forsberg