Fire Overcomes Fire as Flames Beat Blaze in Pre-Season Action

Published on: 6 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 6 Sep, 2026

In an old fashioned throwback evening where the fight count made it to four, Flames picked up a 7–2 pre-season victory over fellow Elite Leaguers Coventry Blaze at Spectrum, racing into a two-goal lead through the opening frame to set them on the winning path.

The home team struck early in the Pre-Season Challenge yesterday (September 5) with Cole Sanford opening the scoring at 3:31.

Nate Kallen kicked off the fight card with both teams ratcheting up the intensity a few minutes following a Jake Willets kneeing minor. Coventry found themselves in penalty trouble late in the frame, down three skaters to five when Sanford doubled the advantage 3 seconds from the first-period buzzer.

Action from Saturday’s win. John Uwins

Flames visited another 5 on 3 early in the second of the three periods, but were unable to make it count. Willets, Boudrias and Tyler Busch all joined the fight count early in the set, the latter taking place at the same time Andrew Nielsen pulled Blaze within a single 25:25.

A reply by Chase Gresock restored the two-goal cushion around the halfway mark before Matt Alvaro added a fourth less than five minutes later. Blaze cut the deficit to a pair through Colby MacArthur with just seven seconds on the period clock, but it would be as close as they could get.

Early in the third, with Flames back on the powerplay, Jack Jacome put away the club’s fifth of the evening and inside the final 10 minutes Brett Neumann bagged a pair to close out the final tally.

Flames ended the night with a 40-32 shot advantage; Justin Fazio in net for the Flames against Evan Fitzpatrick for Blaze.

“It was a great game of hockey for us,” said Assistant Coach Andrew Hemmings. “We felt like we needed a longer pre-season than we historically have had and it feels like we are moving in the right direction.”

“We had some different situations tonight, seeing some looks on powerplay and penalty killing and the game offered a lot in terms of improving our group as we close in on the start of the league and cup campaigns.”

Goal Scorers

Flames

Cole Sanford (Waller) 03:31; Cole Sanford 19:57 – PPG; Chase Gresock (Jacome, Alvaro) 30:56; Matt Alvaro (Gresock, Jacome) 35:25; Jack Jacome (Alvaro, Boudrias) 43:18 PPG; Brett Neumann (Alvaro) 50:16; Brett Neumann (Power) 53:48.

Blaze

Andrew Nielsen 25:25; Colby Macarthur (Nielsen, Ness) 39:53 – PPG

Match Stats

Period Scores: 2-0, 2-2, 3-0
Shots on goal: Guildford Flames 40 – Coventry Blaze 32
Penalty Minutes: Guildford Flames 52 – Coventry Blaze 85

Attendance: 1,820

Man of the Match: Guildford Flames – Cole Sanford Coventry Blaze David Clements

Next Fixtures
Sunday, September 6 2026 – Coventry Blaze (A) FO17:30 (pre-season challenge)
Saturday, September 12 2026 – Cardiff Devils (A) FO 19:00 (Challenge Cup Game 1)
Sunday September 13 2026 – Sheffield Steelers (H) FO 18:00 (Challenge Cup Game 2)