Team comes first for Norton as hot streak continues

Ice hockey - Six goals in four games for player-coach

Modest goal machine Tom Norton insists his personal achievements with Peterborough Phantoms are secondary to the team’s success.

The Phantoms player-coach is enjoying a hot streak after hitting six goals in the team’s last four NIHL National Division outings.

He struck twice in a 9-2 rout of basement side Leeds on December 7, and then bagged both Phantoms strikes in their 3-2 loss at table-topping Telford the following night.

Norton lit the lamp again on Saturday as the city side went down 6-4 at title favourites Swindon.

And the rich vein of scoring form continued with another goal as depleted Phantoms saw off Raiders by the same scoreline at Planet Ice 24 hours later.

“I’m finding the right spots and my shots seem to be going in,” said Norton. “I always felt I had a decent shot and it’s maybe a case of me becoming more clinical now.

“Being29I’mabitmoremature so it could be that I’m just picking my moments when to shoot a little bit better.

But the defenceman’s primary concern is ensuring a fine season for his side continues, with Phantoms occupying third place in the new second tier’s standings.

“It’s always nice to contribute with goals and I’ll certainly enjoy it while it lasts, but I’d gladly swap them for two points in the league table,” he added.

“I don’t like to talk about myself as I’m part of a team and that’s the important thing.

“I’m not the only one chipping in with goals either.

“Jarvis Hunt got a hat-trick recently, Nathan Pollard has been getting a few, and Joe Hazeldine scored when helping us out at Swindon.

“Championship teams always have that collective ability when it comes to scoring.”

Norton was delighted to see Phantoms end last weekend with victory on home ice against Raiders after an agonising Saturday loss in Swindon.

And, even though they have been hit by a stack of injuries, Norton admits it is essential they continue to put points on the board on a regular basis.

“The defeat in Swindon was tough to take due to the late goals,” said Norton.

“But it was good to bounce back with two points against Raiders.

“We’ve got guys missing at the moment and it is down to the rest of us to step up.

“There is no point in rushing people back as we have to think of the long game.

“We need everyone fit and healthy for the play-offs at the back end of the season.

“In the meantime we just have to continue to play our hockey and hope to put points on the board every weekend.”

National Division

Tom Norton continued his recent goalscoring form against the Raiders. Picture: Tom Scott

Nathan Pollard was man-of-thematch in Sunday’s victory