Fine margins and late drama as Canucks open new season

A last-second win at Haringey and Carter Lloyd's Oxford hat-trick give Cardiff plenty to build on after an eventful start to 2026/27.

There were just 1.9 seconds left at Alexandra Palace when Cardiff found the goal that turned a hard-fought evening into their first victory of the new season. A week later, Carter Lloyd needed only 13 seconds to score twice and settle another game that had been hanging in the balance.

Those moments tell much of the story of the Canucks' opening weeks. Across four games against Oxford and Haringey, leads changed hands, familiar opponents posed fresh challenges and the difference between victory and defeat was often a single goal. By the end of that stretch, Cardiff had their first home win and a hat-trick to celebrate.

The campaign began away at Oxford on 6 September, where Joe Tearall needed just 54 seconds to score Cardiff's first goal of 2026/27. Oxford's response was a reminder of how closely these sides have been matched: Cardiff had won their home meeting the previous season but lost the return in overtime.

Oxford again proved difficult to shake off. Two first-period goals left Cardiff chasing the game, and the 2–1 deficit remained through the second. Lewis Hallewell eventually brought the Canucks level in the third, with Aaran Ragan and Steve Osman providing the assists. Jacob Soper's winner 57 seconds into overtime gave Oxford the 3–2 victory, although Cardiff's recovery secured a league point.

The following weekend took the Canucks back to a rink that already holds plenty of memories. Cardiff had knocked Haringey out of the 2025 playoffs, won a shootout at Alexandra Palace last March and then returned a week later to see their season ended by the Huskies. This time, former Canuck Max McEwan was lining up on the other side.

The 12 September meeting was in the Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup, but there was no shortage of the drama associated with this fixture. Cardiff's early lead became a 2–1 deficit before Tearall, himself a former Haringey player, brought the visitors level. With Ross Miller in Cardiff's net and Petr Čech at the opposite end, the game stayed tied deep into the final period.

Then came the decisive finish, almost at the last possible moment. Cardiff's 3–2 win added another memorable away result to a rivalry that has repeatedly produced close contests.

Haringey had their answer when the teams met in Cardiff on 19 September. Tearall again opened the scoring, this time with help from Osman and Hallewell, but the Huskies turned the game around in the second period. Courtney Grant equalised on the power play before Chris Beckett made it 2–1 with two seconds left before the intermission. Cardiff could not find a third-period response.

That left the Canucks with an immediate chance to regroup: Oxford were visiting the following evening.

Sam Bryant and Lloyd scored in the second period to help Cardiff reach the final break level at 2–2, only for Oxford to move ahead once more. Osman brought the hosts back on terms, setting up the finish that belonged to Lloyd. His goals 13 seconds apart completed a hat-trick and secured a 5–3 victory. With an assist on Osman's equaliser too, it was a four-point evening for the Cardiff forward.

After an opening run decided so often by the smallest margins, the Canucks had a home victory to show for their persistence. Those early games supplied the first chapters of the campaign: late drama on the road, a familiar rivalry renewed and a young Cardiff scorer taking centre stage.

There is more home hockey to come at the Vindico Arena, with Slough visiting on Sunday 25 October at 6.30pm and Guildford following on Sunday 1 November. Join us at the 'Nuck House as the season continues, and get behind the Canucks for the next chapter.