NIHL Weekend Action

Shooting Stars hit eight as Dragons suffer first Division One defeat

The Dragons        1

Billingham Stars  8

Travelling to Deeside for their season opener against The Dragons, Billingham Stars took to the ice with hopes of putting the newly promoted side to the test and subsequently bagging the first two points of their campaign on the road. This would be no easy task however, as Scott McKenzie’s men also planned to make a positive start to their 2016-17 season. Both teams exhibiting strong line-ups, netminder James Flavell took his place between the pipes for the Stars whilst young shot stopper Ashley Smith could be found in net for the home side.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off against The Dragons, Billingham soon found themselves with an advantage after just two minutes played when former Widnes Wild defenceman Chris Gee headed to the sin bin for high sticks. Despite this early power play, the Stars were unable to make their efforts count and it was not long before their opposition returned to full strength. Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of Billingham’s Ben Davison to serve two minutes as the consistent ‘D’ man was found guilty of charging by referee Michael Kempster. The advantage swaying to The Dragons, McKenzie’s men sought an early lead but to no avail. These chances passing both teams by, Terry Ward’s men were handed another opportunity to grab a goal when Slovakian import Filip Supa picked up a penalty for clipping but the visitors could not capitalise as a war of attrition continued. Having failed to take their chances, many might have thought it would be third time lucky for the Stars as player-assistant coach Marc Lovell was sinbinned with less than five minutes of the period left to play but it was not to be, the score line remaining 0-0 as the sides filed from the ice at the break.

After a largely uneventful first period in which neither side made their mark on the game, Billingham returned with a new resolve and forward Chris Sykes was able to surprise the home side with a goal one minute into the second period, following a neat pass from alternate captain Callum Davies. However, McKenzie’s team again lacked discipline as captain James Parsons was shown to the sin bin for hooking on 22:12 and the Stars did not require any persuasion to light the lamp. Working the puck in The Dragons’ offensive zone, Michael Elder fired home on the power play courtesy of player-coach Michael Bowman and new recruit Daniel Palmebjörk. Not hesitating to punish the Dragons further, the visitors swiftly made it 3-0 as Davies sent Sykes through on goal for a second time with an additional assist from Elder. Just over one minute later, Swedish import Dennis Boström increased Billingham’s lead when he found the back of Smith’s net after a pass from fellow forward James Moss.

Suffering a 4-0 deficit, The Dragons were given some reprieve when Scott Ward invited a penalty of 2+2 to hand a power play to the home side. Making this opportunity count with just seconds of the advantage left, McKenzie lifted the puck past Flavell to make it 4-1 on 32:30; forward Geoff Wigglesworth and alternate captain Matthew Wainwright snatching assists. Less than two minutes later, Gee was sent to the penalty box for a second time following an elbowing offence but The Dragons worked hard on the penalty kill to prevent the Stars from scoring. Billingham were not to be kept at bay for long though and Ward slipped the puck to Jack Emerson who swiftly made it 5-1 before the interval.

Returning for the final instalment of the game, the Stars attempted to pick up where they left off but over five minutes of the period had passed before the side were able to add to their tally; Boström achieving his second of the evening with a smooth unassisted effort. Failing to find a way back into the game, The Dragons conceded a sixth penalty when Lovell was made to sit out for hooking on 46:53. Try as they might, Billingham could not find a way past their opposition’s defence but were soon to be handed their second power play of the period when left winger Simon Furnival made way for tripping. This provided the Teessiders with another chance at finding a second power play goal and they succeeded when new forward Jack Watkins marked his Stars debut by printing his name on the score sheet as a result of passing play between Moss and Bowman. The 7-1 score line putting the result of the game beyond doubt, Billingham added one last goal to their tally as Moss slotted home an unassisted effort with less than three minutes remaining.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The final score line 8-1, the Stars will take two points from this game ahead of back-to-back away fixtures against Solway Sharks and Blackburn Hawks next weekend. Providing an insight into the game, Billingham’s Chris Sykes told NIHL Northern Trio: “First period, we were both getting a sense of one another. I think The Dragons came out all guns blazing, trying to undo us, but we weathered the attack they brought and then they died off second and third period. We took control of the game and started to score some goals. We played well; it’s a stepping stone and a starting block but always nice to start the season with a win and two points. Back to training this week and we have a massive weekend ahead of us with two away games against an improved Sharks team and a changed up Blackburn team which we will be preparing for this week. ”

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