NIHL Weekend Action

Stars shot down as Sharks snap up points

Solway Sharks    3

Billingham Stars 1

With Solway Sharks aiming to make amends for their poor form in the early stages of last season, this game was always going to be a tricky encounter for Billingham Stars and it certainly proved to be such, though they travelled to the Dumfries Ice Bowl with a strong roster of twenty skaters. Solway, by comparison, found themselves facing off without first choice netminder Kieran Hobbins, who was replaced by two-way shot stopper Calum Hepburn, whilst experienced ‘D’ man James Hutchinson picked up the captaincy in the absence of Struan Tonnar.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As ever, the close rivals faced off against each other with every intention of claiming victory but it was the Sharks who found themselves with the first advantage when Tom Keeley conceded two minutes for interference. Despite their best efforts, Solway could not find a way past netminder James Flavell who pulled off some great saves to keep the Sharks at bay. Failing in their attempts to successfully break each other down, the sides were trapped in a stalemate until 14:26 when forward Ben Edmonds buried his shot, following link up play between Hutchinson and forward Ross Murray. Less than two minutes later, the puck was placed beyond Flavell for a second time as Finnish import Kim Miettinen claimed a goal on his debut courtesy of youngster Connor Henderson. The score line 2-0, Solway then conceded a penalty as former Hawk Richard Bentham was shown to the sin bin for hooking. Running down the clock to prevent the Stars from grabbing a goal before the break, the Sharks returned to full strength only for Murray and fellow forward Duncan Speirs to clash with Luke Brown; the trio picking up minor penalties for roughing with one second remaining in the period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Consequently, the advantage was Billingham’s once more as the teams returned for the middle stanza, but no sooner were these penalties over than Flavell found himself under pressure, this time Henderson linking up with left winger Steven Moore to successfully assist Speirs. Just twenty five seconds later, Murray found himself penalised for a hooking offence which in turn presented Billingham with their third power play of the evening but, try as they might, the Stars could not chip away at the three-goal deficit. It was not long before Billingham were handed a further opportunity when defenceman Juraj Senko warmed a seat in the sin bin for interference but again, the Teessiders could not find the back of the net. Shortly after Solway returned to five men, both sides were then punished for their lack of discipline as forward Joe Coulter received two minutes for hooking, having clashed with Brown who was also side-lined for a slashing offence. Despite the disruption of these penalties, netminders Hepburn and Flavell were continually tested, especially the latter who faced twenty four shots on goal to Hepburn’s ten. As the home side retained their control of the game, the Stars began to find it exceedingly difficult to find a way back and went in at the interval hoping they could turn their fortunes around in the final third.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The third period underway, Billingham began their search for a goal and were gifted an opportunity less than four minutes in when two-man system Steven Wardell and David Emmerson called Murray to the sin bin. Creating several chances with the advantage of an additional skater, the Stars were yet again unable to beat Hepburn. However, with just nine seconds of Murray’s penalty remaining, alternate captain Marc Fowley was made to join his team mate and a short five-on-three situation ensued. Though the Teessiders failed to snatch a goal against three skaters, Ward’s men continued to work hard against Solway’s defence and soon reaped the rewards when Billy Nicholson slipped the puck to Swedish import Dennis Boström who watched his effort zip past Hepburn to make it 3-1. Feeling that they had a chance to get back into the game, the Stars began to have their fair share of possession and forward Chris Sykes came close to grabbing a second for his team, following a pass from Michael Elder. Piling the pressure onto the Sharks, it seemed that Billingham were about to make a great comeback until an altercation between a Stars’ forward and an official very much changed the tone of the game. The aftermath of this incident saw Solway regain control, the team cycling the puck and seeing the better share of possession until the final buzzer sounded. 

Reflecting on Solway’s win, Head Coach Martin Grubb shared his views: “I was happy with the way we played against a good team with lots of offence. I thought defensively we were solid but shut down the threat they had for most parts and we have ourselves a solid platform to build from. Offensively, we showed good speed but I think we needed to be more clinical in front of the net even though Flav [James Flavell] made some huge saves for them. It was a good opening night for us and this team will get better.”

Solway sink Warriors in style as Whitley struggle on home ice

Whitley Warriors  2

Solway Sharks     9

Contending with Martin Grubb’s Solway Sharks was always going to be a tough ask for Whitley Warriors, especially as the Dumfries outfit went into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Billingham Stars. As netminder Kieran Hobbins made his return to the Sharks line up, player-coach David Longstaff integrated new signings Liam Brown, Niall Simpson and Lawson Glasby into his lines whilst deserving Warrior Dean Holland took on the role of captain alongside new alternate captains, Callum Watson and Shaun Kippin.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As faceoff ensued, it became quite clear in the opening seconds of the game that the Sharks were not about to leave Hillheads without maximum points and this was confirmed when forward Connor Henderson grabbed his first goal of the season with just over two minutes played. The Warriors were quick to respond to this however, lighting the lamp thirty one seconds later when Watson’s pass found Holland. Having drawn level, the home side soon found themselves a man short when power forward Jordan Barnes conceded a minor penalty for boarding to give Solway the advantage. If this was not enough, less than half a minute later, enforcer Andre Payette joined his teammate in the sin bin which presented the visitors with a five-on-three situation. Not one to waste an opportunity, former Hawk Richard Bentham fired home on 4:27 courtesy of hardworking forward Joe Coulter. As the Sharks continued to dominate, young prospect Duncan Speirs was next to place the puck behind netminder Richie Lawson; this time Coulter teaming up with Marc Fowley to assist. As the Warriors attempted to get back on track, the side were handed a power play around the halfway point in the period when Ross Murray picked up two minutes for interference. Despite Whitley’s efforts, the side could not make an impact on Solway’s defence and the Sharks returned to full strength having successfully killed the penalty. Continuing to battle but failing to maintain possession, the Warriors then suffered a further blow before the break when Solway’s Daniel Abercrombie linked up with left winger Steven Moore to send Slovakian blue liner Juraj Senko through on goal with thirty seconds remaining in the period.

Returning to the ice for the middle section, the Warriors were aware that they would have their work cut out due to the growing gap between themselves and their opposition, and it soon showed as Senko played the puck to Connor Henderson who tapped it in to extend the visitors’ lead. Endeavouring to retaliate with a goal, the Warriors looked to improve on their passing play but it was not until they were past the thirty minute mark that they stood a chance of scoring; defenceman Stuart Andrews pulling back Whitley’s new signing Liam Brown in front of goal. Awarded a penalty shot, the Warriors watched on as Brown hit the puck at Hobbins but this incident appeared to spur the side on and it was not long after that DJ Good slotted home as Holland and Watson picked up assists. The score line 5-2, any sign of a comeback for Longstaff’s men was dashed six seconds later when Coulter collected the puck from Finnish import Miettinen to allow Bentham to achieve his second of the game. Heading in at the interval with a four-goal lead, the Sharks filed from the ice after another clinical period whilst Whitley dispersed with little hope that they could get anything from the game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Refusing to slacken their pace, Solway played the third period in the same vein as before, controlling possession whilst piling the pressure onto Whitley’s defence. Their skill and speed too much for the Warriors to take, Bentham was able to seal his hat trick on 47:27 with help from Coulter and Speirs. Less than three minutes later, Lawson was picking the puck from his net once more as Scott Henderson made it 8-2 after some neat passing play between Moore and Andrews. Having conceded heavily, Lawson made way for second choice netminder Jordan Boyle who was presented with the opportunity of ice time. It was around this time that Miettinen collided with Warriors’ captain Holland to cause tension as Barnes sought justice for his team mate. The situation was brought back under control in this instance and play soon resumed. However, with little left to play for and Whitley’s frustration obvious, Yarrow saw fit to clash with Coulter to earn himself a roughing penalty. Seconds later, alternate captain Kippin joined Yarrow in the sin bin which again reduced the Warriors to three men. As a result, Solway had no trouble in adding another goal to their tally as Abercrombie took full advantage of the situation to make it 9-2 with just under four minutes of the game remaining.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Solway now sit top of the NIHL’s Moralee Conference, having claimed maximum points from their first two games of the season, not to mention a North Cup victory, whilst the Warriors are in eighth position at the foot of the league table. Speaking after this game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “I was delighted with how we played for a whole sixty minutes in a very difficult place to play. I knew Whitley would be a bit rusty as they hadn’t played yet and I asked the boys to play with speed and energy and we did that. We took our chances and that was pleasing and again we limited Whitley to minimal chances and long range efforts. I really liked the balance we had and we have now set a standard for ourselves but to win a league and a cup double pointer is a great start and we will try to keep improving.” Meanwhile, for player-coach David Longstaff the result was a very disappointing one: “I think we struggled from the first puck drop. We were very flat before the game and it looks like all the speed we have lost up front will hit us hard. Defensively we looked very slow and couldn’t read the game, and we struggled to make good passes in our zone.”  Whilst Solway Sharks are set for a single clash against Sutton Sting on Saturday, Whitley Warriors have a double header as they prepare to travel to Blackburn Ice Arena for the first time this season, before returning to Hillheads for a challenging home game against Telford Tigers on Sunday.

Hawks soar to 5-2 victory over Stars

Blackburn Hawks     5

Billingham Stars       2

Travelling to Lancashire for their third consecutive away game of the season, Billingham Stars were aware that they would face a challenge against a much-changed, unpredictable Hawks outfit. Making the trip without several defencemen, including player-coach Richie Thornton, Andrew Finn and Will Robson, the Stars were hoping to give this game their best, having lost 3-1 to Solway Sharks the previous evening.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Aiming for a positive start against last season’s league leaders, Billingham suffered an immediate setback as forward Jack Watkins was sinbinned for holding after just fifty five seconds to hand the opposition a power play. Effective on the penalty kill, the Stars returned to full strength only for Blackburn to find themselves at the same disadvantage minutes later when Darlow’s men conceded a bench penalty for icing too many men. Despite their best efforts, the Stars could not find a way past netminder Stuart Ashton but the side were soon handed another power play opportunity on 8:20 when blue liner Chris Butler made way to serve a penalty for holding. Again, Billingham failed to capitalise, though they battled hard to open the scoring and were soon shorthanded themselves when referee Steven Brown directed forward Chris Sykes to the sin bin for hooking. Whilst the Hawks were unable to create a goal with the advantage of the additional man, the side opened the scoring less than three minutes later when James Riddoch played the puck to young forward Harry Mercer who integrated Mikko Sierman to allow the Finnish import to mark his debut with a goal. Soon after, Reece Cairney-Witter was made to sit out for hooking but, yet again, the Stars were unable to cause significant damage in front of goal and Terry Ward’s men headed in at the break with a narrow 1-0 deficit separating them from their opposition.

Facing off in the second period, Billingham were aware that they needed a goal to get back on track but another unsuccessful power play passed the side by when experienced Swedish forward Patrik Nyman conceded a minor penalty for hooking. Shortly after returning to full strength, Blackburn’s lack of discipline showed once more as captain Ollie Lomax was side-lined for interference alongside Stars’ forward Michael Elder who served time for holding. This penalty not yet over, the Hawks were then made to serve a further two minutes following a trip by shot stopper Ashton. Even with this slight advantage, the Stars could still not light the lamp, though they forced several saves from Ashton and came painstakingly close to scoring numerous times. Irrespective of Billingham’s efforts, the Hawks were able to double their lead on 36:42 when Bobby Streetly played the puck to Philip Mulcahy who quickly punished the Stars. Just fifty five seconds later, the Teessiders retaliated, finally reaping the rewards of their hard work with a goal as Sykes fired home following a pass from Elder. The score line 2-1, Billingham may have been fooled into thinking that they were back in the game but the Hawks soon set the side straight when Nyman found the target on a power play just eight seconds before the break, following assists from fellow forward Aaron Davies and alternate captain Steven Duncombe.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With two goals separating the sides going into the third period, Billingham were aware that maintaining discipline would be key if they were to take anything from the game but, almost six minutes in, ‘D’ man Tom Keeley conceded a minor for crosschecking. Buoyed by this advantage, Darlow’s outfit capitalised on 47:16 when Mulcahy and Nyman joined forces to see captain Ollie Lomax print his name on the scoresheet. Soon after, the home side lost Streetly to the sin bin for tripping before Nick Oliver sat out for the same offence on 51:09. Though enjoying two consecutive power plays, the Stars again struggled to make their chances count and were only able to find a way past Ashton with less than five minutes of the game left to play; Sykes working hard to execute an unassisted effort. Almost immediately losing player-coach Michael Bowman to the penalty box after this goal, the Stars found themselves shorthanded yet again and could not chip away at the narrow deficit. Pulling shot stopper Flavell from his net in the last minute of the period, Billingham’s final attempt at a comeback was soon quashed when Davies teamed up with Nyman who swiftly completed Blackburn’s 5-2 victory with an empty net goal.

Taking Billingham’s busy weekend into account, Star Chris Sykes reported: “This weekend was a tough result for us to take as a whole; to get zero points out of four is disappointing. Sunday we had far more chances and we dominated the play all night, we just couldn’t put the puck in the net. We have three of our top five ‘D’ men on holiday and away with work so we struggled but we will be okay. That’s our three away games to start the season out of the way. Two points is all we got but we have a chance in the next fortnight to make up for it and put us back in the right place. We are more than capable of that. We have a big week training and then our first home game this coming Sunday and we want to show the fans and the league what we can do to teams in our rink.” Billingham currently sit in fourth position in the league table and will again encounter Blackburn Hawks, though this time they will face Darlow’s team on home ice at The Forum where they will attempt to avenge their latest defeat to the NIHL’s defending champions.

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