NIHL Weekend Action

Barons fail to keep Solway at bay as Sharks seal fourth league victory

Solway Sharks    3

Solihull Barons      1

This top of the table clash was always going to be a tricky one as Solway Sharks tested themselves against Perry Doyle’s third placed Solihull Barons. Travelling to the Dumfries Ice Bowl with a strong roster, though without defenceman Phil Knight, former Dragon Paul Davies and power forward Stephen Heape, the Barons required a win to displace the Sharks from pole position whilst Solway went into this game aiming to maintain their unbeaten run in the Moralee Conference with a fourth consecutive victory.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off for the first period, both teams threw themselves into the game but it was the home side who reaped the rewards of their efforts, opening the scoring through captain Struan Tonnar on 3:26 following passing play from fellow forwards Connor Henderson and Joe Coulter. Solway continued to work hard against Solihull to test Barons’ netminder Sam Hewitt, who initially withstood the Sharks’ attacking play alongside his defence, but it was not long before the puck found its way into the back of the net for a second time as blue liner Kim Miettinen slotted home with support from left winger Steven Moore and forward Marc Fowley. Less than two minutes later, referee David Emmerson called young prospect Scott Henderson to the sin bin to serve a minor penalty for interference which consequently presented the Barons with a power play. Failing to capitalise with the additional man, Solihull were able to light the lamp with a little over fifteen minutes played, junior Matthew Maurice printing his name on the score sheet for a third successive game as Josh Bruce and captain Tomas Janak picked up assists. Challenging Hewitt, who managed to save ten of the twelve shots on his goal, the Sharks left the ice for the first interval with their lead halved and much work still to do to secure a victory.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning for the middle section, Solihull were aware that the game was still very much in their grasp whilst the Sharks sought to increase their lead to make the score line a comfortable one. Again contending with sturdy shot stopper Hewitt, the Sharks failed to make their chances count whilst the Barons looked to improve on their first period performance by attempting to break down their opposition’s defence more effectively. Eight minutes into the second stanza, Solihull’s Andrew Whitehouse found himself side-lined for hooking to give the Dumfries outfit the advantage but the Barons laboured on the penalty kill to prevent Martin Grubb’s men from restoring their two-goal cushion and to make it another opportunity missed for the home side. A stalemate emerging between the teams, the last of the action in this period saw two-way signing Jordan Buesa concede two minutes for a high sticks offence on 36:47. The Barons also unable to make the most of the additional man however, the two sides headed in with the score line of the first period unchanged.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice with victory tottering on a knife edge, Solway Sharks took to the final period, recognising that they must find the back of the net again to prevent the visitors from taking anything from the game. With Bruce sinbinned for kneeing on 44:50, Grubb’s team found themselves up against Solihull’s sturdy defence on the power play and, just when it appeared that the Barons would return to full strength unscathed, the side were punished by blue liner Juraj Senko with two seconds remaining of their penalty kill. Despite their strong offence and desire to take at least a point from the game, the Barons were unable to snatch a second goal and found themselves on the back foot against the Sharks who out shot Solihull throughout. As a result, Solway now have eight points to retain their place at the top of the table whilst the Barons remain in third position, having claimed seven points from six games. Sharing his views on the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “I was pleased with how we played for the full sixty minutes against a good Solihull team. I thought we managed the game well and a mixture of good goaltending and poor finishing was the only thing that stopped us scoring and winning more comfortably. Solihull stayed on the game and we limited them to very little chances so it was pleasing to have a solid performance and we need to take that into every game.”

Stars outshine Warriors in close contest but real winner is Frankie

Whitley Warriors   4

Billingham Stars   5

Though all encounters between local rivals Whitley Warriors and Billingham Stars are highly significant, this NIHL North Cup fixture appeared to be even more so as the two clubs united in their support for the ‘FillTheRinkForFrankie’ campaign. Whilst Billingham were missing youngsters Josh Nertney and Will Robson, the Warriors’ roster was slightly weakened with blue liner Harry Harley, and forwards Liam Brown, Alan Yarrow and Ben Richards making up the absentee list. However, there was one glimmer of hope for the home side as no nonsense defenceman Rob Wilson made his return to Whitley’s line up, having departed from the club in 2015.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

An electric atmosphere erupting prior to faceoff, both teams threw themselves into the game from the start, demonstrating their desire to win the bragging rights as well as the points. As both teams began to create opportunities and seek out possession in the early stages of the fast-paced period, it was not long before Whitley Warriors conceded their first penalty of the evening as forward Shaun Kippin took two minutes for a high sticks offence. Handing the Stars a power play in the process, the Hillheads outfit had little choice other than to switch to defensive mode but David Longstaff’s men were able to successfully kill the penalty to battle for possession once more. This return to full strength would last all of forty seconds however, as new signing Wilson was called to the sin bin for charging. Again claiming a power play, Billingham worked hard on the advantage but were unable to find a way past netminder Richie Lawson who pulled off some important saves to prevent the visitors from snatching the lead. Despite Whitley’s defensive efforts, it was to be third time lucky for the Stars as blue liner Craig Johnson was also side-lined for a high sticks offence on 12:47. Working the puck in the Stars’ offensive zone on the power play, forward Chris Sykes and alternate captain Callum Davies linked up to play the puck to Swedish import Daniel Palmebjörk who hit the target with only twenty six seconds of the advantage played. Try as they might, the Warriors aimed to test Stars’ shot stopper James Flavell and came close on a few occasions, with Callum Watson proving a challenge for Billingham’s defence ahead of the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning for the second period, the Warriors required a goal to get back on level terms whilst Billingham were aiming to enhance their lead. Much to the home side’s despair, it was the Teessiders who were able to add to their tally less than two minutes in, Palmebjörk with his second of the game courtesy of former EPL forward Jack Watkins. Undeterred by this setback, the Warriors went in search of a goal to halve the deficit, digging in deep when required whilst building up some neat passing play to move into Billingham’s defensive zone. Challenging Flavell on a few occasions, Longstaff’s line up were then able to hit home on 25:35 courtesy of power forward Jordan Barnes; Niall Simpson picking up a pass from Joe Stamp to deliver a fantastic assist. Spurred on by this goal, the Warriors continued their fast pace offence but it was not without its difficulties as the visitors were eager to test Lawson who battled on despite feeling under the weather throughout the period. It was the home team who were finally able to capitalise though as long-serving Warrior Callum Watson elated the home crowd with a magnificent equaliser with less than two minutes remaining, assists arriving from Kippin and blue liner Dan Pye . Ensuring that this joy was to be short-lived, Billingham defenceman Tom Keeley hit a bobbling puck past Lawson to make it 3-2 with just five seconds of the period left to play.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With the result still hanging in the balance going into the final section of the game, the sides had barely faced off when Billingham raced up the ice to achieve their fourth goal of the game, this time Michael Elder printing his name on the scoresheet with help from line mates Callum Davies and Chris Sykes. Unwilling to accept defeat, the Warriors were able to go within one goal yet again when Watson claimed his second of the game, on this occasion Kippin linking up with player-coach Longstaff to reduce the deficit. Continuing to persevere, the Hillheads outfit found themselves with a power play on 52:08 as former Warrior Scott Cooper headed to the sin bin for holding. Whitley attempted to maintain control of the puck in their offensive zone but, failing to make a significant impact with the additional man, the side were punished fifty seconds later when Swedish import Dennis Boström found the back of the net following a pass from fellow forward James Moss. Conceding a penalty soon after due to a charging offence from Andre Payette, the Warriors were forced to regroup on the penalty kill but managed to keep the visitors at bay without further concession. Returning to full strength with the score line 5-3 and time fast running out, Whitley were left little choice other than to call a timeout. Making the decision to pull Lawson from his net to ice an additional skater, Longstaff made a pass to Payette who instantly set up a slap shot for Dean Holland which flew past Flavell to make it 5-4. With the clock ticking, there was no time to equalise ahead of the final buzzer, leaving the home side one goal away from overtime and, at the very least, a point in the NIHL North Cup.

Speaking after the game, Star Chris Sykes observed: “It was a hard-fought game and a battle but it’s nice to come out on top with the points! We knew it was going to be a tough game, and it was, but we managed to go there and get a win which some teams will struggle to do this season. The reverse fixture next weekend will be interesting back at The Forum and we will be looking for a win again but the real winner this weekend was Frankie and what a turn out there was for the little man. I think close to £3000 was raised which is amazing from the hockey family.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, player-coach David Longstaff also imparted his thoughts on the Tyne-Tees derby: “I thought we did well again. Billingham were very good and we matched them in spells. Their imports were the difference again, scoring three of the five goals and, crucially, the game winner. We were missing players again. A major miss was Harry Harley who, when on his game, is the best defender in the league but with his work schedule, he misses every other week so opposing teams will be hoping he’s away every time we play them.”

Currently, Billingham are placed third in the NIHL North Cup table with four points for a regulation win and an overtime loss whilst Whitley Warriors remain at the foot of the standings, having failed to pick up a point in the competition so far. Next weekend sees the Warriors and the Stars face each other in a second consecutive cup encounter as Longstaff’s line up look to avenge their home defeat whilst Terry Ward’s men will seek a repeat performance, a game which is sure to be entertaining if this weekend was anything to go by.  

For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.  If you missed out on donating last weekend but would like to help Frankie, please follow this link: https://www.gofundme.com/28mzxuk.