NIHL Weekend Action

Super Stars blaze to victory against Dragons

Billingham Stars  11

The Dragons          3

Playing host to The Dragons for the first game of their 2017-18 campaign, Billingham Stars were hoping for a repeat of last season’s successful opener against Scott McKenzie’s men and were not to be disappointed. Icing a strong line-up, the Stars found themselves only without shot stopper James Flavell and experienced player-coach Richie Thornton whilst the Dragons travelled with a seventeen-man squad which included new signing Shaun Dippnall and young netminder Jonah Armstrong.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Setting their sights on victory from faceoff, Billingham achieved the perfect start when player-coach Michael Bowman converted a pass from alternate captain Chris Sykes to allow his side to take the lead with only thirty two seconds played. Immediately playing catch-up, The Dragons were then further deflated when Sykes made the most of a superb pass from Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs to grab a goal of his own on 6:09. Continuing to work hard, the Stars added a third to their tally just over one and a half minutes later when sustained pressure allowed captain Michael Elder to beat young netminder Armstrong, fellow forward Luke Brown picking up an assist. Now battling back from a three-goal deficit, McKenzie opted for a timeout to rally his team mates who returned to the ice only to be handed a power play as Callum Davies made way for slashing with just under ten minutes played. However, try as they might, the Dragons could not punish Davies’ misdemeanour and it was not long after that they conceded a fourth as Baškatovs and Sykes paired up once more to see Bowman claim his second of the evening. Unrelenting in their offensive efforts, Billingham continued to dominate and, despite the Dragons’ attempts to get the game back on track, the visitors conceded a fifth, Davies linking up with Artūrs Ozols to see the import defenceman achieve his first goal for the Stars. Just twenty seven seconds later, blue liner Ross Hanlon found himself sinbinned for a hooking offence and it was not long after that the Teessiders’ lack of discipline was punished further as blue liner Andy Finn joined his team mate in the penalty box following a tripping call from referee David Emmerson. With a five on three power play ensuing, the Dragons were not about to let this opportunity slip by without capitalising and just thirteen seconds elapsed before the puck was once again in the back of the net, though this time for the Welsh outfit as player-assistant coach Mickaël Brodin printed his name on the scoresheet with support from skilled player-coach McKenzie and hardworking captain James Parsons.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 5-1 at the end of the first period, the Stars returned to the ice much encouraged by their performance though there was thirty eight seconds of Finn’s penalty left to kill. As such, the Dragons began on the power play and set their sights on a second but Billingham saw off the best of their chances to return to full strength without further concession. With the Stars still pressing for their sixth goal, the game took an unexpected turn when Brown was deemed to have kicked out when trying to retrieve the puck. This action saw the forward ejected from the game, leading him to receive a two-match ban for kicking and an obscene gesture, besides consecutive five minute penalties which were served by young forward Josh Nertney. Placed on a ten minute power play as a result of this, the Dragons were handed a great advantage but, with Billingham still causing problems for the side, McKenzie brought down Davies as the forward went through on goal, leading referee Emmerson to award a penalty shot to the home team in consequence; Davies wound his way from centre ice, faking the forehand shot to then score with the backhand, making it 6-1 in the process. Working hard to bounce back, the Dragons altered their tally with a second power play goal, this time defenceman Ryan Jones incorporating forward Dippnall into play to successfully setup alternate captain Matthew Wainwright. Less than three minutes later, youngster Louis Morgan was shown to the sin bin for a high sticks offence which levelled the playing field before forward James Moss fired himself onto the scoresheet courtesy of Baškatovs. With both teams back to full strength at last, Billingham showed no mercy as Bowman sealed his hat trick to make it 8-2 with a little assistance from enforcer Callum Pattison. The end of the period drawing to a close, there was still time for both teams to incur further minor penalties, Star Scott Ward and right winger Brodin sitting out for slashing and elbowing respectively.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

These penalties running into the third and final period by just fifteen seconds, Billingham continued to seek out offensive opportunities whilst the Dragons returned to the ice with some fight in spite of the score line to break up the Stars’ attacking play. However, McKenzie’s men were unable to withstand the Teessiders’ offensive pressure for much longer and it came as no surprise when Nertney received a pass from Ozols to thread the puck through to unlikely goal scorer Scott Ward who capitalised with 47:05 on the clock. Dismayed to concede having kept Billingham at bay for a time, the Welsh outfit were quick to retaliate as Dippnall marked his debut for the Dragons with a goal just thirty five seconds later following an assist from Brodin. The score line 9-3, it was clear that the six goal deficit would be too much for the visitors to overturn as Billingham controlled possession to grab a tenth around six minutes later when Baškatovs notched his fourth assist of the evening by playing the puck to blue liner Ben Davison who did not miss his mark. However, still hunting down a goal on his Stars’ NIHL debut, Baškatovs continued to set his sights on finding the back of the net and his hard work eventually paid off in the closing stages of the game when neat play from Bowman and Sykes saw the import claim possession to hammer home an 11-3 victory.

Blackburn shot down as Sharks bite back

Solway Sharks          8

Blackburn Hawks      5

With their first home game a clash against Steven Duncombe’s Blackburn Hawks in the NIHL National Cup competition, Solway Sharks took to the ice on Saturday evening, hoping to continue last season’s outstanding form. Whilst Solway’s line-up of fifteen skaters included new signings Iain Bowie, Marek Charvat and Scott Cooper, besides on-ice leaders Struan Tonnar, Ross Murray and James Hutchinson, the Hawks also travelled with a strong squad of a similar size. As Duncombe opted for former Phoenix netminder Stephen Fone to start between the pipes, the game also allowed alternate captains Luke Boothroyd and James Neil to make their debut for the Lancashire outfit whilst the surprise return of forward Aaron Davies was a welcome one.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

Aiming to recover quickly from last weekend’s pre-season defeats to Solihull Barons, Hawk James Riddoch immediately challenged Solway’s shot stopper Calum Hepburn to find the back of the net with an unassisted effort just forty four seconds into the first period. Throwing themselves into this contest, the Hawks appeared impressive in the early stages but soon suffered a setback when a holding offence from Bobby Streetly saw the defenceman head to the sin bin on 2:15. Handed the power play as a result of this, the Sharks sought to get back on level terms but Blackburn remained resolute on their blue line to ensure that there was no way through for the home team. Restored to the ice, Streetly instantly made amends for his previous misdemeanour as he received the puck from Bentham to double his side’s lead just twenty four seconds after the termination of his penalty. With Solway now two goals down and fighting for a means to reduce their deficit, it was not long before the two sides clashed, causing Sharks Bowie and Murray, and Hawks Duncombe and Davies, to each receive minor penalties for roughing. Matters were made worse for the visitors however, when captain Ollie Lomax also found himself sidelined for tripping on 6:48. Despite this advantage, Martin Grubb’s men could not make the most of their power play and it was not long after this chance slipped by that the Hawks added a third to their tally, this time Davies placing the puck beyond Hepburn with support from Streetly and hardworking forward Matt Viney. The score line 3-0 to Blackburn, the Sharks’ attempts to get back into the game were inhibited further when Murray made way for a second time, his offence on this occasion crosschecking. Killing the penalty effectively, the Dumfries outfit returned to full strength only to lose Tonnar to the sin bin, their captain receiving a ten minute misconduct penalty on 16:27. In spite of this, Solway set their hearts on scoring and, though many chances fell their way, the side were made to wait until the final ten seconds of the period before Murray opened his team’s account with support from Bowie and Hutchinson.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 3-1, Solway headed onto the ice for the second period with a determination to get back in the game whilst the Hawks recognised their need to add to their tally in order to secure the points. However, buoyed by their first goal, the Sharks made the most of their possession in the early stages to gain control. As such, it was not long before skilled young forward Daniel Abercrombie picked up the puck to see his unassisted shot defeat Fone with 25:41 played and, just fourteen seconds later, Solway were able to find another as Murray picked out Bowie who levelled the score line at 3-3. Hugely disappointed to see their lead vanish, the Hawks fought back and, just over two minutes after the termination of Tonnar’s penalty, whistled the puck beyond Hepburn as Slovakian forward Jozef Istocy achieved a slick unassisted effort to send Blackburn in front once more. Shortly afterwards, the Hawks ran into penalty trouble as Viney made way to serve two minutes for crosschecking which allowed Solway a power play. Taking advantage of the additional man, the Sharks found a second equaliser on 33:53 as Kerr lit the lamp courtesy of Bowie. An interference penalty for Bentham soon followed but, killing the penalty with success, Blackburn returned to full strength unscathed only for the forward to pick up a minor for roughing twelve seconds later. This, coupled with an interference call against Boothroyd in the final minute of the second period, saw the Hawks relieved to head in with the 4-4 score line intact.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With both of these penalties running into the third stanza, Duncombe’s men began on the penalty kill and, whilst Bentham returned to the ice thirty five seconds in, Boothroyd had much of his punishment left to serve. It was therefore little surprise that the Sharks made an excellent start to this period with a power play goal from Bowie on 41:12, the forward assisted by defenceman and alternate captain Hutchinson. Restored to five men, the Hawks then incurred yet another penalty thirty four seconds later when Viney was sidelined for delaying the game. It was not long after though that the Sharks conceded a penalty of their own, this time Hutchinson sitting out for holding sticks. These penalties the last to disrupt play, both teams returned to full strength with renewed vigour to claim a goal as Solway looked to extend their lead whilst the Hawks tried to claw back lost ground. It was, however, the home team who were first to notch another as neat play from Henderson and Murray saw Bowie tie up his hat trick. The score line now 6-4, Blackburn recovered themselves to respond just twenty one seconds later as Bentham bagged his first goal of the game with his side’s third unassisted effort of the evening. Within reach of Grubb’s side once more, the Hawks were eager to test Solway further but Bowie continued to be an unstoppable force and soon collected his fourth goal of the clash, this time Coulter working with Murray to assist their line mate. Feeling that they could still take something from this game, Duncombe opted for a timeout immediately after this goal but the Sharks held on to their 7-5 lead, prompting the Hawks to pull Fone from his net to make use of the additional skater when Blackburn gained possession in their offensive zone. As the clock counted down the final moments of the game, Murray battled for the puck to pick out Henderson who recorded an empty net goal with just five seconds left to play to close the scoring at 8-5 in favour of the Sharks.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Sharing his thoughts on this encounter, Head Coach Martin Grubb kindly took time to comment:  “We knew going into this game that it would be tight and both teams would be looking to get off to a good start. I was disappointed with the way we started both games and how soft the goals were that we conceded but the goal Ross Murray scored right at the end of the first gave us some momentum. It was important not to panic and to stick to our game plan, and we were definitely better in the second and third periods. I liked the character we showed to come from behind and to find a way to win. Everyone contributed and we got a good win against a good Hawks team.”

Hawks outshine Stars to claw home win

Blackburn Hawks  3

Billingham Stars    2

Whilst Billingham Stars travelled to Blackburn Ice Arena on Sunday hoping to build on their 11-3 home victory over Scott McKenzie’s Dragons, Blackburn Hawks were hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing cup defeat against Solway Sharks with a win. Travelling to Lancashire with a largely unaltered line-up except for the addition of youngster James Hellens in place of defenceman Andy Finn, the Stars found themselves up against Duncombe’s seventeen-man squad which included returning forward Lee Pollitt besides starting shot stopper Stephen Fone.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the first period, both Blackburn Hawks and Billingham Stars looked to demonstrate their pace and power from faceoff so it was little surprise that the two had their fair share of chances in the opening stages of the game. Whilst Stars’ Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs and alternate captain Chris Sykes worked hard to test Fone, forwards Rick Bentham and Aaron Davies were amongst those striving to wear down Billingham’s blue line, though young Hawk James Royds came closest to placing the puck beyond netminder Mark Watson. Despite these efforts, the deadlock was not broken until beyond the halfway point of the period, the Stars first to find themselves on the scoresheet when Sykes fired past netminder Fone following neat play from Latvian defenceman Artūrs Ozols. Matters swiftly worsened for the home team when Pollitt received a minor for holding just over two minutes later to see the Stars claim a power play. This advantage was then increased further when a tripping call against Bentham saw the forward receive a penalty of 2+2 but, working hard to reduce their deficit, Blackburn remained resolute in defence and soon found the playing field levelled when young defenceman Darren Stattersfield made way for boarding on 17:17. With both teams returning to full strength in the latter stages of the period, neither could add to the scoreboard ahead of the break, allowing the Stars to go in with a fragile 1-0 lead.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning to the ice, it was clear that Duncombe’s men were determined to level the scoring and they did so a little over two minutes in, Pollitt playing the puck to Bentham who slotted beyond Watson to make it 1-1. Their lead lost, Billingham were then placed on the back foot once more when Stars’ ‘D’ man Ross Hanlon conceded a minor penalty for high-sticks forty nine seconds later to hand the Hawks a power play. Despite their best efforts, the Hawks could not capitalise and this was to be an opportunity that they would regret as Billingham returned to full strength only to score just over two minutes later, this time Sykes tapping the puck into the net courtesy of Baškatovs and fellow forward Scott Ward. The score line 2-1, Blackburn found themselves chasing the game yet again, though not for the want of trying as play continued to be fast-paced to see both shot stoppers called into action. At the halfway point in the period, both teams received penalties for delaying the game; Billingham receiving a bench minor whilst Ollie Lomax also picked up two minutes for the same offence. However, after serving this penalty, the Stars then received another minor for delaying the game on 35:37 as Ozols was made to sit out. Regardless of this advantage, Blackburn were unable to send the puck beyond Watson on the power play to keep the score line at 2-1 going into the third period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

The game still hanging in the balance, both teams headed back onto the ice with the points all to play for. Continuing his excellent work, Star Baškatovs proved threatening in front of Fone’s net whilst there were also chances for two of the Hawks’ youngest members as juniors Lewis Baldwin and Royds set out to try their luck against Watson. With Blackburn striving to equalise, Duncombe’s men noticeably increased their work rate to put Watson under pressure which was enhanced by a power play as Ward was shown to the sin bin for interference on 44:45. Shortly after this penalty terminated, it was the turn of Blackburn’s number ten to sit out as Royds found himself sidelined for a high sticks offence. However, such was the momentum of the Hawks that the side were able to grab a shorthanded goal with eight seconds left on the penalty kill, Slovakian import Jozef Istocy threading a pass to forward Matt Viney who contended with Watson for the puck to draw level. Disappointed to lose their lead, the Stars tried to battle back to avoid overtime but Blackburn were as equally eager for the game to be concluded and maintained their pressure on Watson’s net to finally reap the rewards, this time Royds playing the puck to Bentham who snatched his second goal of the evening with less than three minutes of the game remaining. With overtime now more appealing than ever, the Stars called a timeout on 58:44 with the aim to secure an equaliser of their own. Play returning to their offensive zone, the Teessiders opted to pull Watson from his net but this proved too little, too late as the points slipped through Billingham’s fingers to hand the Hawks their first victory of the season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

Reviewing his team’s first weekend of league action, Star Chris Sykes kindly took time to share his thoughts with NIHL Northern Trio: “These were the first two games of the season and I’d say we did alright. It’s the first weekend and there are many more games to come. We started off with a great victory at home against The Dragons. They have a good team but we managed to work well and scoring eleven on an opening day fixture is always a happy start for all those involved. We went to Blackburn on Sunday away and we didn’t really know what they’d bring but it was a well-fought game which we dominated at times. Fair play to the Hawks; they stuck at it and pinched it at the end. We had chances; we just didn’t put them away when we had them which we need to work on in practice as we head there again on Saturday, for a cup game, to put it right. All in all, a decent start to the weekend but there’s lots more work to be done and more to play for.”

Road win for defending champions as Solway sink Dragons

The Dragons        2

Solway Sharks  13

Travelling to Deeside with just twelve skaters, Martin Grubb’s Solway Sharks were missing skilled forward Steven Moore from their starting line-up whilst young Houston brothers Lewis and Luke were also on the absentee list as the Dumfries outfit prepared to take on The Dragons in their first league clash of their 2017-18 season. By comparison, The Dragons started with a strong squad of seventeen skaters and young first choice netminder Jonah Armstrong as they headed into this contest aiming to recover from Saturday evening’s 11-3 loss to Billingham Stars.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Throwing themselves into this game, the Dragons were hopeful to impress in front of a home crowd but were quick to meet their match as they lined up against last season’s title winners who were keen to pick up where they left off. A roughing penalty against defenceman Craig Lutkevitch in the early stages of the first period handed Solway a power play which proved the perfect opportunity for the Sharks to take the lead, former Elite League defenceman Kyle Horne finding alternate captain James Hutchinson who punished his opposition’s misdemeanour in just thirty nine seconds. However, half a minute had not passed by before the puck was again in the back of the net, this time Dragons’ captain James Parsons the man on target, assisted by forwards Geoff Wigglesworth and Chris Jones. Though the score line was level at 1-1, this lasted for all of seventeen seconds as the Sharks retaliated instantly, captain Struan Tonnar linking up with forward Connor Henderson to ensure that the Dragons’ joy was short lived. Ahead by a narrow margin, Solway continued to apply pressure to McKenzie’s defensive line-up but young netminder Armstrong proved resilient to initially fend off the Sharks’ offensive play. In spite of the shot stopper’s best efforts, it was not long before Grubb’s men achieved their third goal of the evening as Czech defenceman Marek Charvat teamed up with goal scorer Henderson to see forward Iain Bowie score his first league goal of his 2017-18 campaign on 14:38. The score line 3-1, the Dragons sensed their need to hit back but failing to sufficiently challenge netminder Calum Hepburn, the team were then disappointed to incur a second penalty with only twelve seconds of the period remaining when Lutkevitch made way for hooking to hand Solway an advantage which would run into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whilst the Dragons worked hard to kill Lutkevitch’s penalty after the break, Solway were not about to show mercy and responded to their failed attempts on the power play with a goal on 23:18 as fan favourite Ross Murray slotted home, with Bowie and Hutchinson picking up assists. As Solway gained control of possession and continued their offensive, the Dragons’ frustration soon began to show and it was not long before the two sides clashed, Lutkevitch with a check from behind on Shark Joe Coulter which saw the forward leave the game with a head injury whilst Tonnar responded to this with a check of his own. In consequence, Lutkevitch received five minutes plus game for his transgression whereas Tonnar earned himself 2+10 for his part in the incident. Both sides reduced to four men in consequence, the Sharks appeared most spurred on to find the back of the net just thirty two seconds later, Connor Henderson claiming his second of the evening with an assist from Hutchinson to make it 5-1. Just over a minute later, Solway added to this tally as Charvat achieved his first goal for the Dumfries side when Bowie helped his line mate onto the scoresheet. Their defence unable to cope, the Dragons found themselves under even more pressure when the Sharks returned to full strength on 32:42 to enjoy a three minute power play which saw ‘D’ man Scott Cooper hit home with both Connor Henderson and Scott Henderson on hand to assist. This goal prompting a timeout from McKenzie, the Dragons returned to the ice only to concede another, this time young prospect Daniel Abercrombie playing the puck to Horne who, alongside new signings Charvat and Cooper, also managed to achieve his first goal in a Sharks’ jersey. This Solway’s fourth goal in the space of two minutes, the Dragons were pleased to return to full strength and punished Hepburn for a second time as alternate captain Matthew Wainwright printed his name onto the scoresheet with support from player-coach McKenzie on 37:51. Despite this, the Sharks were to have the final say of the second stanza as Bowie’s superb unassisted effort fourteen seconds from the end punctuated the action ahead of the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 9-2 heading into the third period, the Dragons were under no illusion as to the difficulties facing them in the remaining twenty minutes of the game and their fears were realised when Bowie buried the puck beyond Armstrong to seal his hat trick whilst Scott Henderson notched his second assist of the evening. With chances now few and far between for the Dragons, a bench minor for Solway then provided the side with some relief on 48:02, though not the third goal that they were searching for. The Sharks’ penalty for too many men served, the side were restored to full strength and fired themselves into double figures, Horne with his second goal of the evening after neat build up play from Bowie. Shortly afterwards, Solway switched netminders to allow Chris Rae almost six minutes of ice time but the Dragons again began to air their frustrations, this time player-assistant coach Mickaël Brodin incurring 2+10 for a slashing offence and abuse of an official whilst defenceman Ryan Jones and former Eagle Steven Hetherington were made to serve minors for roughing and hooking respectively. Handing Solway the additional man as a result, the Dragons were forced to watch on as Tonnar setup Charvat for his second goal of the evening on 57:17. As further abuse from Brodin ensued, referee Paul Brooks was left little choice other than to eject the forward from the game and it was not long after that Hetherington picked up a second penalty for hooking. The game all but over, Murray collected the puck from Bowie, after some strong play from Scott Henderson, to add a thirteenth to the Dragons’ woes. The game finishing 13-2, Head Coach Martin Grubb took time to reflect on this game: “The result was obviously pleasing and it’s always nice to score as many goals as we did but I thought the quality of the game was poor and very scrappy. We were a little short but that allowed guys to get valuable fitness and confidence and it was nice to see Marek, Kyle and Coops [Scott Cooper] get their first goals for the clubs. It was important we kept playing and passing the puck as Deeside will never give up but we had too much quality on the night.”

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