Christmas
Special
With Christmas almost
here and 2017 almost at an end, NIHL Northern Trio caught up with a few
familiar faces in NIHL North’s Division One (Moralee).
Solway
Sharks
Ross Murray
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
high was winning the treble last year in Sheffield and the lows are getting
back home at 3am in the morning, knowing you have work in four hours.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
The
team night.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Iain
Bowie.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘The
Fairytale of New York’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Playoff
semi-final last year against Solihull.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Winning
the treble.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Christmas
dinner.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Winning
all the games!
Struan Tonnar
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
whole year so far has been a bit of a high; getting the chance to play teams
with a little bit more conviction has put us all to the test. I think the league now is
really good and some of the games have been top class. The three teams that joined the
league are forcing all of us to up our game and it’s really exciting to see how
the season will unfold.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Probably
being able to go for a beer with the team; knowing we have some single-game
weekends over the festivities that we haven’t had throughout the season is the
perfect chance for us to just relax and talk about some other stuff that isn’t
hockey.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
I
don’t think there has been any big surprises this year, yet.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘Christmas
in Hollis’ by Run DMC.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Probably
the playoffs at the end of last season. Both games were really enjoyable for obvious reasons.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
Just
to try and be better on the ice…
My
greatest achievement this year was…
I
wouldn’t say I have had any big personal achievements, just team ones; when we
won everything last season has to be the biggest.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
New
legs!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
That
we can just keep the ball rolling and keep some steam moving towards the end of
the year!
Martin Grubb
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
Winning
the treble was a high for me and the club and the low was missing the playoff
win, even though I had the honour of representing GB at the time.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Spending
time with my family and seeing my daughter enjoy her first Christmas.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Nothing
surprises me in this game if I’m honest!
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘The
Fairytale of New York’.
The
best game I witnessed this year was…
Being
able to play for a gold medal in the World Championships against Japan. Just a pity the result didn’t go
our way.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Winning
the treble with the Sharks.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Enjoying
time with my kids and seeing my three-year old open his presents from Santa.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Health
and happiness for me and my family as that’s the most important thing.
Calum Hepburn
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
This
season has already been full of ups and downs. We definitely haven’t been as consistent as we
were last year but, coming back from our break from the Under 20s World Championship,
we’re looking to really step up our game and show the ex-EPL teams what we can
do.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Some
snow if we ever get some.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
The
amount every other team in the league has stepped up their game from last year.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘Fairytale
of New York’…or ‘Dominic the Donkey’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Probably
our overtime loss to the Steeldogs; even though we ended up with the loss it
was one of those end-to-end games that was just great to play in.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Surviving
another year.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
A lifetime
supply of Pigs in Blankets!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
To
start rolling as a team and work our way up the league.
Whitley Warriors
Kyle Ross
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
high of this year was being able to help the team as much as I can after
adopting a new position and the lows have been when we have been in a close
game and just missed out on the points.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Being at home with the family and having my first
Christmas with my daughter.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Changing
to playing in defence when I have always played forward.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘Do
they know it’s Christmas? (Feed the world)’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Against
Billingham as I scored my first goal of the year and we won the local derby.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
To
start my own business in personal training as I have just passed my personal
training Level 3.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Being
able to settle in defence better than I thought and being able to bring new
skills back from Canada.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Making
my daughter’s first Christmas a good one.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
That
we make the playoffs and finish as high as we can.
Shaun Kippin
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
two derby wins were good; lows…not making the playoffs last season.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
I
am looking forward to time with family this Christmas. We have all the family staying at our house this year so it
should be great.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
The
change in league and the addition of the three EPL teams.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
Mariah
Carey, ‘All I want for Christmas’ (Guilty pleasure!).
The
best game I played in this year was…
Probably
the game against Hull at home, even though we lost in cruel circumstances. The team played great and we
were twenty seconds away from causing an upset. The best game I witnessed this year had to be
Canada vs.
Russia in the
semi-finals of the World Championships. The hockey was
unbelievable.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Beating
last year’s goals and assists in half the amount of games. I worked really hard in the
summer and it’s nice to see hard work pay off. I have to say, my line mates have all helped
with that too! I’m lucky!
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Sam
Zajac…Santa came early!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Just
to enjoy hockey while I still can.
DJ Good
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
This Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Visiting
the new Black Horse pub, recently refurbished; live music and low, low prices.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Skippy’s
stats.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘Fairytale
of New York’, while down Whitley on Christmas Eve back in my youth.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Two
weekends ago versus Billingham.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
Eat
healthy…ish!
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Coming
second in the stock twin North East Motorcycle Racing Club championship.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Skates,
CCM please Santa.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Health
and happiness to friends and family.
Richie Lawson
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
high was winning against Billingham. The local derby win always tastes sweet! The low was
losing on penalty shots to Hull at home after they scored a last minute
equaliser. Oh…and only to discover the
league statistician cheekily added that extra goal to my stats which is totally
not regulatory or standard procedure. Not that I am bitter or anything! It’s not like I look at the
stats…a ‘friend’ totally told me about that…
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Having
two Christmas dinners in two cities and spending time with my family…but mainly
two Christmas dinners.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Sam
Zajac’s signing fee for Whitley Warriors. Never have I seen so many 0s on a payslip…
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘All
I want for Christmas’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Hull
at home which had a very bitter end…that’s hockey for you!
My
New Year’s resolution is…
To
manage my time more efficiently and to dedicate more time to the gym.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Stopping
the puck more times than I conceded goals.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
A
new statistician who rectifies mistakes because I’m selfless and that’s what my
‘friend’ wants!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Happiness
and balance.
Colin Lawson
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
highs are very simple and not hockey related; both my sons Richie and Alex have
recently gained promotions within their chosen careers and have made both Mum
and Dad exceptionally proud. The lows, again, are quite simple; Alex finding out that he had two
fractures to his spine caused by the sport he loves. He’s very recently had four
injections to see if that helps but it is very early days yet. Sadly, there is no possibility
that he will ever play the sport again. In fact, he will not even be able to keep fit the way
he has been and can only consider low impact types of exercise. You often hear some
fans challenging the commitment of players – if they only knew the commitments
they do make and this is not just aimed at Alex but 99% of players. I suppose another low was not being able to commit to
being the Tournament Photographer for the IIHF Under 20s World Championship
Division II Group A at Dumfries. That being said, if I had been there, I wouldn’t have been able to
photograph and enjoy the 7-3 derby victory over Billingham Stars. Every cloud, as they say, has a
silver lining.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Having
both the boys, their respective girlfriends Rosie and Chloe and, of course,
their dogs Hugo, Teddy and Bear with us on Christmas Day.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
The
league position Billingham Stars currently find themselves in. I know they have played the top
teams more than Whitley and that is a factor, however I can’t but question the
quality of their imports this season. They don’t seem anywhere near as good as the ones from
the last couple of seasons. I sincerely hope that they pull it together and avoid the
relegation playoffs.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
Has
to be Slade, ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ from 1973 when I was just a lad.
The
best game I witnessed this year was…
The
home game against Hull Pirates on Sunday 5th November which was a
great team effort.
Some may call me
biased but, where ice hockey is concerned, I feel I
rarely am, probably because of my links with IHUK and the IIHF. I just like to see a good,
physically hard game but Richie’s performance that night was simply awesome.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
To
try and maintain my overall fitness.
My greatest achievement this year was…
Maintaining
an average of five to six miles walking just about every day, including match
days, since mid-July.
Top of my Christmas list is…
Having a brilliant time with the family.
My greatest hope for the New Year
is…
The old
cliché: health, wealth and happiness for my friends and family. I would also add that hopefully
my wife decides to retire from teaching so we can enjoy holidays outside of the
school holiday periods; not only are they expensive but so tying as to where
you can go.
The
Dragons
Owen Bennett
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
Well,
a lot more lows than highs; lots of losses and players leaving. My highs would be beating
Solihull and my brahh Paul Davies coming back.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Not
having to get up early for work and I’ve been very good this year so hopefully
Santa’s got me something good!
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
My
coach leaving.
I didn’t see it
coming at all.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
Donny
Hathaway, ‘This Christmas’. It’s a classic.
The
best game I played in this year was…
I
don’t think that’s happened yet so hopefully the second half of the season will
be full of them for us.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
Same
as it is every year; get a six pack and bigger calves!
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Getting
my car.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Some
goals.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
That
we can turn our slump around and get away from the bottom of the table.
Blackburn Hawks
Kim
Miettinen
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The highs were winning the treble with
Solway at the end of last season and climbing Kilimanjaro in the summer! The
low point was probably a minor back injury over the summer so I had to stop
golfing for about a month.
This Christmas,
I am most looking forward to…
Going back home for a few days
to spend time with my family.
The biggest
surprise in ice hockey this year was…
That the Rangers dropped out to
the Senators in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
My favourite
Christmas song of all time is…
I am not really a fan of
Christmas songs but for me, my favourite song is Tonttu Torvinen. It is a Finnish song about
Santa’s helper.
The best game I
played in this year was…
During pre-season, when I was
playing in Sweden on my friend’s team from USA and we played against Visby/Roma
which is one of the best teams in Sweden’s Division One.
My greatest
achievement this year was…
Definitely climbing my first of
the Seven Summits over the summer in Tanzania.
Top of my
Christmas list is…
I don’t really have a Christmas
list this year. I am probably going to get some climbing gear, maybe some Rangers merchandise and money.
My greatest
hope for the New Year is…
This is a hard question because
I don’t really believe in this kind of stuff. I try to look at next year with
an open attitude and just see what it will bring towards me.
Solihull Barons
Thomas
Soar
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The lows were getting off to a
slow start with a few tough games and not picking up any points; the high was
the seven or eight-game winning streak.
This Christmas,
I am most looking forward to…
A break and a beer!
The biggest
surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Ryan Selwood dropping the gloves.
My favourite
Christmas song of all time is…
Not really a Christmas song fan,
however, if I had to choose, it would be that drunk bloke.
The best game I
played in this year was…
Probably our overtime win at
Hull in their first home game of the season, coming back from two goals down.
My New Year’s
resolution is…
To buy a house and give my Dad
some peace and quiet.
My greatest
achievement this year was…
Quite the promotion at work;
more responsibility, more stress.
Top of my
Christmas list is…
A hockey stick that doesn’t
break after two weeks.
My greatest hope
for the New Year is…
For the Barons to break the top
four.
Sheffield
Steeldogs
Lewis Bell
 |
Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
high would probably be the twelve-game league unbeaten run; the low, I would
say, would be the league loss to Hull with a few minutes left.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Food!
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
The
level the EPL had reached before its demise; some of the imports’ C.V.s were unbelievable.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
East
17, ‘Stay Another Day’ (See the Steeldogs’ Christmas video!).
The
best game I played in this year was…
I’d
say, this season, the game in Hull three weeks ago has been the best, speed and
skill wise.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Starting
my own business.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Starting
a new unbeaten run.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
To
hopefully be lifting some trophies with the Steeldogs.
Lloyd Gibson
 |
| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson |
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
highs have been starting the season well with the Steeldogs and getting into a
nice position in the league for Christmas and New Year. The low, personally for me,
was lacerating my eye lens in Billingham, meaning I’ve had a lot of time away
from the ice.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Being
with family and watching the lads on Boxing Day!
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
A
lot of the old NIHL teams surprising the EPL teams with their quality.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
Easy
one; got to be The Pogues, ‘Fairytale of New York’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Every
game versus Hull.
Love those games!
My
New Year’s resolution is…
To
stay out of the gym as much!
My
greatest achievement this year was…
Getting
the Crimbo shopping done by the 12th December!
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Well,
I bought myself a Dyson Hoover on Black Friday so that is my present for this
year!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
To
win a trophy with the Dogs.
Hull
Pirates
Chris Wilcox
 |
| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson |
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
lows would be starting the season a little slowly as a team but the highs would
be the past few months as we have been playing some very good hockey.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Spending
time with my wife, daughter and family and, of course, Christmas dinner. It’s also my birthday on
Christmas Day so being at home with everyone is great.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
Mariah
Carey, ‘All I want for Christmas’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
Our
overtime win against Sheffield. We came from behind and played really well as a team. I think that may have been a
turning point for us as the character we showed really galvanised us as a team.
My
greatest achievement this year was…
For
those of you that know me and my style of hockey, I don’t really achieve a lot!
I am happy with not being noticed in a game nowadays!
Top
of my Christmas list is…
I
don’t really want anything this year. Very boring, I know!
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
That
we can win some silverware as a team.
Telford
Tigers
Scott McKenzie
The highs and lows of this year have been…
 |
| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson |
The highs and lows of this year have been…
A
massive high for me was when The Dragons managed to avoid relegation at the end
of last season, a memory that will stay with me for a long time, and the lows
obviously being that things didn’t work out in Deeside.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
Spending
time with the family and not being at work.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
Probably
the collapse of the EPL and the state of British ice hockey.
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
‘Fairytale
of New York’.
The
best game I played in this year was…
The
Dragons vs. Widnes promotion/relegation game. Not the prettiest to watch but full of emotion and drama.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
I
hope that Telford Tigers win the league.
Nottingham
Lions
Adz Andrews
 |
| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson |
The highs and lows of this year have been…
The
high has to be beating my old club Solihull at their own barn; the lows getting
suspended and missing Solway away.
This
Christmas, I am most looking forward to…
No
hockey, and family time.
The
biggest surprise in ice hockey this year was…
That my
GM Danny Harrison has lost more weight than me!
My
favourite Christmas song of all time is…
That’s
a tough one between East 17, ‘Stay Another Day’ or The Pogues.
The
best game I played in this year…
Has
to be Whitley Bay away.
My
New Year’s resolution is…
To stay healthy and win a few more games.
Top
of my Christmas list is…
Seeing
the kids opening presents on Christmas Day.
My
greatest hope for the New Year is…
Consistency
and that the Lions pick up a few more wins.
A
big thank you to everyone who contributed! NIHL Northern Trio would like to
wish all ice hockey coaches, players and fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year!
For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.
For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.
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