NIHL Weekend Action

Sharks bite back as Stars lose spark

Solway Sharks          7

Billingham Stars       3

Heading out onto the ice with sixteen skaters, including captain Struan Tonnar, top points scorer Iain Bowie and young forward Scott Henderson, Solway Sharks were hopeful that they could achieve a victory over close rivals Billingham Stars, the side opting for Kyle Johnston in net over usual first choice Calum Hepburn. Meanwhile, the Stars made the trip to the Dumfries Ice Bowl with a short bench of sixteen players, their lengthy absentee list including Latvian defenceman Artūrs Ozols, blue liner Andy Finn and forwards Scott Ward, Jack Emerson and Josh Nertney, though the side were pleased to see shot stopper James Flavell make his return from injury.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Making a fast start following faceoff, Billingham immediately sought their opening goal of the game which was delivered with less than three minutes played when forward Jack Davies teamed up with junior Ethan Hehir to assist player-coach Michael Bowman in his efforts to get onto the scoresheet. Shortly afterwards, a tripping penalty for Sharks’ forward Duncan Speirs then presented the Stars with a power play but, failing to contend with Solway’s penalty kill, the Teessiders could not double their lead with the additional skater. Though both teams continued to battle for the puck following the termination of this penalty, with the Sharks looking to draw level and Billingham hunting for their second goal, it was the Stars who were able to reap the rewards of their hard work as the outfit gained a second power play when Solway’s defenceman Scott Cooper was shown to the sin bin for interference. Careful not to waste this chance after failing to make their previous power play count, the Teessiders worked for more than a minute before Callum Davies was finally able to hit the target on 15:29, fellow alternate captain Chris Sykes and player-coach Bowman with the assists. Dismayed to find themselves behind by two goals, the Sharks were soon presented with a further setback when just over a minute later, Under 20s captain Alex Preston netted following creative play from Latvian forward Deniss Baškatovs and defenceman Ross Hanlon. Realising their need to hit back before the break in order to stay in the contest, Solway fired themselves onto the scoresheet with just fourteen seconds of the period remaining as Bowie unleashed an unassisted shot to see his team head in on the wrong end of the 3-1 score line.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning to the ice with a clear objective besides switching netminder Johnston for shot stopper Hepburn, Solway set out to chip away at their deficit and were successful in their efforts to get back on track, two-way player Jordan Buesa teaming up with Tonnar to set up forward Scott Henderson who did not miss his mark on 22:06. Shortly after this goal, the Stars ran into penalty trouble as forward James Moss incurred a minor for interference to hand Solway a power play. Failing to make the most of this, Martin Grubb’s men were then presented with the advantage just over two minutes after Billingham returned to full strength, this time Stars’ blue liner Thomas Keeley sidelined for a slashing offence. Though unable to make the most of their power play, the Sharks created momentum and maintained possession to place their visitors under a great deal of pressure which resulted in an equaliser fifty five seconds after Keeley’s return to the ice as captain Tonnar levelled the scoring following some neat play from Buesa. Just sixty seconds later, Keeley found himself back in the penalty box as the defenceman made way for a high sticks offence to allow Solway the additional skater once again. Continuing to dominate in front of Flavell’s net, the Sharks failed to score whilst on the power play for a second time and instead took the lead two minutes later as Bowie linked up with Czech defenceman Marek Charvát on 37:34. The score line 4-3 as a result, Billingham were frustrated to have lost their three-goal lead which showed as the side incurred a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct just nineteen seconds later and were consequently made to see out the remainder of the period with four men. Though failing to widen the gap between themselves and their opposition on the advantage, the Sharks were relieved to have turned their fortunes around in this period to file from the ice with a narrow lead after outshooting the Stars by twenty five to four.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

Facing off for the third and final stanza, Solway were keen to add to their tally to ensure the points would be theirs at the end of the night. As such, the side looked to pick up from where they left off and were able to maintain their work ethic in front of Flavell’s net to hit home a fifth as forward Scott Henderson played the puck to Bowie who notched his second of the evening with 42:25 on the clock. Three minutes later, Flavell was again picking the puck from his net, this time forward Connor Henderson the man on target as Scott Henderson worked with Bowie to assist. Twenty seconds later, Sharks’ alternate captain Ross Murray was called to the sin bin for interference to hand the Stars a power play but the visitors could not add to their tally and just under two minutes after returning to full strength, Solway were able to make it 7-3, this time Cooper printing his name on the scoresheet on 49:35 courtesy of Speirs and skilled left winger Steven Moore. Despondent after conceding seven unanswered goals, Billingham found that they could not get back into the game against Grubb’s dominant Sharks who were eager to make amends for last month’s defeat to the Teessiders. Controlling play to outshoot the Stars once again, it was clear that Solway were not about to let the points slip from their grasp on this occasion. A tripping penalty for Sharks’ defenceman Josh Grieveson on 57:39 made no difference to the score line as the Teessiders failed to snatch a power play goal in the final stages of the game. As such, Solway were able to head in with two points from their victory, the Dumfries outfit pleased to have turned their evening around after a disappointing start to the contest.

Looking back on this win, Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb admitted: “We started very slowly and didn’t play the way we wanted in the first period and found ourselves three goals behind until we got a late goal in the first period. We came out ready to play after the first break and dominated the rest of the game, scoring seven unanswered goals and were really comfortable winners, although we need to start better in future games or we will get punished.”

Agony for Warriors as Tigers go wild over narrow victory

Whitley Warriors      2

Telford Tigers          3

Heading out onto the ice with a strong line-up of twenty skaters and netminder Mark Turnbull, who took his place between the pipes in the absence of usual first choice shot stopper Richie Lawson, Whitley Warriors were more than up for this challenging encounter against Telford Tigers who made the trip with a short bench of fourteen skaters, the side missing defenceman Jordan Stokes, versatile blue liner Dale White and forwards Brodie Jesson and Jack Watkins.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off against Telford Tigers for the first period, Whitley Warriors were keen to contend with their opposition and the side did just that, rapidly battling for the puck between zones as the Shropshire outfit targeted Turnbull’s net whilst the home team countered to call shot stopper Denis Bell into action at the other end of the ice. Though Telford’s captain Jason Silverthorn, alternate captain Richard Plant, experienced defenceman Jonathan Weaver, forward Scott McKenzie and winger Warren Tait were amongst those working to beat Whitley’s defence, Warriors’ Canadian import Philip Edgar, captain Dean Holland and player-coach David Longstaff set their sights on Bell’s net on more than one occasion but failed to make their efforts count. A stalemate ensuing, the Warriors were pleased to be handed a power play on 8:17 when McKenzie made way for a high sticks offence but despite their pressure on the Tigers’ goal, the Warriors could not break the deadlock and were forced back into defence by their visitors. Evenly matched throughout the first period, there was nothing to separate the two sides as the stanza came to a close but a boarding penalty against Warrior Ben Richards presented Telford with their first power play of the game on 19:14 to see the outfit take their advantage into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Working effectively to kill this penalty, Whitley sought to challenge Bell but Telford returned to the ice with a determination to open the scoring and as such, it was not long before the Tigers were presented with the perfect opportunity as Warriors’ alternate captain Shaun Kippin headed to the sin bin for interference on 26:10. Just four seconds later, the puck was in the back of the net, McKenzie playing a pass across to Weaver who picked out Tait to see the forward bag a 1-0 lead for his team. This goal brought with it a shift in power as the Tigers were spurred on to double their tally whilst the Warriors battled to make their offensive play count at the other end of the ice. As a result, Telford made it 2-0 on 29:56, this time Tom Watkins’ team capitalising on a defensive error as Silverthorn collected the puck from behind Turnbull’s net to play in Plant who netted to add to Whitley’s disappointment. Just over a minute later, the Warriors were able to pull back a goal as the puck was played down the ice and trickled beyond Bell, allowing Edgar to nip around the shot stopper to score an unassisted goal on 31:01. Just twenty three seconds later, a boarding penalty was called against Tigers’ young forward Jed Moreland to see Whitley claim a power play which they wasted no time in converting, the side hitting the back of the net eight seconds later when blue liner Kyle Ross threaded a pass to player-coach Longstaff who eased the puck beyond Bell to level the scoring. Having conceded two goals in the space of thirty one seconds, Telford’s frustrations soon began to show as Whitley increased their pressure on the Tigers’ net, young defenceman Daniel Mitchell earning himself 2+10 for a check to the head after flooring Whitley’s blue liner Josh Maddock on 35:29. Unable to capitalise on this power play, the Warriors then found themselves reduced to four men in the final minute of the stanza as the side incurred a bench minor for too many men to allow Telford to return with the additional skater in the opening stages of the third period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning on the penalty kill yet again, the Warriors battled to parry the puck out of their defensive zone and even strove to test Bell on one occasion whilst shorthanded but without success. With both teams continuing to challenge for a game-winning goal with play so close and the score still tied, the Warriors battled to make their efforts count, applying pressure with continuous rapid fire on Bell’s net whilst the Tigers scrapped for possession against Whitley’s defence in their struggle to beat Turnbull who remained sturdy between the pipes, the netminder pulling off some outstanding saves to ensure his team did not fall behind. A tripping penalty for blue liner Harry Harley on 50:48 placed Telford on a power play which saw the Warriors rallying to defend against the Tigers’ offensive play, the side successfully killing the penalty. Less than two minutes later, forward Ryan Sample was made to sit out for interference, allowing the Tigers’ to have another chance at achieving a power play goal. Despite this setback, Whitley remained composed to keep the score line at 2-2, though the Hillheads outfit were placed under growing pressure as the Tigers continued to hunt down a winning goal. It was only in the final two minutes of the game though that Tom Watkins’ team were able to recover their lead as Plant teamed up with defenceman Adam Jones to present Silverthorn with an opportunity to make it 3-2, the captain negotiating Whitley’s scrabbling defence to fire the puck over Turnbull on 58:52. Hugely disappointed to see this goal hamper their chances of heading into overtime, the Warriors called a timeout and opted to pull Turnbull from his net to allow for the additional skater but in spite of their many attempts, Whitley were unable to equalise before the final buzzer called time on their narrow defeat.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Reflecting on this loss, Whitley’s player-coach David Longstaff shared: “I thought we competed with them for the majority of the game. We did talk throughout the game about how we kept turning the puck over in dangerous areas and ultimately that’s what cost us in the last minute. We have a very honest bunch of players and we’ll hopefully learn from these mistakes but we were very happy with the performance overall.”

Pirates claim loot in race for title as Sharks swamped by goals

Hull Pirates          11

Solway Sharks       2

Travelling to Hull with a squad of sixteen skaters and netminders Calum Hepburn and Kyle Johnston, Solway Sharks were hopeful that they could take on the shortbenched Pirates whose side consisted of nine forwards, five defencemen, shot stopper Adam Long and backup netminder Joseph Gent; the home team heading out onto the ice in search of two points to continue in the race for the league title.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With silverware up for grabs and every point hugely important, the Pirates’ objective was clear from the outset as they headed out onto the ice against the Sharks with the aim to put the result of this meeting beyond doubt as quickly as possible. As such, Hull were able to notch their first goal of the evening on 2:24 when Aaron Lyon punished Sharks’ starting netminder Johnston following neat build up play from fellow forwards Joshua Gent and Jordan Fisher. Under pressure, Solway then conceded a second goal less than four minutes later when forward Lee Bonner printed his name on the scoresheet courtesy of right winger James Archer and captain Jamie Chilcott. Stunned to have fallen behind so quickly, Solway called a timeout immediately after this goal in a bid to turn their fortunes around but just over a minute later, Johnston was again picking the puck from his net as Bonner achieved his second of the evening on 7:48 with Archer and Chilcott again assisting. This goal prompted a change of netminder for the Sharks as Head Coach Martin Grubb switched Johnston for Hepburn but it appeared that the damage was already done as the Pirates altered the scoreboard just thirteen seconds later, this time Bonner turning assist for Chilcott. Regaining their composure after this goal, Solway began to withstand Hull’s offensive play to prevent further concession and attempted to test shot stopper Long at the other end of the ice but the home team remained dominant to ensure that their 4-0 lead remained intact going into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the middle stanza, Solway were keen to turn their fortunes around but the Pirates had other ideas, the side beating Hepburn on 21:54 as defenceman Thomas Stubley received a pass from player-coach Jason Hewitt to incorporate Bobby Chamberlain into play, the right winger finding the net to add to the Sharks’ deficit. Moments later, Solway suffered a further setback when forward Joe Coulter made his way to the sin bin for tripping to hand the Pirates a power play. Though the Dumfries outfit worked hard to kill this penalty to ensure Hull could not capitalise with the additional man, the Pirates were able to make it 6-0 less than three minutes after Coulter’s return to the ice, this time Hewitt the man on target as left winger Matty Davies and captain Chilcott linked up to help their player-coach onto the scoresheet on 30:19. Just forty two seconds later, the Pirates bagged themselves another as Chamberlain notched his second of the evening courtesy of Davies and Stubley. Seven goals down, the Sharks were then frustrated to lose a man to the sin bin when blue liner Stuart Kerr was sidelined for holding on 35:28 to allow Hull another power play. Unable to make the most of this advantage as the Sharks worked hard on the penalty kill, the Pirates then found themselves shorthanded just over a minute after Solway returned to full strength, the side losing Lyon to the sin bin following a tripping call in the last two minutes of the period. Though ending this stanza on a power play, Grubb’s men failed to open their account and instead headed in on the wrong end of the 7-0 score line.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Filing back onto the ice with thirty three seconds of their power play remaining, Solway restored Johnston to his net and strove to make their additional skater count but it was the Pirates who were next to score after their return to full strength, the side achieving their eighth of the game when alternate captain Jonathan Kirk linked up with Hewitt to see Fisher net on 42:38. Twenty six seconds later, the puck was fired home by Davies as the Sharks began to accept that there was no way back; Hewitt assisting alongside Kirk on this occasion. Soon after, the Pirates headed into double figures as Bonner completed his hat trick with support from Chamberlain on 44:17, the outfit racking up three goals in under two minutes to make it 10-0. Increasing their offensive play as a result of this goal, the Sharks were able to claim a goal of their own less than two minutes later when Bowie hit home following creative play from forward Coulter and experienced alternate captain James Hutchinson. Moments later, a slashing penalty for Chamberlain placed Solway on the power play but unable to find the back of the net despite their many chances, the Sharks were quick to regret their inability to capitalise as Bonner accomplished his fourth goal of the evening to make it 11-1 on 52:18, following quick play from alternate captain Samuel Towner and right winger Archer. The Sharks were then able to defeat Long for a second time as alternate captain Ross Murray linked up with captain Struan Tonnar who doubled his side’s tally; a mere consolation for the visiting Dumfries team. Moments after scoring, Tonnar found himself sinbinned for holding to hand the Pirates a power play but the side’s advantage was cut short as just eighteen seconds later Hewitt made way for slashing. These penalties were then closely followed by minors for both Archer and Johnston, the duo punished for interference on 57:32. With these penalties breaking up the flow of play and the game well and truly won, the teams saw out the dying minutes before the final buzzer sounded to confirm Hull’s 11-2 victory.

Considering his team’s heavy defeat, Solway’s Head Coach Martin Grubb acknowledged: “We got off to a terrible start and were heavily punished by a quality hockey team and it was a harsh lesson to learn. We didn’t do ourselves any justice but they were simply much better than us in every department and that is the level we need to strive to achieve.”

Stars struck by Barons as Solihull battle to take win

Billingham Stars     5

Solihull Barons          8

Hoping to make amends for Saturday night’s defeat to Solway Sharks with a home win against Solihull Barons, Billingham Stars headed out onto the ice with a short bench once again, this time lining up with fifteen skaters as forward Jack Emerson made his return to the side alongside young defenceman James Hellens who was also available for this clash. Likewise, Solihull made the trip to Teesside with fifteen skaters and had netminders Josh Nicholls and Daniel Brittle at their disposal, the side opting for the former to make his start between the pipes on this occasion.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Hoping to achieve a victory over the Barons, Billingham Stars headed out in front of their home crowd with the aim to put up a fight against their visitors but were stunned when Solihull opened the scoring with just fifty nine seconds on the clock, forward Elliot Farrell grabbing a goal with help from captain Josh Bruce. Undeterred by this, the Stars opted to try their luck at the other end of the ice against Barons’ netminder Nicholls but Solihull were spurred on by their 1-0 lead and prevented Billingham’s attempts on goal as they looked to double their tally. Despite efforts from both teams, it was not until just beyond the halfway point of the period that the next goal arrived, the Barons again finding the net as Farrell snatched his second of the evening following a pass from alternate captain Tomas Janak. Frustrated to find themselves trailing by two goals, Stars’ forward Jack Emerson then clashed with Solihull’s defenceman Dave Rogers after the Baron was considered to be guilty of holding; the duo dropped their gloves to each earn 2+2 for fighting whilst Rogers picked up an additional minor for his original offence. These penalties disrupting play, the Barons strove for a third goal but found it difficult to beat netminder James Flavell, the side only managing to score with just forty seven seconds of Rogers’ penalty remaining; forward Thomas Soar causing problems for the Stars’ defence alongside young forward Matthew Maurice and alternate captain Marcus Maynard to make it 3-0 on 16:11. Just over a minute later, a tripping call against defenceman Richard Crowe placed Billingham on a power play but failing to make this count, the Teessiders were forced to head in with a three-goal deficit and much work to do to get back into the game in the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Resuming play for the middle stanza, Billingham were keen to recover some lost ground but the Barons were not about to let their hard work come undone in this period and instead added a fourth to their lead; Luke Brittle working with forward Ed Eaton to successfully set up Swedish import Niklas Ottosson on 24:37. Just under three minutes later, a second tripping penalty against Crowe allowed Billingham another power play and this time the outfit were not about to let this opportunity slip by, the side hitting home with just four seconds of their advantage remaining as captain Michael Elder threaded a pass to alternate captain Callum Davies who was able to accomplish his seventh goal of the season on 29:16. Just over a minute later, shot stopper Daniel Brittle found himself called into the action when netminder Nicholls was ejected from the game for an accidental high sticks offence against Stars’ alternate captain Chris Sykes. As a result of this, Solihull were placed on a five-minute penalty kill which they executed with success as Billingham found their offensive efforts quashed to see no changes to the 4-1 score line. After serving this penalty, the Barons were relieved to be offered a power play of their own when Stars’ defenceman Matthew Campbell incurred a minor for tripping on 36:09. Twenty one seconds later, Flavell found himself beaten for a fifth time as Adam Brittle slotted home following hard work from captain Bruce and brother Luke Brittle but matters were quickly made worse for Billingham as just thirty seven seconds later, Ottosson bagged his second of the evening, Eaton again assisting alongside Luke Brittle, to make it 6-1 ahead of the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Switching Flavell with backup netminder Mark Watson, the Stars realised that they must act quickly to respond to this score line and netted forty four seconds into the third stanza as player-coach Richie Thornton played a pass to Elder who fired home to chip away at his team’s deficit. Twenty seven seconds after this goal, the Barons then ran into further penalty trouble when forward Adam Brittle earned himself 2+10 for a check to the head against Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs, incurring the wrath of forward James Moss in the process who was made to warm a seat in the sin bin for roughing as a consequence. Shortly afterwards, a delayed tripping call against defenceman Rogers allowed Billingham to capitalise, the side making it 6-3 through Baškatovs who was able to claim his twentieth league goal of the season following assists from blue liners Ben Davison and Campbell. Moments later, alternate captain Davies clashed with young forward Maurice, the Star becoming involved in the game from the bench, to see both earn minors for roughing. This penalty did not hold the Barons back however, and the side were able to make it 7-3 as Soar received the puck from Rogers to beat Watson on 47:42. The game skipping away from Billingham, their visitors then accomplished an eighth goal at the halfway point in the period when Soar teamed up with Eaton to allow Luke Brittle to print his name on the scoresheet. Battling back, Stars’ captain Elder achieved a goal for his side on 54:36 as Sykes and defenceman Thomas Keeley arrived in support and, just twenty two seconds later, Elder hit the target again to achieve his hat trick, this time Sykes working with Davies to assist. The score line 8-5 as a result of this rapid offensive play, Billingham threw everything into making their way back into the game and the Barons soon began to feel this pressure, the side calling a timeout to discuss tactics with less than three minutes remaining in the game. Pulling Watson from his net to ice an additional skater, the Stars were faced with the Barons’ resolute defence. A hooking call against forward Adam Brittle on 58:07 allowed Billingham a power play and the side rallied in their efforts to reduce their deficit but it wasn’t to be, the Stars admitting defeat as time ran out to confirm their 8-5 defeat.

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