NIHL Weekend Action

Extinguished Stars spiral into sixth as Tigers pounce on points

Telford Tigers     3

Billingham Stars 1

The element of surprise perhaps one of Telford’s greatest weapons of late, the Tigers immediately sprang into action after the first face off, shocking Stars netminder James Flavell with just 43 seconds played. In form import was on hand to get his team off to the best possible start when Joseph Aston linked up with alternate captain Callum Bowley to send the Slovakian in on goal. Billingham had no sooner come to terms with the deficit when young forward Philip Mulcahy doubled Tigers’ lead with almost five minutes played.

Stars’ desire to bounce back from their defeat to Telford last weekend was demonstrated in Scott Ward’s clash with captain Daniel Croft. Both players were directed to the sin bin by referee Roy Hamilton, Ward receiving the harsher penalty of 2+2. Soon after both teams returned to full strength, Joshua Hustwick was punished for a slash which placed Stars at an advantage. Unwilling to let the opportunity slip away, Michael Elder lit the lamp just ten seconds into Billingham’s power play and suddenly the visitor’s hopes were raised again. The game still bearing some of its earlier energy, Jets soon found himself sitting out a roughing penalty with Stars’ right winger Michael Bowman, though this time the Tigers were on the wrong side of a 2+2 which ran over into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score still at 2-1, both sides tried their upmost to chase the points but a series of penalty calls caused disruption to the game and neither team could find the back of the net in the middle section. Stars’ woe was further added to when Chris Sykes clashed with Telford trouble maker Bradley Betteridge who has accumulated forty four penalty minutes in just seven games. This behaviour resulted in sixteen minutes worth of penalties for Sykes who received 2 minutes for holding, 2+2 for roughing and an additional ten minute misconduct penalty. Likewise, Betteridge also received 2+2 for roughing and a ten minute misconduct penalty timed at 39:24 which meant both players did not re-emerge from the sin bin until the third period.

The score line fragile at just 2-1, both sides returned to the ice for the final stanza with the points still very much in the balance. Try as they might, neither team could find the back of the net. Over ten minutes were played before Hamilton dished out further penalties, this time Billingham’s Ben Davison guilty of interference and Luke Brown receiving Stars’ second ten minute misconduct penalty of the match. Despite being on the power play, Telford could not fire the puck past Flavell to extend their lead which spurred the visitors to take a time out with just one minute six seconds left in the hope of finding an equaliser. However, making the decision to pull Flavell from his goal, Ward’s calculated risk did not pay off as Croft worked with Betteridge and Hustwick to bag himself an empty net goal, dashing the prospect of a Stars’ comeback on 59:38. Billingham’s Swedish import failed to conceal his frustration, prompting Hamilton to bestow yet another misconduct penalty on the Tessiders who managed to rack up an incredible forty eight penalty minutes during the course of this game.

This fixture leaves Billingham in sixth place whilst the diligent Tigers climb the table to make it into the playoff spots for the first time this season. Terry Ward’s side have now lost four points to the Tigers and will look to battle back from defeat. At present, the margins separating league positions are so fine that just one victory could see the Stars return to fifth and, in turn, challenge the Barons for fourth place.

Bold Barons dazzle Stars to claim fifth

Billingham Stars 3

Solihull Barons   5

With last weekend’s woes and a second defeat to Telford Tigers hanging over the Stars, Billingham went into their home encounter against Solihull Barons on Sunday with a strong desire to claim two points and set critics right.

In the early minutes of the first period, both teams were unfortunate not to score, Stars forward Michael Elder forcing a save from netminder Josh Nicholls in the third minute whilst Barons’ Swedish import Niklas Ottosson fired the puck into Flavell’s gloves in a one-on-one attack shortly after. The visitors were the first to make the most of their opportunities though, a defensive blunder on Stars’ part leading to a shot from left winger Joe Henry. Pinging off the post, the puck rebounded in Josh Bruce’s direction and the forward simply could not miss to put his side in front. In response, Billingham whirled into action to undo the deficit and it was not long before the Teessiders created an equaliser. To achieve his second goal of the season James Moss dashed from Stars’ own third to pull the trigger, striking his rebounded shot into the back of Nicholls’ net.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With little between them, the two sides took to the ice after the break, aware that the next goal could be crucial. Play had barely been resumed three minutes when referee David Emmerson handed out the first penalty of the game to Dave Rogers for a minor high sticks offence but, Billingham failing to capitalise on the power play, soon found themselves trailing once again as Henry ensured he did not miss his mark this time to take the puck past Flavell. It was not long before the Stars lost a man of their own to the sin bin and the Barons, clearly the better of the two teams at the start of the middle section, quickly grew in confidence to extend their lead to 3-1 on the power play, Slovakian Tomas Janak accomplishing his third assist of the evening to play Bruce in on goal. This two goal cushion did not last more than forty six seconds however as Stars’ reliable captain Paul Windridge received the puck from Matthew Campbell to slot the puck into Nicholls’ top corner, leaving the score 3-2 to the Barons ahead of the second interval.

As the final third got underway, the Barons bolted across the ice in a bid to secure their win but, despite their efforts, the Stars were next to score, Matthew Campbell launching the puck into the roof of the net to ensure a tense conclusion. As Barons continued to put Flavell under pressure, Ottosson picked up Flavell’s clearance to light the lamp with just over a minute and a half left. To round off a strong performance from the Barons, forward Thomas Soar took advantage of a second defensive error to make it 5-3 with a single assist from Edward Eaton.

This is now Billingham’s second consecutive zero point weekend which leaves the team in sixth place, just two points clear of Solway Sharks and within reach of the Barons who move into fifth with a game in hand. Terry Ward will hope that his side can ready themselves for their crucial derby day fixture next weekend against Whitley Warriors in which bragging rights are held in such high regard that the points are merely an added bonus for the victor.

Struggling Solway hurled aside by Hawks

Solway Sharks      2

Blackburn Hawks 7

After last weekend’s 5-1 defeat to Blackburn Hawks, it was always going to be difficult for Solway Sharks to turn around such a score line but, with the short-benched visitors travelling with only two lines, the Dumfries outfit may have thought they were in with a chance. Grubb made the decision to start with young net minder Kieran Hobbins in goal whilst Blackburn took to the first face off without ten of their key players, including forwards David Meikle, Tom King, Jordan Bannon and James Riddoch, defencemen Chris Butler, Max Drakeley Andy Dunn and Richard Ravey, junior Kyle Haslam and player/coach Daniel MacKriel.  

As the first period commenced, a fast paced, high intensity battle for possession broke out between the two teams, both stating their intentions from the first whistle; Solway hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to the Hawks and Blackburn out to prove that their significantly reduced squad would not be vanquished. With almost seven minutes played, Solway placed themselves under undue pressure once again this season, Craig Mitchell sin binned by referee David Emmerson for a trip which handed Hawks an early power play. Unable to find an avenue past Hobbins, Hawks failed to take an early lead and soon after found one of their own sitting out for two minutes, a slashing penalty on Matthew Viney and an interference call on Steven Blamer reducing both sides to four men.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

It was not long however before Blackburn began to show that they had the edge over Solway, former Shark Richard Bentham opening the scoring on 16:32 courtesy of alternate captain Viney and Finnish import Kim Miettinen. With no rapid reply from the Sharks, the home side went in at the break with a respectable one goal deficit to claw back.

As the teams returned to the ice for the second period, the momentum was now with Blackburn and Bentham waited just over one and a half minutes for his second, this time Viney putting the puck in his path following support from defenceman Ollie Lomax on 21:31. With close to ten minutes of the period played, Mitchell found himself in the sin bin once more, this time serving two minutes for slashing. Hawks, unable to take anything from the power play, soon found another opportunity fall their way when Lee Pollitt and top points scorer Adam Brittle worked the puck through Solway’s defence to find impressive import RJ Berra who did not miss his mark. The score 3-0, Hawks sensed that the points were there for the taking and hit home over a minute later, Viney setting up Miettinen to achieve his third assist of the game. With Solway well and truly on the back foot, Hawks continued to extend their lead, lighting the lamp a fifth time through Berra to score three goals in the space of two minutes, seventeen seconds. Naturally unhappy with the situation, Grubb switched Hobbins for Andrew Jaszczyk between the pipes to counteract the influx of shots from their opposition  as his side went in 5-0 down at the end of the second.

With much work to do in the third period, Solway readied themselves for the faceoff and hit back at their opposition thirty three seconds in as Mitchell attempted to get his team back on track with help from Duncan Speirs and Martin Cingel. Despite this, Sharks’ joy did not last long as Slovakian import Juraj Senko was forced to sit out a two minute misconduct penalty which gave Blackburn a man advantage. With so many power plays squandered, the Hawks were not about to waste this opportunity and this time Brittle was rewarded for his hard work with a goal, captain Chris Arnone and Berra demolishing Solway’s defence.

Martin Grubb’s team had barely returned to full strength when defenceman Aidan Fulton was ordered to the sin bin for a cross check. Despite being shorthanded, long serving Shark Alan Crane spurred into action, setting up Cingel who slotted the puck past netminder Daniel Brittle to reduce the deficit. Emmerson’s work was far from over though as a second slash from Viney saw Blackburn reduced to four men and Solway were given the upper hand. Failing to take their chances, the home side were offered a second opportunity soon after when Bentham penalised for a cross check, yet it was the visitors who capitalised as Ben Simister’s unassisted shot flew into Jaszczyk’s net to leave the game’s scoring at 7-2.

Rightly dissatisfied with his team at the moment, Grubb can only hope that Sharks turn their season around with a win against a side other than the newly promoted Senators who are also struggling at the bottom of the table. A victory would give Solway a much-needed boost and the confidence to get back to the best; one win would see the side contending with Sutton Sting for seventh place and perhaps then the side can gradually progress up the table in an attempt to recover their season. 

Sharks strike nine as Senators’ slump continues

Sheffield Senators 1

Solway Sharks       9

In desperate need of a win, Solway Sharks would no doubt have been pleased to travel to Ice Sheffield this weekend to face the Senators, the only opposition they have yet to defeat in the NIHL this season. Feeling that a win was more than possible, the Sharks attacked their opposition’s defence from the first puck drop and it was a move that paid off. With just over one minute and a half played, Martin Cingel fired the puck past Senators’ netminder Robert Browne to give the visitors an early lead. Continuing to dominate, Solway peppered Browne’s goal with shots and just minutes later Ross Murray was through on goal with help from defenceman Stuart Andrews to make it two. Sharks’ momentum decelerated soon after as Craig Mitchell was sin binned for a minor slashing penalty which left his team shorthanded. This did not hinder Solway’s progress however, and on 12:57 skilful left winger Steven Moore added another, this time Cingel assisting his team mate alongside Mitchell.

Little over a minute later the Sharks had made it 4-0, young forward Duncan Speirs finding the target after a link up between Murray and Moore. Soon after, a delayed penalty on Senators’ Paul Lofthouse for a cross check saw Cingel increase Solway’s lead by five goals on 15:13, the home side’s defence now under increasing pressure with any chance of a win diminishing by the second. The clock counting down to the first interval, Sharks continued to control the game and, with just one second to go, Murray and Moore were again on hand to create an opportunity for Speirs who made it six to Senators’ dismay.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As play resumed after the break, the two sides had not been on the ice four minutes when Ross Murray decided to drop the gloves with Thomas Robjohns. Both players accordingly received 2+2 for fighting and made their way to the sin bin. Despite Solway’s efforts in the middle stanza, Browne brushed off their seventeen shots to ensure the gap did not get any worse for his team and, instead, the Senators were the next to score as forward Charles Thompson threaded a pass through to junior right winger Jack Dransfield who gave the home fans something to cheer about.

The score line 6-1 at the end of the second period, the game appeared to be beyond the Senators and, after a series of penalties which disrupted the flow of play, it was Mitchell who managed to find the back of the net next with forty eight minutes played. Approximately four minutes later, Marc Fowley achieved his second of the season with a single assist from Joe Coulter but shortly afterwards found himself subject to a roughing call after a clash with junior Josh Pigott who also took two minutes for the same offence and an additional minor penalty for slashing. As Solway returned to full strength, Pigott looked on as his side were made to pay on the power play, Slovakian Juraj Senko combining with Speirs to deliver the puck to Murray who, in turn, slotted it past Browne, ensuring Senators’ goal was little more than a consolation.

Coach Martin Grubb may find some relief that his team are now lifted into seventh place, though Sutton Sting also have four points and two games in hand over the Dumfries outfit. With this season’s competition tougher than ever, Solway must find a way back from their sudden decline to stand any chance of finishing in the playoff spots but a lot of work must be done before the side can even contemplate such an achievement with survival now top of Sharks’ priorities.

Warriors win in close contest with Sting

Sutton Sting        2                                     
Whitley Warriors 3

Even before the first face off, both coaches might have guessed that this fixture would be a compact replay of the game which took place a fortnight ago at Hillheads and they would not have been wrong. Both teams feeling the points were there for the taking began in an attacking manner which swiftly paid off for the home side as Latvian Vjaceslavs Movko opened the scoring with a double assist from Ryan Johnson and player/coach John Ross.

The game was almost at the ten minute mark before Whitley could find a reply, Harry Harley and David Longstaff linking up with experienced forward DJ Good to send the visitors level. Soon after, a series of penalties on both sides broke up the natural flow of play, Warrior Jordan Barnes serving a two minute hooking penalty on 14:22 and captain Jamie Tinsley soon following suit with a roughing penalty that ran into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score still 1-1, Warriors were given a power play opportunity in the opening minutes of the second period when referee Jonathan Liptrott sent Scott Howells to the sin bin for a hook. The punishment was not all one-sided however, and Warriors were soon reduced to four men for having too many men on the ice. If this was not bad enough, Whitley enforcer Andre Payette was then ejected from the game for a high sticks to cause further problems for the side. However, it was not long before the Sting ran into trouble once more and Whitley were able to capitalise with just four seconds left of the power play, Good turning assistant to Callum Watson with a little help from youngster Queenan.

The score a tentative 2-1 at the end of the second, the points were still in the balance as John Ross’ Sting cancelled out Longstaff’s Warriors. Early penalties inhibited play and it was only when Sutton lost Movko to the sin bin in the fiftieth minute that defenceman Josh Maddock was able to produce a third goal for the Warriors, Harley and Longstaff the assists once again.

Feeling the game slip away, Sutton gave a rapid response and it took only 36 seconds for Movko to hit the puck past Richie Lawson for a second time to tally his sixth of the season. This was to be little more than a consolation though and, as the clock ran down, Sting were the first to call a time out in a bid to grab an equaliser. Unnerved by the move, Longstaff emulated Ross’ tactics, calling for a timeout of his own with just thirty four seconds left. In spite of this, the score line remained 3-2 to the Warriors, the Hillheads outfit leaving Ice Sheffield with two points under their belt ahead of their derby day fixture against Billingham Stars next week.

After yet another hard-fought win, Whitley Warriors sit second in the NIHL league table with thirteen points and a game in hand on the unstoppable Blackburn Hawks. Longstaff will now look to prepare his squad who face a double header next weekend against Solway Sharks and fierce derby rivals Billingham Stars with the hope that his Warriors can take away the bragging rights as well as two points from the critical encounter. 

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