NIHL Weekend Action

Stars cling on for win over Spartans to shoot into fourth

Sheffield Spartans 3

Billingham Stars    4

Going into this game, Terry Ward’s Billingham Stars were very much aware that two points could see the Teesiders creep into the playoff spots whilst also allowing the side to create a narrow gap between themselves and Martin White’s Sheffield Spartans. Though missing defencemen Will Robson, Tom Keeley and Andy Finn as well as forwards Scott Ward, Billy Nicholson and Jack Davies, the Stars started the game with a strong line up to match that of the Spartans.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As the teams took to the ice for the first period, it was clear that both sides were willing to battle for possession to create their fair share of offensive opportunities. Whilst Swedish import Dennis Boström worked hard at one end of the ice for the visitors, James Flavell was put to the test at the other as youngster Liam Kirk weaved through the avenues of the Stars’ defence to pose a threat in front of goal. Despite this, the home side failed to make an impression on their visitors in the first few minutes and a slashing offence from Spartan Stephen Weeks saw Billingham awarded a power play. With five seconds left of their advantage, the Stars applied enough pressure to grab the first goal of the game on 6:32, Andy Munroe playing the puck to Boström who fired it past netminder Brandon Stones.

Less than five minutes later, the Spartans were forced to endure another penalty kill, this time Elliot Knell serving two minutes for tripping. Again, the Stars saw an opportunity to capitalise, player-assistant coach Michael Bowman deceiving the opposition with a false blue line shot to allow himself time and space to double Sheffield’s deficit. Shortly afterwards, Billingham’s Josh Nertney was handed an interference penalty but the youngster was soon joined by fellow Star Ben Davison and Spartans’ captain Ollie Barron, both incurring roughing penalties from referee David Emmerson. Despite the efforts of Callum Davies, James Moss and Chris Sykes, the Stars could not extend their lead and the Spartans remained two goals adrift as the sides returned to full strength in the closing stages of the opening stanza.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The home side requiring a goal to get back in the game, the Spartans appeared to adhere to White’s request as Kirk controlled the puck in style to evade Billingham’s defence and to subsequently fire home a superb unassisted effort into Flavell’s net. Realising the vulnerability of their lead, the Stars recognised the need for another goal to reclaim their two goal cushion and soon went on the offensive. However, as blue liner Ben Davison came close to scoring, the Spartans ensured that the player was dispatched into the net in place of the puck, resulting in a rare penalty shot. Calmly, Davison slotted the puck past Stones to make it 3-1 with less than five minutes of the period played.

An interference penalty for Sheffield’s Chris Wilcox followed, handing Billingham the power play once again. The home side were only fifty eight seconds into their penalty kill when a pass from Flavell found its way to Michael Elder who wasted no time in hitting home for the Stars.

For the remainder of the period, normal game play was disrupted by a series of penalties, with simultaneous punishments for Stars’ returning defenceman Jamie Pattison and Spartan Andrew Turner. Both sides were then restored to full strength only for Billingham to then go a man down, Pattison again the man at fault. Finding themselves on the power play, the Spartans pushed forward but, try as they might, they could not find a way past sturdy netminder Flavell. His penalty over, Pattison returned to the ice only to be shown to the sin bin to serve a third consecutive minor penalty, this time a commotion in front of Flavell’s net boiling over between the blue liner and Turner. In conjunction with these penalties, Billingham’s Matthew Campbell was dealt two minutes for slashing, meaning the Stars could only ice three men to the Spartans’ four.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 4-1 going into the final instalment of the game, the Stars’ lead appeared to be a comfortable one but that soon changed on 45:02 when Campbell incurred a holding penalty to give the home side a power play. Executing his effort from the blue line, Nicholas Manning made it two for his team as his unassisted shot flew past Flavell with over forty six minutes played. A holding penalty for Scott Morris followed but the visitors could not find the back of the net on this occasion and they were soon punished as Kirk involved defenceman Ross Jordan to set up Knell who made his mark on the game by taking his side within touching distance of a draw.

The game closer than ever at 4-3, the Spartans then conceded another penalty as Michael Mawer was found guilty of tripping but Billingham ran into trouble themselves as Davison committed the same offence, allowing the home side to have just over a minute on the power play when Mawer made his return. In a final attempt at an equaliser, the Spartans mounted the pressure onto the Stars as the puck was struck against the cross bar in the dying seconds of the game but Sheffield’s efforts at a comeback were in vain as Billingham held onto their narrow lead to take home two points.

Commenting on Star’s performance, Chris Sykes told NIHL Northern Trio: “We got two points on Saturday afternoon down in Sheffield where we have struggled before. We had two lines and a young third line with Bomber [Michael Bowman] in the middle of them but he’s just come back from injury so it was a hard fought 4-3 win against the Spartans who put up a great fight and made the game interesting after being down but the two points is what we wanted and we’re happy with the win.”

Sharks shatter Senators in play off push

Sheffield Senators 9

Solway Sharks       1

Travelling with fifteen skaters and one netminder, Solway Sharks went into their game against Sheffield Senators on Saturday buoyed by the hopes of a playoff place at the end of the season. Continuing to snatch as many points as possible, the Sharks have managed four victories from five games in the last month, their only loss against second placed Whitley Warriors.

With Sheffield Senators yet to register a point, Solway were aware that they could not get complacent against the team who were able to put up a good fight against Billingham Stars a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, it was little surprise that the Sharks made the better start with a goal in the second minute of the game arising through captain Struan Tonnar, following a neat pass from Slovakian import Juraj Senko.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The Sharks did not hesitate to double their lead, their next goal delivered by blue liner Stuart Andrews subsequent to some neat build up play from Iain Bowie and Joe Coulter on 6:26; netminder Robert Browne easily beaten as the Senators’ defence failed to cope with the onslaught. With Sheffield beginning to see their fair share of the puck, some link up play between Thomas Humphries and Matthew Pigott sent forward Callum Rawson in on Hobbins’ goal and the Senator quickly capitalised to reduce halve Solway’s two goal cushion.

The glimmer of hope which this goal may have instilled in Andrew Chapman’s team was short lived however as, just eighteen seconds later, Tonnar nabbed his second of the game to make it 3-1, this time support arriving from Marc Fowley and defenceman James Wallace which allowed Sharks to take control of the game once more.

With little opportunities developing in the Senators’ offensive zone in the wake of their initial goal, Sheffield’s defence remained industrious in the eye of the storm but their efforts were not enough to prevent Tonnar from claiming his hat trick in the fifteenth minute of the game, Martin Cingel’s build up play with defenceman Andrews resulting in further misery for Browne.

Going in at the break with a three goal deficit to overturn, the Senators poor form in Division One was a distinct indicator as to how the remainder of the game would play out. However, the Sharks took to the second period with seemingly less intensity than the first and even failed to punish the Senators on the power play as Alexander Harding was made to serve time for interference. Less than a minute after this missed opportunity, the Sharks snatched their fifth of the game as Wallace slipped the puck to superb Slovakian Cingel who was not about to miss his mark.

With this the only goal of the second period, the Sharks went into the final stanza with expectations of a better performance than that of the previous twenty minutes. The visitors soon managed to add to their tally, Bowie and Coulter again with the assists as junior defenceman Stuart Kerr lit the lamp on 43:31. Less than two minutes later, the puck was in the back of Browne’s net for a seventh time, Cingel and Tonnar working play into the Senators’ defensive zone before Fowley hit home with his eighth of the season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Shortly after this goal, a chaos of players in front of Hobbins’ goal caused some confrontation between the two sides as Ross Murray dropped the gloves with Senators’ captain Andrew McEwan. Roughing penalties of 2+2 were dished out by referee David Emmerson whilst Solway’s Andrews also received two minutes for clipping. Soon after their return to full strength, the Sharks continued to dominate, allowing left winger Steven Moore and forward Stephen Adams to put Murray’s name on the score sheet. The two points beyond a question of doubt for Solway, the Sharks hammered home the final nail in the Senators’ coffin as Fowley turned assist for Cingel approximately five minutes before the final buzzer sounded to confirm the Yorkshire outfit’s 9-1 defeat.

Speaking after the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “We knew going into Sheffield that it would not be an easy game as the Senators work hard for a full sixty minutes and we needed to get a result. I thought we played well in spells and when we moved the puck, we created chances and their goalie made some huge saves for them. We got away from doing the simple things in the middle period and we didn’t play very well but we finished strong in the third period and that is important; as I told the players, we didn’t want to get into bad habits with the games we have coming up. Overall, I’m happy we went and done the job and credit to the Sens for battling right until the end.”

Sutton sting in Warriors’ battle for two points

Sutton Sting            3

Whitley Warriors     4

Making the trip to Ice Sheffield, David Longstaff’s Whitley Warriors were in search of a victory over Sutton Sting to both maintain their good run of form and to dominate John Ross’ side ahead of their visit to Hillheads next weekend. Travelling with a strong squad, the Warriors started with Richie Lawson in net whilst sturdy Russian netminder Dmitri Zimozdra was between the pipes for the Sting.

Matching the skill and strength of the home side, the Warriors enjoyed a comfortable opening on the larger ice surface to apply early pressure to their opponents. Whilst Sutton contested Whitley’s possession of the puck to have their own attempts on goal, the Warriors tried their utmost to get ahead in the game and soon succeeded when skilful youngster Callum Queenan worked hard alongside captain Jamie Tinsley to create some effective build up play, allowing Longstaff to rocket the puck past Zimozdra to make it 1-0 on 9:26.

  

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Just minutes later, referee John Freeman directed Whitley’s tough defenceman Andre Payette to the sin bin for charging, awarding the Sting a power play. The Warriors’ penalty kill unit remained solid for two minutes and, as Sutton failed to capitalise, Whitley were able to punish the home side with the same line just twelve seconds after their return to full strength, Queenan and Tinsley again on hand to assist Longstaff, their on-ice coach leading by example with an excellent effort to light the lamp.

The score line 2-0 in the closing stages of this period, there was still time for Sutton to grab their first goal of the game when blue liner Josh Maddock conceded a holding penalty on 18:52. Going on the offensive, the Sting managed to halve the Warriors’ two goal cushion with the additional skater as passing play between player-coach John Ross and defenceman James Goodman saw the puck fall to Carl Ashton who made no mistake in punishing Whitley.

Despite the Warriors’ positive start, the game was still a close one and both teams returned to the ice for the middle section with the knowledge that either side could leave with the two points at the end of the night. However, if the Sting were hoping to carry on from where they left off in the previous period, they were soon disappointed as alternate captain James Spurr incurred a slashing penalty just seconds in, to hand the visitors the advantage. Taking less than a minute to find the back of the net on the power play, Shaun Kippin printed his name on the score sheet with support arriving from efficient blue liner Harry Harley and influential right winger Dean Holland.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Undeterred, the Sting cast aside this set back in their bid to find a second goal, working hard to attack Whitley’s defence which gradually began to yield under pressure. It was therefore little surprise when the home side netted on 25:27 through Ross as Carl Ashton turned assist for his player-coach alongside forward Richard Oliver to give the Warriors cause for concern.

This concern was soon shown to be well-founded as the Sting struck just sixty four seconds later to draw level in a game which had largely been within Whitley’s control in the first period. Latvian import Vjaceslavs Movko was the man to hit home for his side courtesy of some fast work from alternate captain Ryan Johnson and the versatile Mark Turner. A stick to the face for Kippin saw Payette called onto the ice by Longstaff, the coach going on to urge further effort from his team in the wake of this equaliser.

As the remainder of the second period proved tough for the visitors, Longstaff’s line up returned from the dressing room for the final instalment with a renewed energy and a need to hunt down a game-winning goal.  A stalemate developed from the outset as the Sting aimed for the ultimate comeback whilst the Warriors attempted to overwrite the mistakes of the previous period by adding to their tally.

Despite efforts from both sides, offensive displays were all in vain as neither team could break down the other’s defence, though Sutton were presented with a power play when Martin Crammond took to the sin bin for a hooking offence. The home side failed to make their chances count as Whitley successfully wore away each second of the penalty kill to ensure that they did not concede another. Thirteen seconds later, referee Freeman reduced Sutton to four men as Johnson was made to serve time for slashing.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

This afforded Whitley the perfect opportunity to make it 4-3 and Longstaff’s men did not fail in their quest, Adam Reynolds achieving his third goal in five games on 53:11. With less than seven minutes left, the tension began to build as the Warriors strove to hold onto their narrow lead. With the visitors unable to extend their lead further, and the Sting remaining a single goal away from a draw, the conclusion to the game quickly became a nerve wracking one as Holland was sent to the penalty box for a trip on 59:00. A minute left of the game, the Warriors were forced to battle on with four men and the Sting, having called a time out minutes before the concession of this penalty, decided that the best way to progress was with an additional skater in place of their netminder. Despite several efforts in Whitley’s defensive zone, Sutton could not find that all-important equaliser and the Warriors scraped by with the two points in tact as the final buzzer called time on the game.

Sharing his views after the game, player-coach Longstaff told NIHL Northern Trio: “The first fifteen minutes on Saturday was the best we’ve played all season then a couple of bad decisions allowed Sutton back in and they were great the rest of the game; a draw would probably have been a fair result.”

Derby Day delight for Warriors as Stars fail to shine

Whitley Warriors  3

Billingham Stars  1

As one of the most anticipated games of the season, a large crowd packed out Whitley Bay Ice Rink ahead of faceoff. Once again, Billingham Stars travelled with a depleted squad due to injury woes, player-assistant coach Richie Thornton, defenceman Tom Keeley and forwards Scott Ward and Jack Davies among those missing for the Teesiders whilst Whitley Warriors had the luxury of a strong roster.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As both teams took to the ice with energy, a fierce contest for possession played out and it was not long before referee Michael Evans was called into action to show Warriors’ captain Jamie Tinsley to the sin bin with less than five minutes played, the forward guilty of hooking. A successive penalty kill saw Billingham unable to capitalise and it was the home side who rapidly began to see the better share of opportunities fall their way as they put Stars’ superb netminder James Flavell under pressure. Despite numerous efforts on Flavell’s goal however, the Warriors were unable to find the back of the net and, as Stars’ forward James Moss took control of the puck to fire without success into Whitley’s defensive zone, Billingham soon conceded their first penalty of the game as Michael Elder was sin binned for slashing.

Though the home side were unable to open the scoring on the power play, Longstaff’s line up were soon on target, Callum Watson weaving through Stars’ defence to find Dean Holland who made no mistake when he fired home to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead with less than two minutes of the first period left to play. Subsequent to the goal, Whitley’s enforcer Andre Payette ensured his presence was felt as he and Chris Sykes clashed, the confrontation earning each minor penalties which ran into the second stanza.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whilst The Warriors returned to the ice with a view to double their lead in their bid to claim the bragging rights, the Stars were hunting for an equaliser but neither side could make their chances count. Whilst Shaun Kippin tried his luck in the opening minutes, Bowman similarly failed to make his mark in the game as his attempt to slot the puck past Richie Lawson was unsuccessful. A fantastic save from the netminder soon followed, Lawson making a quick fire catch to ensure the Warriors remained ahead in the game. 

A penalty on goal scorer Holland, who was made to warm a seat in the sin bin for a high sticks offence on 32:21, saw the Warriors remain calm under pressure as they killed Billingham’s power play. With only five shots fired at Lawson in comparison to the sixteen that Flavell encountered during the second period, it appeared for a time that the Warriors’ efforts were going to be fruitless but, with eighteen seconds of the period left, the home side reaped the rewards of their domination, Callum Queenan and Tinsley working together yet again to set up Longstaff for a wrap around goal. Though there were some suggestions of an elbow from the experienced player-coach on blue liner Ben Davison, Evans did not make the call as Whitley doubled their lead before the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Going into the third period, Billingham were aware that they needed to act in order to stand a chance of victory and Terry Ward’s Stars soon managed a response. Winning a faceoff in their offensive zone, courtesy of forwards James Moss and Luke Brown, the puck rapidly fell to Swedish import Dennis Boström who sniped into Lawson’s net to make it 2-1, subsequently causing the home side to question the security of their lead. Less than three minutes later, Billingham found themselves shorthanded when Davison was punished for slashing but the Warriors were unable to capitalise as the visitors worked hard defensively to ensure the puck did not end up in the back of Flavell’s net. Five minutes after returning to full strength, the Stars were further hindered when a bench penalty was dished out by Evans for an icing infringement, Billingham having attempted to switch lines on an icing call. Again drawn back into their defensive zone, Ward’s men were unable to find that much needed equaliser. The game too close to call, both teams decided to use their time outs, Whitley making the decision to call on 57:06 whilst the Stars requested the lifeline over a minute later.

However, the real talking point of the game arose when an icing was missed by officials in the last two minutes of the game. Barely recovering from this sense of injustice, the Stars made the choice to pull netminder Flavell but it was to the side’s dismay that they lost possession in the neutral zone to the Warriors, the Hillheads outfit quickly capitalising with an empty net goal from Dean Holland to well and truly put the game beyond the Teesiders.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Reflecting on the game, Longstaff told NIHL Northern Trio: “On Sunday, we were excellent throughout and were on top the whole game but Billingham kept it tight and fought all the way to the end.” Meanwhile, Stars’ forward Sykes noted: “It was a very hard weekend for us to have two away games. Although Whitley is only up the road, it’s not on home ice and I think that would have helped us. Sunday was a whole different ball game going into Whitley Bay against a strong team who currently sit second in the league. We fought for sixty minutes and gave everything we could. Conceding at the end of the first and second periods really hurt us. We tried to claw it back and we got the score to 2-1 so we had a fighting chance. We played two lines for the last half of the game and it began to take its toll. Unfortunately, they got an empty net goal and made it 3-1 as we pushed to tie the game up but it was a good, hard-hitting derby to be a part of. We were gutted not to get anything from it but credit to Whitley on the win.”

Next weekend sees the Whitley Warriors take on Sutton Sting as they look to maintain, if not improve on, the five point gap between themselves and Blackburn Hawks whilst Billingham Stars take a break from the NIHL action, their next game to be played on the following weekend against Solway Sharks in the NIHL North Cup. 

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