NIHL Weekend Action

Sharks pipped to the post by tenacious Tigers

Telford Tigers   3

Solway Sharks  3

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Solway Sharks made the trip to Telford Ice Rink with the knowledge that a victory would take the side level on points with their opposition and provide the club with a strong foothold in their quest to make the playoffs. Making the journey with sixteen skaters and two netminders, Solway were able to match Telford’s numbers, the home side sporting their regular points scorers in alternate captains Callum Bowley and Karol Jets, though forwards James Smith and Macaulay Heywood were amongst the side’s absentees.

Whilst both teams made a positive start to the game, Solway appeared to have the better share of the chances in the early stages of the game and Martin Grubb’s side soon took the lead, Slovakian Juraj Senko and forward Stevie Adams building on the foundations of the Sharks’ offensive efforts to see Steven Moore through on goal with less than eight minutes played. A goal down, the home side were handed an opportunity to draw level on 11:06 when referee Anthony Decaux called Joe Coulter to the sin bin for a slashing offence. Unable to capitalise, the Tigers watched as the visitors returned to full strength before losing a man of their own, this time Joshua Hustwick guilty of tripping. Less than a minute of this penalty was served when the defenceman was joined by fellow blue liner Corey Goodison. With the advantage of five skaters to Telford’s three, it was little surprise when the Sharks capitalised as Aidan Fulton threaded a pass to Duncan Speirs who hit home on 16:25 to double Solway’s lead. Whilst the Tigers were restored to five men, the Sharks found themselves a man down thirty four seconds later when Fulton was also side lined for a slash, his penalty running into the first minute of the second period.

Taking to the middle section with a view to get back in the game, the Tigers were handed several opportunities to do so as it became apparent that referee Decaux would still have much work to do. A hooking penalty for Duncan Speirs did not get Solway off to the start that they were hoping for but, strong on the penalty kill, the Tigers could not break down the Sharks’ defence and Grubb’s men escaped unscathed. A second penalty of the period conceded by forward Ross Murray again left the Dumfries outfit with four men on the ice and, though Parry’s men could not score on the power play, his team persevered to find their first goal of the game through Philip Mulcahy on 32:08 with a single assist from Simon Harrison. Failing to maintain their discipline throughout, the Sharks found normal gameplay disrupted by successive penalties; Coulter making his way from the ice on 33:07 for a hooking offence before both Murray and Tigers’ captain Daniel Croft were punished for slashing. With no further scoring in this period, though both had their fair share of chances to find the back of the net, the teams filed from the ice with the understanding that the points were still very much in the balance.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning for the final instalment, both sides were  aware that the game remained within Telford’s grasp, prompting Solway to hunt down chances to creep further ahead in the game. Whilst both sides tried their luck, it was the Sharks who were next to score as Iain Bowie restored his team’s two goal cushion courtesy of some clever linkup play between Speirs and Coulter. Unwilling to let the game get away from them again, the Tigers were able to hit back just over a minute later when Goodison helped Bowley to achieve his eighth goal of the season. 

Subsequent to this, the game resumed its earlier tone as Telford’s Bradley Betteridge was made to serve 2+2 for tripping and abuse. Keeping the Sharks at bay on the power play, Telford had not yet returned to full strength when Slovakian import Martin Cingel conceded two minutes for holding. Grubb’s line up made it back to five men only for their opposition to sustain yet another penalty with Betteridge still in the box for the side. On this occasion, Adam Taylor was the guilty party with a check from behind which left the forward serving 2+10 for his transgressions. 

Telford continued to put netminder Kieran Hobbins under pressure but, finding it difficult make their attempts count, the side made the decision to call a time out with less than two minutes of the game left. Parry’s words clearly resonated within his team and, pulling together, the Tigers stormed Solway’s defence. Finally, the home side slotted the puck past Hobbins to equalise but this goal was not without cruelty, having found the back of Solway’s net with just one second of the game left to play.

With each team taking a share of the points, the Moralee Conference league table is now closer than ever before which can only add to the intensity of NIHL fixtures in the coming weeks. Whilst the Sharks and the Spartans are now tied on twenty one points, Telford Tigers have reclaimed fourth position to push Billingham Stars out of the playoff spots, though the Shropshire outfit are also level on points with the Teesiders. Head Coach Martin Grubb informed NIHL Northern Trio: “We were very disappointed not to come away with the two points in Telford, and it was a tough one to lose a goal with one second left, but that is what happens when you don’t take your chances to put the game away.”

Hard fought win for Warriors stings Sutton

Whitley Warriors     2

Sutton Sting            1

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whilst Whitley Warriors went into this game with the aim to continue their good run of form on home ice, Sutton Sting’s recent victories meant that their game against the Hillheads outfit was an opportunity to further close the gap between themselves and Martin Grubb’s Solway Sharks. Absentees for Matt Darlow’s side included forwards Richard Oliver, Matt Jeffcock, Jordan Brewster and Thomas Marshall whilst Dean Smith was missing in defence, although the South Yorkshire outfit was reinforced by the presence of youngsters Bailey Templar and Oliver Mitchell. Meanwhile, David Longstaff’s Warriors were also without several key players as blue liners Joe Stamp, Scott Cooper, Liam Smedley, Harry Harley and Stu Tomlinson were unable to ice alongside forwards Martin Crammond and Ben Richards.

As a result, the home side were forced to make several changes to their lines; power forward Jordan Barnes dropping back to the blue line to name but one. Notwithstanding these absences, the Warriors made a fast start to the first period to test the Sting’s exceptional Russian netminder Dmitri Zimozdra on several occasions with game play taking place in Whitley’s offensive zone for the most part. Despite this early domination, Sutton were the first to make a successful impact on the game when alternate captain James Spurr ensured that the puck fell to Sergevs Jegorovs from the face off, the Latvian finding blue liner Ryan Johnson who hit home to accomplish his eighth goal of the season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

A goal down, the Warriors continued to fight for an equaliser but their efforts could not make it past Zimozdra and, with both teams playing hard hitting ice hockey, it was not long before referee David Emmerson was forced to hand out his first penalty of the game, Jamie Tinsley the player at fault with a tripping offence. Carefully running down the clock, Whitley prevented the Sting from doubling their lead and, approximately two minutes after returning to full strength, it was the home side’s turn to light the lamp; Dean Holland and DJ Good working the puck towards Sutton’s defence, allowing forward Callum Watson to break free on 18:18 to equalise. Thirty eight seconds later, the Sting were stunned as the Warriors quickly added a second to their tally to take the lead, this time Good the man on target as Watson returned the favour with some help from Holland before the break.

Returning for the second period, Longstaff’s line up aimed to add to their tally further, aware of the slender margin between themselves and their opposition. Again, Whitley saw the better share of opportunities fall their way, the side having twenty four shots on Zimozdra’s goal in comparison to the thirteen fired at Richie Lawson. That is not to say that the Sting did not create chances; the side had several which saw Lawson called into action, the shot stopper pulling off some strong saves to keep his side ahead in the game. Called to the sin bin for a particularly clear cut boarding offence, Barnes saw his side reduced to four men and again battling on the penalty kill. The Warriors’ sturdy defence held out as the Sting began to plough forward and the visitors were unable to capitalise for a second time on the power play. Neither team finding the back of the net before the break, Whitley went in with their narrow lead still intact.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Heading out for the third period, both teams were aware that the next goal would be crucial and again the Warriors began well, bombarding Sutton’s net with shots as the team battled to pose a danger in front of goal. Just minutes into the last section, young Warrior Callum Queenan sustained a broken collarbone which left the home side short of yet another player.  Undeterred, Whitley continued to search for a third goal and came close, but Zimozdra continued with his fantastic display to keep the Warriors’ from scoring. Only one goal required to see Sutton take a share of the points, coach Matt Darlow called a timeout on 59:24 which saw the Sting pull their netminder for an additional skater as play moved into Whitley’s defensive zone. In a tense conclusion to a hard fought game, the South Yorkshire outfit were unable to find that crucial equaliser whilst Whitley could not break away to claim an empty net goal. The score line 2-1, the Warriors now find themselves on thirty nine points, just seven behind league leaders Blackburn with two games in hand, whereas Sutton remain in seventh place but are now on nineteen points following their 10-2 triumph over Sheffield Spartans on Saturday.

Commenting after the game, player-coach David Longstaff told NIHL Northern Trio: “I thought we did well considering we were missing so many players and there was a bug in the team. I’m a little bit disappointed with our scoring percentage; two goals from sixty three shots isn’t great but any time you have more than double the amount of shots the opposition has, you deserve to win.” Whitley Warriors will now look ahead to their road trip against Sheffield Spartans next Sunday in what will be their only fixture of the weekend, the side hoping to grab another win in their bid to qualify for the playoffs.

Last minute mêlée overshadows Sharks’ setback

Solihull Barons        3

Solway Sharks         1

Travelling to Hobs Moat Road following a 3-3 draw against Telford Tigers on Saturday, Martin Grubb’s Solway Sharks were looking to pick up two points to resume the improved form the side have shown in recent games. Making the trip with their line-up intact, Solway went into this game aware that it would be a difficult one against Perry Doyle’s Solihull Barons, his team having performed to a high standard this season subsequent to their recent promotion; already, the Barons have scored one hundred and ten goals and conceded the most penalty minutes in the Moralee Conference.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Setting a precedent early in the game, it was little surprise that the Barons were first to be punished by referee Kevin Biggs as forward Edward Eaton was made to serve two minutes for interference. Hoping to get ahead on the power play, Solway made several attempts to open the scoring but ultimately failed to take their chances and were soon punished. Just two seconds after the Barons were restored to full strength, alternate captain Josh Bruce made a pass to set left winger Joe Henry on course for his tenth goal of the season.

Whilst the Sharks were eager to find a way back from their sudden deficit, matters were quickly made worse for the visitors when versatile Slovakian import Tomas Janak threaded the puck to Bruce who did not hesitate to light the lamp for his side. The score line 2-0, Solway immediately clashed with their opposition as Baron David Rogers dropped the gloves with Marc Fowley in the aftermath to each receive 2+2 for roughing whilst blue liner Ryan Selwood scuffled with Sharks’ captain Struan Tonnar, both players incurring two minutes in the penalty box. This disruption saw goal scoring opportunities squandered at either end of the ice and, though Solway tested Solihull’s Sam Hewitt with twenty six shots, it was the Barons who made their chances count in the opening period to go in at the break with a two goal advantage.

The initial face off of the middle stanza over, Selwood found himself side lined just seventeen seconds in, the defenceman guilty of a hooking offence on this occasion. Approximately four minutes later, forward Andrew Whitehouse was made to warm a seat in the sin bin for boarding but, again, the Sharks bore down on Solihull’s goal to no avail and the home side were soon restored to five men. With no further scoring in the game at the mid-point of the period, Solway’s Ross Murray battled with Barons’ captain Rob Eley, Stephen Heape also involving himself in the fracas. Whilst Murray and Eley were each given minor penalties, Heape’s actions saw the Barons receive an additional penalty of 2+2 for roughing. A third penalty for Selwood, and a resulting power play for Solway, made little difference to the Sharks’ execution in front of goal, the visitors remaining 2-0 down as they headed in at the interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Any hopes the Dumfries outfit had to get their game back on track were rapidly dashed going into the last period. Whitehouse’s pass to top points scorer Thomas Soar was quickly transferred to creative Swedish import Niklas Ottosson who slotted the puck past Hobbins to make it 3-0 on 42:25. In keeping with the tone of the game, the Barons were reduced to four men yet again when alternate captain Phil Knight was punished for interference but, try as they might, the Sharks could not capitalise and the score line remained unchanged. Solihull’s forward Matthew Maurice was the next to fall victim to the sin bin following a charging call from Biggs but the Barons remained strong on the penalty kill to ensure that the Sharks could not find a way through with the advantage of an additional man. Five minutes after the home side returned to full strength, some effective build up play from Solway resulted in a goal as Grubb’s latest signing James Wallace hit the target courtesy of an assist from left winger Steven Moore.

This was to be the only goal that Solway would score before events took a particularly hostile turn in what has to be the most action-packed minute of any NIHL game this season. A slash on Hobbins by Selwood was quickly returned by the shot stopper, prompting enforcer Doyle to leave the bench in his aim to challenge the Sharks’ netminder before clashing with Tonnar. In the midst of this chaos, renowned fighter Murray went toe to toe with Eley in the sequel to their earlier confrontation whilst Slovakian import Martin Cingel clashed with Bruce. The buzzer calling time on the game, Heape again sought to involve himself in the action, choosing to fight Fowley who, in turn, received two minutes for charging for his response to this incident. In effect, a penalty of 2+2+2+10 was dished out to player-coach Doyle for goaltender inference, roughing and misconduct but the most severe call of the evening was undoubtedly delivered to Heape, the forward earning five minutes plus game for his part in the battle.  Meanwhile, Solihull captain Eley and youngster Jordan Stokes, the latter of which  appearing to be mistakenly punished in place of Bruce, found themselves on the wrong end of 2+2+10 penalties for roughing alongside Solway’s Murray, Tonnar and Cingel. Two minute minors were then called on both Selwood and Hobbins for slashing whilst goal scorer Henry and Sharks’ blue liner Stuart Andrews both incurred 2+2 penalties for their involvement.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Speaking after the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “It was disappointing to come away from the weekend with only one point and it doesn’t really help us in the playoff race but we knew it was going to be a tough one. Tonight, we are again left talking about our lack of goal scoring ability as we made their goalie look good and our power play was woeful. Solihull worked harder than us and turned it into a physical game which is their type of play and they wanted it more than us which is disappointing. We had an opportunity to move up the table and didn’t take it, and we now need to decide whether we have the desire to make the playoffs and prove it as every game is a big game now.”

Adding to this input, captain Struan Tonnar noted: “I think it came down to Solihull being more clinical with their finishing. We had some good scoring chances but couldn’t convert. It was a fast paced game where unfortunately we came out on the wrong end of the result. It is just a shame that it was spoiled with, in my opinion, some unnecessary reactions. However, both teams did what any team would do and stuck up for each other.”

Looking ahead, Solway Sharks miss out on league action next weekend as they prepare for their North Cup encounter against Billingham Stars before they play host to Terry Ward’s outfit a week later when the side’s Moralee action continues. 

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