Sharks
net double points to squash Sting
Solway
Sharks 9
Sutton
Sting 3
Hoping to conclude
their NIHL league campaign with one final victory in front of a home crowd,
Solway Sharks took to the ice with twelve skaters and two netminders in the
hope that it was enough to defeat Matt Darlow’s equally short benched side.
Taking to centre ice
for the initial faceoff of the game, the Sharks boasted young talent in the
form of forwards Luke Houston, Scott Henderson and defenceman Stuart Kerr,
whilst the Sting included sixteen year old Jack Bloor in their line-up for the
first time this season, also opting for second choice netminder Zack Brown in
place of Dmitri Zimozdra who did not make the trip to Dumfries.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Though battling for
possession from the very beginning of the game, it was Solway who made the most
of their chances to put Brown under some early pressure before securing the
lead on 14:49, Juraj Senko playing the puck to winger Steven Moore who cleared
Sutton’s defence to find the back of the net. Managing only three shots to
Solway’s sixteen, the Sting found it difficult to find a rapid response and
went in at the break requiring a goal to get back on level terms.
Returning to the ice
with a view to build on their opening first period, the Sharks had doubled
their lead just two minutes into the middle section through Henderson,
following some neat work from captain Struan Tonnar and forward Marc Fowley.
Increasing their attempts on Kieran Hobbins’ net, Sutton began to see more of
the puck but it was not enough to prevent Martin Grubb’s men from scoring with
a over twenty six minutes of the game played, this time Senko and Fowley on
hand to set up Tonnar for his seventeenth goal of the season.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Spurred into action by
a rapidly increasing deficit, the Sting fought back to claim a goal, interim captain Ryan Johnson involving Matt
Jeffcock in play to support Sergevs Jegorovs’ successful offensive effort. Unwilling to let Sutton
creep back into the game, it took Solway all of forty eight seconds to light
the lamp for a fourth time, Moore turning assist alongside Duncan Speirs to
give Joe Coulter a chance to slot home. The Sharks’ work was not quite done
however, as Tonnar linked up with Henderson to enable line mate Fowley to make
it 5-1. With the clock fast approaching the second interval of the game, and
after much deliberation from officials, Sutton managed to sneak in a second
goal on 39:59, Johnson again helping Jegorovs to find the target with a further
assist from Shaun Ashton.
Switching shot stopper
Hobbins with Kyle Johnston to give the youngster some ice time, Solway Sharks
returned only to hand their visitors the first power play of the game when
Moore was called to the sin bin for hooking. This penalty not yet over, Fowley
then found himself at fault of high sticks, incurring a penalty of five minutes
plus game. Shortly afterwards, a hooking offence from Sutton’s James Goodman
saw some momentum removed from the Sting and it was the Sharks who were next to
score, Speirs making his mark courtesy of Coulter and Senko almost a minute
after the Sting had returned to full strength.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Shortly afterwards
though, Darlow’s men moved into Solway’s defensive zone and some neat passing
play between Jon Woolhouse and Jegorovs drew Johnson into play, the blue liner
hitting the puck past young netminder Johnston to alter the score line. Though three goals
again separated the two teams, the Sharks were able to distance themselves once
more, ‘D’ man James Wallace threading the puck to Tonnar who achieved his
second of the game. Minutes later, the captain turned assist with Moore to give
Henderson an opportunity to snatch his second for the Sharks.
Though the Sting
continued in their efforts to recover lost ground, the game was beyond the side
as Tonnar hammered the final nail into their coffin, sealing his hat trick in
the last minute of the game, having combined with Wallace as before.
Expressing his views
after the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “It was nice
to finish our league campaign with a convincing win against a hardworking
Sutton team. Both teams were short benched but we used it as an opportunity to
rest some injuries and play some talented young players and I was delighted
with how they played. Scott Henderson got a couple of goals and we tried to get
him his first senior hat trick, and Luke Houston worked hard and had a few
scoring chances, so they can be pleased with themselves. Kyle Johnston played
the last period in net and did well and it is great to show that we have a
strong pathway from junior to senior here. We know we need to prepare for the
playoff semi-final and, although I will be away with GB under 18’s, I know the
boys will be ready and Scott [McMeekan] and Cingy [player-assistant coach Martin
Cingel] will do what’s needed to give us a chance. I am pleased to have made
the playoffs and want to thank my players, staff and committee for the support
and wish them good luck in Sheffield.”
Close call as Warriors snatch win against
struggling Senators
Sheffield Senators 2
Whitley Warriors 3
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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With Whitley Warriors
having secured second place in the NIHL’s Moralee Conference, and Andrew
Chapman’s Sheffield Senators occupying the foot of the table since the
beginning of the season, many would have expected this contest to be an
extremely one-sided affair in favour of the Hillheads outfit. Both teams matching in
numbers, the visitors started the first period with netminder Mark Turnbull
between the pipes whilst the Senators opted for first choice shot stopper
Robert Browne at the other end of the ice.
Taking control in the opening stages
of the game to pressure Sheffield’s defence, the Warriors were first to light
the lamp when Josh Maddock placed the puck beyond Browne on 7:39 following some
neat work from Andre Payette; the Canadian making his return after a
three-match ban for accumulation of penalty minutes side-lined the enforcer in
recent weeks.
Soon after this lead
was achieved, the Warriors found themselves at a sudden disadvantage when Kyle
Hindmarsh-Ross took two minutes in the sin bin for slashing. Unable to find the
back of the net on this power play, the Senators’ failure to capitalise was soon
punished as Whitley added another to the score line after returning to full
strength, this time the experienced Alan Yarrow striking his first point of the
season on the board with an assist to young forward Ben Richards who did not
miss his mark to make it 2-0.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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A little over two
minutes later, a clash between Yarrow and Martyn Gray broke out, the former
receiving a minor for roughing and the latter sinbinned for a cross check.
Playing on with four men apiece, both teams continued in their offensive
efforts but the Senators found themselves at a disadvantage soon after when
junior Joseph Colton was directed to join Gray to serve a tripping penalty. Though
this meant that Whitley had an additional skater for fifty one seconds, the
Hillheads outfit failed to capitalise and went in at the interval with a two
goal lead.
Resuming play for the
second period, Whitley took possession of the puck to make it difficult for the
Senators to move out of their defensive zone. With almost twenty minutes of the
game played, Sheffield lost Gray to the sin bin once more as referee Gregory
Madsen called for a tripping penalty. Soon after, Whitley exchanged netminders
as Jordan Boyle replaced Turnbull to take an equal share of ice time. With the
area around the Senators net becoming increasingly crowded, the visitors could
not find a way through, even with the advantage. Browne continuing to come
under fire from the relentless Warriors, the shot stopper ensured that the puck
remained out of his net for the remainder of the period to maintain the 2-0
score line.
Conceding a tripping
penalty just three minutes into the last section of the game, the Senators were
immediately placed at a disadvantage. However, persevering as they have all
season, the Yorkshire outfit worked hard to battle back and eventually reaped their
rewards when Thomas Parkinson let his shot fly past Boyle on 45:23 to slash
Whitley’s two goal cushion with a shorthanded, unassisted effort.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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A slashing penalty from
defenceman Jordan Martin saw the Senators reduced to four men, having returned
to full strength just three minutes before. Unwilling to concede a second
shorthanded effort, skilled Warrior Callum Watson hit home with approximately
ten minutes still to play with an assist from Dean Holland, who fulfilled the
role of alternate captain in the absence of ‘D’ man Dan Pye. Minutes later, the
Warriors were guilty of icing too many men which saw the side serve a bench
minor for their transgression.
Handing the Senators a power play, it took all
of forty five seconds for Chapman’s men to slot the puck past Boyle, alternate
captains Nathan Parkes-Britton and Jonathan Bell linking up to send Alexander
Harding through on goal. The score line 3-2, the
Senators called a time out on 58:54 but Whitley were able to cling to their
narrow lead for the remainder of the game, Longstaff’s men unable to find a way
beyond Browne, though the Warriors outshot the Senators by thirteen to six in
this period.
This the closest the Senators have come to gaining a point,
player-coach David Longstaff took the time to reflect on the Warriors’
performance after the game: “It was interesting to see the team play from the
side lines so I could see the strengths and weaknesses first hand. I know we
can play better and we sometimes underestimated the Sheffield team that had
lost thirty one games out of thirty one games. At some points, I actually found
myself rooting for the Senators to get their first point of the season, but
only for a second or two, then I had to slap myself and realise that I expect
better from a team who has performed with everything they have every night. If
we can take anything from this game, it tells us that Solihull are probably the
favourites to get to the final on the bigger ice surface but we guarantee we’ll
give it everything we’ve got to upset them!”
Stars dazzle Hawks to draw but
post-buzzer brawl takes limelight
Billingham Stars 3
Blackburn Hawks 3
With nothing to lose
going into this game, Billingham Stars took to the ice against Blackburn Hawks
with the hope that they could challenge the Moralee Conference title winners in
their last league game of the season. Whilst Tom Keeley returned to
Billingham’s blue line following injury, the Hawks boasted two extra skaters in
the form of youngsters Kyle Haslam and Callum Strong, both of whom have
featured a few times for the Hawks this season.
Making a strong start
to the opening period, the Hawks were first to score, forward Adam Brittle
finding the back of the net following some neat passing between alternate
captain Matt Viney and defenceman Chris Butler. This lead was short lived
however, as the Stars organised a rapid response to light the lamp just twenty
two seconds later, captain Paul Windridge aiding youngster Josh Nertney in his
efforts to achieve his second senior goal of the season.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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A little over two
minutes later, the puck was again fired beyond the red line and, though it may
have been to the surprise of many, it was Billingham who took the lead,
Windridge receiving a pass from forward Jack Emerson to find the target on this
occasion.The score line 2-1,
both teams continued to seek offensive opportunities and the Stars were unlucky
not to extend their lead when Chris Sykes went clear of Blackburn’s defence in
the sixteenth minute but no further scoring meant that the home side headed in
on the front foot.
Returning for the
second period, the Stars continued to have their fair share of offensive
opportunities with netminder Brittle facing just one more shot than Star James
Flavell. Taking an interference penalty six minutes into the period, Blackburn’s
Max Drakeley gave Billingham a power play but the home side could not find a
way past Daniel MacKriel’s defence and watched as the visitors were restored to
full strength. Soon after, both teams were reduced to four men as James Moss
clashed with Matt Viney, the former warming a seat in the sin bin for a cross
check, the latter guilty of roughing. Approximately a minute and a half after
these penalties were dished out, the Hawks lost Reece Cairney-Witter to the sin
bin following a tripping call against the defenceman. The Stars took this opportunity to make it 3-1,
Michael Elder lifting the puck beyond Brittle with less than thirty five
minutes of the game played.
In the last moments of
the middle stanza, both sides ran into further penalty trouble as Billingham’s
Andy Munroe served a minor for holding whilst the Hawks’ blue liner Drakeley
was called to the penalty box for hooking before Viney was made to join the duo
for a slashing offence.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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With the Hawks’
penalties running into the third period, Billingham had a short advantage in
the opening minute but the side failed to make the most of their scoring
chances and it was not long before two man officiating system David Farren and
Anthony Boynton were called into action again; Munroe and Viney conceding
minors once more for cross checking and interference respectively. It was during this
four-on-four situation that the Hawks saw fit to punish the Stars, scoring on
47:47 as Adam Brittle and Richard Bentham united to set up long-serving blue
liner Ollie Lomax. Sixteen seconds later, the Stars, having led for so long,
were stunned by an equalising goal from Blackburn, this time Lomax turning
assist alongside Bentham to place the puck perfectly for line mate Brittle who buried
his shot into the top corner of Flavell’s net.
It was then the turn of
Elder and Lee Pollitt to make way on 52:38, both players serving minor
penalties. The Teesiders were soon reduced to three men however, when Munroe
was ushered to the sin bin for holding, handing Blackburn the advantage. Swedish
import Dennis Boström came close to scoring with fifty three minutes played but
his shot did not make it past Brittle and, in the moments that followed,
Blackburn were able to place the puck beyond Flavell but the would-be goal was
rapidly ruled out by officials for making contact with the netminder’s mask and
the score line remained at 3-3.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Both teams restored to
five men, the Stars made the decision to call a time out but words from
coaching staff were not enough to alter the score line. However, as the final
buzzer sounded, the score line was not of concern as the game quickly descended
into chaos, following a hit from Adam Brittle on defenceman Ben Davison. As
Hawks’ players piled into the action, and both benches appeared on the ice,
shot stopper Daniel Brittle raced from his net to involve himself in the fracas,
soon clashing with Stars’ back up netminder Mark Watson. Meanwhile, a fight
between Stars’ goaltender James Flavell and Blackburn’s second choice netminder
Stuart Ashton broke out whilst Moss clashed with Hawks’ enforcer-like
defenceman Cairney-Witter. Further to this, Stars’ forward Chris Sykes fought
with Aaron Davies and youngster Billy Nicholson clashed with Lomax.
Surprisingly, no penalties were issued to any of the players involved and both
teams eventually filed off the ice with an equal share of the points.
Reflecting on the event,
Star Chris Sykes noted: “Sunday’s game was a hard fought battle. We set out to
stick with Blackburn for the full sixty minutes, finish our checks and make
sure we were clinical in front of the net. It was a hard hitting and good game
to watch. I can imagine there was plenty to see. Drawing 3-3 was a good result.
We were up and we had five bad minutes and they were back into it but that’s
why they’re the league champions. They held us to a draw and we were pleased
with our performance. As for the end of the game, a hit was made on Ben Davison
and we didn’t take it lightly. We just got in there and stuck up for each
other. A few fights happened and a few scuffles but that’s just ice hockey sometimes.”
