NIHL Weekend Action

Superb Sharks annihilate Hawks in final cup clash

Solway Sharks      10

Blackburn Hawks   0

Taking to the ice for the final home game of their season, Solway Sharks found themselves up against Steven Duncombe’s Blackburn Hawks who travelled with only fourteen skaters as netminder Stuart Ashton, forward Rick Bentham, suspended captain Ollie Lomax and defencemen Chris Butler and Reece Cairney-Witter all missed out on this fixture which was ultimately regarded with less importance than that of the Hawks’ upcoming league games with their attentions understandably focused on securing a place at playoff weekend. Solway, on the other hand, were missing only two-way player Jordan Buesa and forward Scott Henderson from their regular line-up and took to the ice with nothing to lose.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off for the first period, Solway were able to make a confident start to this encounter, passing the puck well across the ice to try their luck against Blackburn’s backup netminder Niks Trapans. Meanwhile, the Hawks were as equally enthusiastic to make their mark on their game, utilising the fervour and dexterity of youngsters Owen Woods, Daniel Sanderson and Harry Mercer, as well as the experience of forward Aaron Davies and Slovakian left winger Jozef Istocy, to contend with sturdy shot stopper Calum Hepburn who saw off the best of Blackburn’s shots to ensure his team remained on level terms. Though outshooting the visitors by fifteen shots to ten, with forwards Joe Coulter, Connor Henderson, Duncan Speirs, left winger Steven Moore and captain Struan Tonnar amongst those setting their sights on goal, the Sharks were unable to make any of these scoring opportunities count whilst the Hawks were also no further forward in the contest as they continued their battle for possession. With neither a single goal or penalty minute recorded in the first period, both teams went in with the deadlock intact but hopeful that they could change this after the first interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the second stanza, the Sharks were eager to make the most of their chances having failed to do so in the opening period but again, shot stopper Trapans calmly dealt with Solway’s efforts to ensure his team did not fall behind in the early stages of the middle section. Despite this, the Sharks continued to pose a threat in front of goal and it was not long before the Dumfries outfit were able to hit the back of the net; young prospect Daniel Abercrombie opening the scoring on 28:27 when Moore linked up with defenceman Kim Miettinen to send the forward through on goal with great success. Disappointed to concede having held on so long, the Hawks recovered themselves quickly to test Hepburn but to no avail and the visitors were soon under fire once more as alternate captain Ross Murray slipped the puck to Tonnar to allow two-way player Ben Edmonds to bury his shot beyond Trapans approximately five minutes after their first goal. The momentum now with the home team, it was little surprise that Solway began their search for a third goal and, after several chances, capitalised as Moore teamed up with defenceman Stuart Kerr to see Miettinen find the target with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Shortly afterwards, referee David Emmerson handed out the first penalty of the game as Shark Darren Stattersfield headed to the sinbin for a high sticks offence on 39:20 to leave his team shorthanded going into the final period of the game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Looking to overturn their three goal deficit, the Hawks were hopeful that they could claw their way back into the game but Solway proved to have other ideas and returned to full strength, only to extend their lead around two minutes later when Moore slotted home courtesy of Abercrombie and Henderson to add to Blackburn’s woes. Having failed to make the most of their first power play, Blackburn were presented with a second chance to find a goal with the additional man when Tonnar made way for holding on 47:37 but the visitors were reduced to four men themselves just nine seconds later when forward Aaron Davies was sinbinned for tripping. As a result, it did not take long for the Sharks to make it 5-0, this time defenceman James Hutchinson printing his name on the scoresheet with help from Speirs and fellow blue liner Juraj Senko. Switching Trapans for Daniel Morris after this goal, the netminder had no sooner taken his place than he was picking the puck from his net as Miettinen and Speirs collected their second assists of the evening when they arrived in support of forward Marc Fowley who worked the puck past Blackburn’s defence to add a sixth to the scoreboard. Just sixteen seconds later, Abercrombie found Moore whose quick-thinking allowed Henderson to unleash a shot which flew past Morris to leave the Hawks even more bewildered. Just over two minutes after this goal, matters were made worse for the visitors when defenceman Nick Oliver was called to the sinbin for delaying the game. This provided the Sharks with a power play that they were all too happy to take advantage of as Senko threaded a neat pass to Tonnar who made it 8-0 with just fifteen seconds of Oliver’s penalty served. With Blackburn well and truly out of this contest, Solway continued their domination; a goal from Senko on 57:50, setup by Speirs and Coulter, and a second for Moore thirty seconds later saw the side file from the ice with a 10-0 win to leave the travelling Hawks utterly deflated. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Speaking after this game, Solway’s captain Struan Tonnar shared his views on the Sharks’ last home game of the season and what a win over Blackburn Hawks meant to the Dumfries outfit: “Saturday was good for us to go out with a bit of style in front of our home fans. We know Blackburn travelled light of a few bodies but that didn’t change how we approached the game. The game didn’t count for anything for anyone but it was important that we nail down all the small things so that come playoffs we are ready to go. It was a bit of a one-sided affair but credit to the young players from Blackburn who don’t usually get a chance to skate with their first team. They came into our barn and skated well. Hopefully, they’ll be some faces we might see more often.”

Derby defeat for Stars as Warriors go out with win

Billingham Stars    3

Whitley Warriors    6

Playing host to Whitley Warriors for their final home game of the season, Billingham Stars found themselves significantly short benched for a second consecutive weekend, their absentee list including forwards James Moss, Jack Watkins and Jack Emerson as well as defencemen Andy Finn and Scott Cooper. Whitley, by comparison, had a far stronger squad at their disposal, knowing that this was a must-win game if they were to stand any chance of qualifying for playoff weekend, though this was always going to be a difficult task due the excellent form accomplished by Blackburn Hawks in recent weeks.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the first period, there was no mistaking the Warriors’ intentions as the team were quick off the mark to claim possession through alternate captain Jordan Barnes whose rapid link up play with Jamie Ord saw the youngster ping the puck from behind the net to fellow forward Ben Richards who was perfectly placed to fire home with just thirty two seconds played. Off to a phenomenal start and showing no signs of letting up, Whitley continued to pile the pressure onto netminder James Flavell who found himself beaten thirty four seconds later, this time defenceman Josh Maddock racing into Billingham’s defensive zone to find Callum Watson whose clever play allowed long-serving Warrior DJ Good to swiftly find the back of the net. Continuing swift line changes to build on this early momentum and intensity, the Warriors remained in control of the game much to the concern of hosts Billingham Stars who were left stunned by their immediate deficit. Whitley’s hard work did not end there however, making the side deserving of a third goal which arrived on 7:11 as Good turned assist for Watson alongside captain Dean Holland to see his line mate hit the target and subsequently prompt a timeout from Stars’ Head Coach Terry Ward. Aiming to bounce back from this hugely disappointing start to their last home game of the season, the Stars resumed play with the objective of grabbing a goal and it was not long after that Richie Lawson found himself tested one too many times; Billingham’s player-coach Michael Bowman slipping beyond Whitley’s blue line with support from forward Chris Sykes and experienced defenceman Richie Thornton to achieve his thirteenth league goal of the season. Though slowly creeping back into the game to appear more dangerous than before, the Stars were unable to contend with the Warriors as the pace and power of Whitley’s play cut short their chances on goal despite the best efforts of Swedish import Dennis Boström and fellow forwards Michael Elder, Callum Davies and Sykes to name but a few. Handed a power play on 17:05 when Warrior Watson incurred the first penalty of the game for holding, the Stars were hopeful that they could achieve a goal with the additional man but David Longstaff’s men were incredibly effective on the penalty kill ahead of the break to allow the side to file from the ice with a 3-1 lead at the first interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Hoping to continue from where they left off in the first period, the Warriors were disappointed to concede another penalty just thirteen seconds in when power forward Barnes was shown to the sin bin for boarding to reduce Whitley to four men once again. In spite of this penalty, the Warriors resolved to prevent the Stars from scoring, instead the visitors appearing dangerous themselves as they set out to challenge backup netminder Mark Watson who iced in place of Flavell, the first choice shot stopper unable to return due to illness. Again missing the opportunity to punish the Warriors on the power play, Billingham were able to increase their shots on Lawson’s goal but the netminder pulled off some fantastic saves to keep his team comfortably ahead. Some impressive work from Whitley’s young forwards paid off once again for the Warriors when Richards threaded a slick pass to Barnes who rushed towards the Stars’ defence to pick out Ord, the youngster on hand to net his first senior goal for the Hillheads outfit in spectacular style, having only played three games for the side this season. The Warriors celebrations did not last long however as, just over a minute later, defenceman Ross Hanlon integrated Swedish import Daniel Palmebjörk into play, the forward racing down the wing to zip a pass into blue liner Ben Davison who made it 4-2 just before the halfway point in the period. Soon after, the Warriors suffered a setback when Maddock incurred a minor penalty for tripping on 33:16 to leave his side shorthanded. Making several attempts to reduce their deficit further, the Stars were unsuccessful in this instance due to Whitley’s hardworking defence and some exceptional saves from Lawson but a holding call against blue liner Harry Harley saw the Warriors reduced to four men once again and, with just thirty eight seconds left to serve on this penalty, Longstaff’s line-up conceded a third goal as the Stars narrowed the gap between the two teams; this time Boström on hand to slot past Lawson following build up play from Sykes and Elder. Though buoyed by their efforts to get back on track, it was the Stars’ turn to award their visitors a power play when a high sticks offence from Bowman against Holland on 39:19 saw the Warriors make the most of their advantage to capitalise just twenty seven seconds later as Harley made amends for his earlier misdemeanour to pick out Good who was able to assist line mate Watson for a second time as the forward achieved his twentieth league goal of the season to restore his team’s two-goal cushion prior to the third period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 5-3 going into the final stanza of the game, the Warriors were eager to maintain their lead whilst the Stars were aiming for a victory ahead of playoff weekend, though their short bench had taken its toll from the off. Making another strong start, the Warriors continued to show flashes of brilliance and, as a result, Watson and his defence were unable to prevent Whitley from scoring on 44:51, this time Richards working with Watson to setup Holland who steered his way through Billingham’s blue liners to establish a three-goal gap between themselves and their local rivals. A holding penalty for defenceman Liam Smedley soon after provided the Stars with a power play but again, outstanding netminding and efficient work in defence allowed Longstaff’s team to return to full strength unscathed. Striving for a goal in spite of this, the Stars were not without chances of their own with Sykes, Boström and Bowman amongst those trying their luck but once again exceptional work from netminder Lawson and sturdy play from Whitley’s defence ensured that the Warriors retained control of the game. With no change to the score line, though this was not for the want of trying from both teams, the Warriors were forced to see out the clash shorthanded when Lawson Glasby picked up two minutes for holding in the final minute of the game but this made no difference as the visitors ran down the clock to achieve a 6-3 victory. Though this result was not enough to allow Whitley Warriors to qualify for playoff weekend, with Blackburn Hawks defeating Solihull Barons 6-4 at Hobs Moat Road on the same evening, the side were more than happy to see their season out with a win over the Teessiders who can now turn their attentions to their season finale at Ice Sheffield on the 8 April. Speaking after the Warriors’ success over their local rivals, player-coach David Longstaff noted: “Last night was an exciting derby game for the fans and I was pleased with the result but, more importantly, we won with a lot of really young players getting ice time.”

Honours even in Deeside as Dragons’ fire earns McKenzie’s men a lifeline

The Dragons            4

Solway Sharks        4

Travelling without youngsters Jordan Buesa and Darren Stattersfield who join Head Coach Martin Grubb for the Under 18s World Championships in Korea, Solway Sharks found themselves with a strong squad in spite of these absentees as they lined up against the Dragons’ twenty-man team which included netminders Denis Bell and Matthew Compton. Facing the prospect of relegation, losing was not an option for the Welsh outfit if they were to fight another season in the Moralee Conference whilst the visitors were hopeful that they could continue their excellent form to conclude their season with yet another victory.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

Determined not to give up on their place in NIHL North’s Moralee Conference, the Dragons took to the ice to demonstrate their usual pace, power and punchiness in their fight for survival, knowing that they must gain at least a point from the contest to ensure their chances of competing in Division One next season were very much alive after the final buzzer. Whilst player-coach Scott McKenzie, Slovakian import Filip Supa and captain James Parsons were amongst those striving for a goal to send the home team into the lead in the early stages of the game, Solway battled for possession with difficulty as the Sharks endeavoured to adjust to the Dragons’ style of play. In consequence, it was not long before the deadlock was broken, the skill of Supa shining through as the forward surpassed Solway’s defence to find the back of the net following a well-worked pass from McKenzie. Continuing to persevere, the Sharks tried their luck against netminder Bell but the Welsh outfit remained composed when under pressure to see off the best of Solway’s attempts. A slashing penalty for Dragon Geoff Wigglesworth on 15:50 handed the visitors a chance to draw level on the power play but McKenzie’s team saw off the Sharks’ attacking play to return to full strength unscathed. Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of forward Connor Henderson to sit out as the Sharks served a minor for interference just over a minute later to see the advantage change hands. Working hard to prevent the Deeside-based team from scoring another, alternate captain James Hutchinson and his fellow defencemen remained in control on the penalty kill to ensure that Solway’s deficit was not doubled ahead of the interval. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, McKenzie was next to warm a seat in the sin bin as the player-coach was considered guilty of hooking to see his team reduced to four men with just one second of the Sharks’ penalty left to play.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As a result, the Dumfries outfit saw out the period on a power play which ran into the second stanza and it was only on their return to the ice that the Sharks were finally able to secure the equaliser they had been searching for as blue liner Kim Miettinen teamed up with Joe Coulter to allow hardworking forward Marc Fowley to achieve his eighth league goal of the season just twenty nine seconds in. Relieved to have a goal to their name after a shaky start, assistant coach Scott McMeeken ensured his team did not stop there and as such, it was little surprise when defenceman Stuart Kerr played the puck to forward Duncan Speirs who hit the target on 26:58 to provide his team with the lead for the first time in the game. Disappointed to have slipped behind in the contest, the Dragons continued to set their sights on Calum Hepburn’s net but their efforts were not enough to reduce the narrow gap between the two teams as Solway began to exhibit the quality that they have been capable of all season. A delayed penalty against junior Louis Morgan on 33:55 allowed the Sharks to make the most of their possession, this time Slovakian defenceman Juraj Senko on hand to make it 3-1 sixteen seconds later as youngster Daniel Abercrombie notched an assist. Sensing that they had the upper hand at this point in the period, the Sharks were quick to add another to their tally as a well-worked unassisted effort from Speirs enhanced Solway’s lead to cause great concern for their opposition who began to feel their place in the Moralee Conference slipping from their grasp. It was not long after though that the home team were thrown a lifeline as a boarding penalty conceded by Kerr awarded McKenzie’s men the additional man. Moving the puck around Solway’s defensive zone, Supa played a pass to his player-coach before possession made its way to Parsons who netted on 38:23 to chip away at Solway’s three-goal cushion prior to the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the final period, the Dragons were spurred on by their second goal and were eager to claw their way back into the game, knowing that anything less than a draw would see the side automatically relegated from Division One. In the opening moments of the period, the home team hunted for their next goal with determination to eventually place the puck beyond Hepburn with less than five minutes of the third period played; Supa once again finding himself on the scoresheet with support from McKenzie as the duo reaped the rewards of their hard work to allow the Dragons to go within one of the Sharks who were stunned by this sudden change of fortune for the Welsh outfit. Only just outshooting Solway, the spirited Dragons were irrepressible in their quest for survival to make life difficult for their opposition but a hooking call against defenceman Ross Kennedy hampered the side’s offensive chances as the team pulled together to keep the Sharks at bay. Though the score line was still a tentative 4-3 in the closing stages of the game, the Dragons did not give up hope as they put Hepburn to the test and were finally able to celebrate an equaliser when former Hawk Jordan Bannon fired home on 58:04 courtesy of his player-coach who was able to claim his fourth assist of the evening as a result of some neat play from alternate captain Matthew Wainwright. The scoreboard now reading 4-4, the Dragons called a timeout to discuss the importance of holding onto their point as well as the possibility of reclaiming their lead but as the game entered its final minute, Solway followed suit to call a timeout of their own. Resuming play, the Sharks eventually opted to pull shot stopper Hepburn from his net as they faced off in their offensive zone but, Solway’s net empty for only sixteen seconds, the Dragons had little opportunity to make the most of this and it was not long after that the final buzzer called time on the game to confirm the sides’ 4-4 draw. Commenting after this game, Sharks’ assistant coach Scott McMeeken shared his thoughts on Solway’s clash with the Dragons: “We got off to a really slow start tonight and struggled to adapt to The Dragons’ style of play then in the second period we stepped it up a gear and showed our quality on the puck with some well-taken goals. Credit to Scott McKenzie and his team though; they hung around and made us pay for some sloppy defensive play to earn a point that they deserved. That’s our regular season done now and we know we have to work on a few things to prepare for that puck drop in two weeks’ time for the playoffs in Sheffield. As a team, we will be ready and focused on that semi-final.”

For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.        

Team Talk

Team Talk

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

After winning the NIHL North Moralee Conference title with Solway Sharks this season, Finnish import Kim Miettinen provides an interesting insight into the world of ice hockey, sharing his thoughts on the huge transformation at former club Blackburn Hawks and revealing some of his teammates’ unusual superstitions…    

What has been your highlight of the season and are there any moments you would change if you could?

The highlight for me has probably been our success overall in all competitions. I can’t name a single moment from this season because we have been mostly winning all the time. I would change our defeats against Blackburn. Both games were really poor from our part and they got the wins way too easy.

If you could replay any of the games you have played this season, which would you choose and why?

I would replay probably our first game in Whitley Bay at the start of the season. Warriors were second in the league last year and we knew it was going to be a hard one. We went there with big confidence. We played skilful hockey, didn’t care about their style of play and absolutely destroyed them.

Though a defenceman, you are currently one of Solway’s top points scorers at present, having achieved over thirty points in the Moralee Conference this season. How great an achievement is this for you and does this meet or exceed the expectations you had at the start of the season?

I think that I have been scoring points close to the same PPG (points per game) ratio that I had last year. I was personally expecting around one point per game and I think I’m a little bit over that so that’s always a good ratio for a defenceman. I don’t really care if I score twenty or thirty points. We have been successful with our team and that’s what really matters at the end.

This is your first season with Solway Sharks. What have you learned about your new team mates, are there any funny facts you can reveal about them and who would you say is the most competitive player within Solway’s setup?

The most competitive player is definitely Ross Murray. I know he loves to get a mention in these interviews so here we go! Hutchy [James Hutchinson] keeps the young boys in order so there is not too much mayhem going on. We have a great team spirit overall in the locker room so it has been an easy year for me to fit in. Funny facts is a hard one. [Juraj] Senko has weird food rituals on weekends and game days. Every Friday we are eating pizza after practice because he thinks that that’s the reason we are winning. I always buy three bananas for a game to get a little energy. He tried it one game and, I don’t know why, but now he always buys bananas on Saturday and just carries them around the whole weekend and doesn’t eat them!

The NIHL has been highly competitive this season, with little separating each team below second place. What do you think the reason is for this and what have you made of the league this season?

This year we have seen several players dropping down from EPL, making the league better. Also, teams like Billingham now have two imports. We have also seen some juniors stepping up and fitting in well. The big thing, as well, is that Senators went down and The Dragons came up. They have been a way better fit for this league, making it more balanced.

Based on the other imports you have faced in the Moralee Conference this season, who do you feel has been the most impressive and why?

It is a really hard task to name only one of all the imports this year. I like the style of Finnish and Swedish hockey so I would say all the Nordic imports have been impressive. Also, Juraj Senko has been really good again. I feel that imports overall in the NIHL are smart on the ice with and without the puck. I think that you can see that they have spent most of their childhood playing pond hockey and just grown up with hockey all over the place.

It is looking increasingly likely that your former club Blackburn Hawks will earn themselves a top four finish. What are your thoughts on their campaign as a whole? 

Hawks started really slow but I feel that they have been progressing slowly during the season. It’s always hard to gel in if basically the whole team is new and guys don’t know each other. It definitely has been a hard season for Hawks but right now, it is looking like they will make the playoffs and anything can happen there.

Many players left Blackburn Hawks over the summer months after accomplishing the league and playoff title with the club last season. In your personal opinion, what do you think the reason for this was and why was there greater appeal for players to join other clubs than return to play another season at Blackburn?

It was kind of weird actually. I have never seen the whole team just leaving and going somewhere else but I guess it has lots to do with people's personal lives. Lots of our players were travelling long distances and that is something which is definitely a big difference now for some players. Maybe there were some politics behind some people’s decisions as well but I don’t really know a lot about that. Maybe after two years dominating the league some players thought that it was time to try something else. There are so many reasons to change a team and just everything happened at the same time.

Starting out in your career, you played for several junior teams in Finland, including SM-Liiga’s Sport U20s team. What is junior ice hockey like in Finland and how does Finnish ice hockey compare to how the sport is played in Great Britain?  

Yeah, I have definitely been going all over the place, playing puck in different cities and countries. Junior hockey is literally the best thing in life. There is no need to worry about anything; just play hockey and enjoy life. In Finland, junior hockey is a really high level. Players get drafted to the NHL from our U20s league. It’s like pro hockey, except only players with Liiga contracts get paid. My junior team was on ice like eight times a week. With that, comes always off-ice training, before and after ice practice. Then you play two to three games a week. It was pretty much like a full time job and all your time you spent at the ice rink. Maybe you have time to take a nap at your home between morning and afternoon practice! I played in a city called Vaasa and their fans are crazy. They are called the Red Army and my team was the first one to ever make it in playoffs in U20s from Sport organisation. Our home games in playoffs were packed and there was three thousand crazy fans dancing and singing in the crowd. Hockey in Great Britain is so different than back home. Finnish hockey is really fast and skilful. British hockey is more like North American style. Sometimes, I feel that fans from certain teams don’t even care if their team wins or loses. They are happy if their players are fighting and playing dirty. Also, junior hockey here is such a big difference compared to Finland. Like I said, back home it’s almost like a full time job. Here, juniors may train once a week and players might not even show up for that one session. There is no off-ice or nothing like that. You come to the rink whenever you want and you go on the ice for an hour or so to skate around and then you go home. That doesn’t really give much room to improve. This all comes down to hockey culture and funding for the sport. I guess other major sports here take most of the money.

You also played for Massachusetts in the USA’s NSHL in 2013-14. What was your reason for travelling overseas to play ice hockey, what was this experience like and how did this influence your decision to experience other leagues such as Russia’s MHL, Sweden’s Division Two and Great Britain’s NIHL?

After my first year in U20s, I moved back home and close to me was a Mestis team called HCK. I was training with them that summer but decided to move to USA to play one more year in juniors. I wanted a new experience and I love travelling so it was an interesting place to go. My year there was amazing. I got to experience a new style of hockey and I got to see a lot of places. After the season, I was selected for an All-Star tournament which was played in Las Vegas! It was an epic week there to play in front of many college scouts and we had our fair share of partying there as well. After playing in the USA, I had a couple NCAA offers but I decided to go to Russia and play MHL. That was my first pro year. I was really unlucky though because I started playing in a Slovakian team called Kosice Jackals. We were supposed to play in the MHL but our team went into bankruptcy like two days before our home opener. I stayed in Slovakia for a couple of weeks and then an agent contacted me and told me that there was another MHL team who needed a defenceman. So I flew to Moldova to play for Platina Chisinau then in December, that team went into bankruptcy and in January I found myself without a team for the second time in that year! (Russia, right?) I was chilling in Finland for a month and a team from Sweden called me to say that they needed an import defenceman to play relegation games. So I flew there and literally played like three regular season games and two relegation games which we won and flew back home in less than one month. Then in the summer, one agent knew Budz [then Blackburn Hawks’ player-coach Daniel MacKriel] so I ended up playing for Blackburn. I guess I like to experience new countries and cultures and hockey is a great way to go around.

How do these leagues and the experiences that went with playing ice hockey in these countries differ, which did you prefer and which leagues would you like to experience in the future? 

Every country and league is a little bit different. The MHL has definitely been the fastest hockey I’ve played. Sweden and Finland are kind of similar; skilful style except I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hit in Swedish hockey. Then North American and British hockey are way more physical. Every league has been a really good experience. If I would have to choose one, I would like to play in Russia again. Travelling is crazy there because of distances but the MHL was a really good level and I improved a lot there. In the future, I would like to play in France at some point. I like to do mountaineering so the Alps would be pretty close there!

Across the many countries you have played in, which players have been the best you have worked with?

I’ve played with so many players in juniors so there is way too many. Probably, the best ones are Teuvo Teräväinen and Joonas Korpisalo who both play now in the NHL and Teuvo even lifted the cup a couple years back!

Which ice hockey player inspired you as a junior and if there is one coach in the world that you would like to work with, who would it be?

This is a hard question! I never really had one player who I was inspired by. I guess all our NHL stars were there. Teemu Selänne and Jari Kurri were probably the biggest stars out there. Evgeni Malkin has been my favourite since he came to the NHL. If I could choose one coach I would want to play for it would be Lauri Marjamäki who is now coaching Finland’s national team. He is a young coach ahead of his time and he is excellent in developing young players.

Was ice hockey always the main sport that you were interested in as a child and what was life like growing up with the sport in Finland?

Kids in Finland grow up with hockey so it was always there as my first choice. I used to play football too but I had to stop it when I was around thirteen because I just didn’t have time for both practices. I used to go play pond hockey straight from school when I was a kid and we would play the whole day until our parents would have to come and take us home for food or hockey practices.

If you could change one thing about ice hockey in Great Britain, what would it be and why?

I would change the whole junior system. More ice time and a more serious attitude towards junior hockey.

There are likely to be changes to the structure of British Ice Hockey over the summer months. What impact do you think this will have on the NIHL?

I’ve heard a lot of rumours flying around but I can’t really say anything about the NIHL before we know what is going to happen. I think the EPL is going in the right direction with three imports and I hope that some NIHL teams make a jump up.

With playoff weekend just around the corner, what are you most looking forward to about this competition?

Playoff weekend is a really intense happening and I am looking forward to seeing some other games and playing in front of all fans.

Finally, do you hope to stay with the Sharks next season and what normally influences you to make a decision to remain at or leave a particular club? How do you see Solway’s next season in the Moralee Conference progressing and where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

My time with the Sharks has been really good so Solway is definitely a good place to be. I usually try to make some research of teams I’m speaking with but mostly it matters if I just have a good feeling about the club, talking with coaches and players etc. I don’t really know what is going to happen with league structure but if everything stays the same, I can see the Sharks winning the league next year because we have by far the youngest team in the league. That means we are only getting better. I see myself still playing hockey, enjoying life and travelling the world.

Thank you to Kim Miettinen for taking the time to be interviewed by NIHL Northern Trio.

For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.        

NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 25th March 2017

Solway Sharks vs. Blackburn Hawks

Sunday 26th March 2017

The Dragons vs. Solway Sharks

Billingham Stars vs. Whitley Warriors

Following a spectacular season of highs and lows, triumphs and tribulations, the unpredictable and the unexpected, the Northern Trio will take to the ice for one last time as their campaign draws to a close this weekend, with only a rescheduled fixture between Blackburn Hawks and The Dragons set to take place on Saturday 1st April. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

First to ice this weekend, Solway Sharks will encounter Blackburn Hawks at the Dumfries Ice Bowl as the two go head-to-head in their final NIHL North Cup clash of the season. Though there is little left to play for besides points in this competition, both teams will hope for a victory as Solway set out to maintain their momentum prior to playoff weekend whilst Steven Duncombe’s Hawks aim to carry a strong performance into their incredibly important fixture against Solihull Barons on Sunday when they prepare to secure their playoff place, having worked so hard to achieve a top four finish in recent weeks. Disappointed to record a 5-3 cup defeat to Blackburn Hawks on home ice in September, the Sharks have since achieved two away wins against Duncombe’s men in the competition, scoring six goals against the Lancashire outfit on both occasions. As a result, Martin Grubb’s men will set their sights on maximum points to ensure that they conclude their hugely successful home run with yet another victory. This feat will not be without its difficulties for the Dumfries team however, as the Hawks have won their last three league games including a 6-3 home win against the Sharks in which Blackburn’s Slovakian import Jozef Istocy achieved a hat trick whilst forward Aaron Davies scored two and defenceman Nick Oliver also found the back of the net. Solway will be out to avenge this defeat on Saturday and there is no doubt that the team will deploy their many goalscorers in their quest for success against the Hawks. Of particular note last weekend, left winger Steven Moore maintained his outstanding work ethic to achieve three assists against Solihull Barons before claiming a goal of his own whilst forwards Daniel Abercrombie, Duncan Speirs and Marc Fowley also contributed to another of Solway’s successful double headers and it is likely that the Sharks will demonstrate this firepower once more when they clash with the Hawks this weekend. Whilst three points will make little difference to the Sharks in this competition, a victory would raise Blackburn above Billingham Stars in the North Cup contest, allowing the side to finish in second place, just one point above the Teessiders. Speaking ahead of this game, Head Coach Martin Grubb revealed his expectations of Saturday’s clash against the Hawks: “We go into this cup game knowing we lost the last time we played Blackburn and they may be our playoff opponent so we want to make sure we come to play and go into the playoffs in good form. We know the Hawks are the in-form team in the league right now but they may also have one eye on a huge game on Sunday so we will focus ourselves and look to finish well for our home fans.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Away from the cup competition, the Sharks will then travel to Deeside on Sunday to take on Scott McKenzie’s Dragons who will continue their battle against relegation. As it stands, the Welsh outfit have two games in hand on Telford Tigers and Sutton Sting who both completed their campaigns last weekend, achieving twenty one points each from their twenty eight league games. As a result, the Dragons are aware that they can move away from the relegation zone if they win their next two fixtures which includes Sunday’s encounter with the Sharks, meaning they will therefore go all out to win this game as they fight to remain in Division One. However, Solway will no doubt make this a difficult task for McKenzie’s men. Already this season, the side have accomplished three victories over the Deeside-based outfit; their most recent a 13-2 win over the short benched Dragons in which captain Struan Tonnar, defenceman James Hutchinson, and forwards Daniel Abercrombie and Connor Henderson scored two goals each. Despite this landslide defeat to the Sharks on the road, the Welsh outfit have been able to compete far more closely than this against Solway this season, losing out by five goals to two on home ice in November before trailing by just two goals to Martin Grubb’s men in a pre-Christmas fixture. Aiming to triumph over the Sharks for the first time this season, the Dragons will be hoping that a victory over Solway is better late than never, with a win set to leave McKenzie’s team just one point adrift of sixth place which would see his team in the best possible situation ahead of next weekend’s fixture against the Hawks. The Sharks, on the other hand, will go out in search of a win to finish their campaign with fifty points which would be a fantastic achievement for the club following last season’s fourth place finish. Adding to his earlier comments, Grubb shared: “This will be a tough game as The Dragons are battling for their lives. I have always said they are a good team who are well coached and we will go looking to win and show respect to the league as it’s so tight. We need to look after ourselves and use this game as a chance to look at our line-up without our GB players and plan for playoffs.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Last but not least, Billingham Stars will play host to local rivals Whitley Warriors on Sunday evening as the two teams face each other for one last time this campaign. Having fallen from the top four last Sunday following the success of Blackburn Hawks, it now appears highly unlikely that David Longstaff’s men will qualify for playoff weekend as the Warriors must now win against the Stars and hope that the Hawks lose their two remaining games in order to regain fourth place. To add to this, Whitley will also be without two key players on Sunday as Andre Payette and Shaun Kippin miss out through suspensions incurred in last weekend’s cup game against the Sharks which were lengthened due to the duo’s accumulation of penalty minutes this season. In consequence, Payette will endure a seven-game ban for fighting whilst Kippin will serve a three-game ban for head-butting, ultimately making this game a far more difficult one for Longstaff’s line-up. Winning just one league game against the Teessiders this season, the Warriors will require a great deal of determination, fortitude and strength to defeat Terry Ward’s second placed Billingham Stars, particularly as a 4-1 combined league and cup victory over the Teessiders at Hillheads in January provided Whitley with the only league points that the Warriors have snatched from their derby rivals this season. Losing to Billingham in an NIHL North Cup clash by five goals to four on home ice at the beginning of October, the Warriors were able to bounce back to achieve a 6-5 win in the competition at The Forum one week later to claim the bragging rights. In recent games however, Billingham have been the far better side which is evidenced by a 3-1 league victory and an 8-4 combined league and cup win against their local rivals. With the potential to finish their season on thirty eight points, the Stars will be eager to make the Warriors suffer once again, particularly as a win for Whitley will see the side in with a slim chance of qualifying for playoffs should other results go their way. Whilst this is unlikely, it remains a possibility and therefore the visitors will do all they can to claim two points against the Teessiders in the hope that they can end their season on a positive note. Considering Whitley’s upcoming derby game against Billingham Stars, player-coach David Longstaff shared his thoughts: “With us needing a miracle to qualify for the playoffs, it looks like our last game of the season, after a season where everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong, is a chance for the players to go out and enjoy themselves.” Meanwhile, Star Chris Sykes expressed his thoughts on this game as he took time to consider Whitley’s playoff chances: “Last game of the regular season, already?! When’s the summer league start? Ha, ha! Sunday is a massive game for us because we know what the Warriors will bring and the intensity is a good match up for us to get ready for playoffs. Whitley haven’t made the playoffs just yet; they need a win against us so this game could be make or break for them which is good. I’d like to see them get to the playoffs but the Stars won’t want to lose our last home game of the season so it’s all set up to be a cracking end to the season!”

For those fans hoping to make it to a game this weekend, Solway Sharks play their final home game of the season as they encounter Blackburn Hawks in an NIHL North Cup clash at the Dumfries Ice Bowl from 7:00pm on Saturday, before travelling to Deeside on Sunday where they will take on Scott McKenzie’s Dragons from 5:45pm in their last road trip before playoff weekend. Meanwhile, Whitley Warriors will make the short journey to The Forum as they prepare to conclude their season against local rivals Billingham Stars when the two sides go head-to-head for one last time this campaign. Can’t make it to a game? Fear not! NIHL Radio’s listings are below.

NIHL Radio Listings

Sunday 26th March

6:00pm on NIHL Radio 1

Solihull Barons vs. Blackburn Hawks

Click on the link to listen: http://tunein.com/.                  

For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.        

NIHL Weekend Action

Tigers tear Warriors apart to creep away from relegation

Telford Tigers       7

Whitley Warriors   3

Travelling to Shropshire with a short bench as expected, Whitley Warriors were again missing several defencemen as experienced ‘D’ man Dan Pye, skilled blue liner Harry Harley and former recreational player Joe Stamp were unable to make the trip alongside forward Ben Richards and Under 20s Anthony Wetherell and Ross Douglass. Up against Telford’s twenty-man team which included skilled Slovakian import Karol Jets, hardworking forwards Adam Brittle, Callum Bowley and James Smith, not to mention strong netminder Daniel Brittle, the Warriors were aware of the challenge awaiting them with Telford as much in need of the points as themselves.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The first period underway, the Warriors were able to make a positive start to the game, working hard to gain possession against the Tigers who were equally eager to see their fair share of the puck. Maintaining this work ethic, it was not long before David Longstaff’s men opened their account through enforcer Andre Payette who, achieving his second league goal of the season, saw his unassisted effort beat Brittle to nudge his team into the lead. This goal appeared to spark some belief within the Warriors’ setup as, just fifty seven seconds later, Brittle was picking the puck from his net for a second time as forward Callum Watson threaded a pass to Longstaff who did not miss his mark to double Whitley’s tally. Their two-goal cushion far from a comfortable one with Telford showing determination to find a foothold in the game, it was little surprise when Daniel MacKriel’s men hit home approximately four minutes later as Adam Brittle’s unassisted shot was buried beyond netminder Richie Lawson to make it 2-1. Spurred on by their first goal of the game, the Tigers were soon searching for an equaliser and it was not long before it arrived, this time forward Matt Viney working with Brittle in the Warriors’ crowded defensive zone before finding Dale White who netted on 15:32 to reward his teammates’ perseverance. Disappointed to have undone their excellent work in the early stages of the game, the Warriors hoped to make it to the interval on level terms but the Tigers had other ideas, scoring with just eighteen seconds of the period remaining as Jets achieved his nineteenth league goal of the season courtesy of line mate Bowley. Trailing by a goal as they headed in at the break, the Warriors were frustrated to have lost their two-goal lead so quickly whilst the Tigers were overjoyed at their progress following a disappointing start.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Aiming for a better outcome at the end of the second period, the Warriors returned in search of a goal and were handed the perfect opportunity when Adam Brittle made way with just twenty seven seconds played for a high sticks offence which awarded the visitors a power play. Though striving for a goal, Whitley’s efforts were in vain as they struggled to beat Telford’s sturdy shot stopper, Brittle. This missed opportunity would be one that the Warriors would regret though as less than two minutes later the home side were again adding to the scoreboard, this time young defenceman Joseph Gilbert playing the puck to MacKriel who picked out forward James Smith to see the Tiger slot home on 24:20. Beginning to feel the points slip away from their grasp, the Warriors battled to carve a path through Telford’s defence but their efforts made little difference and it was not long after that the team’s frustrations spilled over as Payette grappled with Tigers’ captain Daniel Croft; the former earning himself 2+2 for roughing whilst the latter received just two minutes for the same offence. It was shortly after this incident that Whitley’s captain Dean Holland was shown to the sin bin for tripping but with only fifty four seconds of this penalty served, stand-in defenceman Martin Crammond joined his team mate for a slashing misdemeanour to see Telford’s advantage increase. It was not long after that Telford’s Conor Gordon found himself on the wrong end of a slashing call to disrupt the flow of play further, leaving his side shorthanded and the advantage with Whitley when Longstaff’s men returned to full strength. Shortly after the termination of Crammond’s penalty, the Warriors were dealt a further blow when experienced forward DJ Good was made to warm a seat in the sin bin for hooking. Despite this, Whitley continued to be incredibly effective on the penalty kill to prevent their deficit from spiralling out of control and, just twenty four seconds after this return to the ice, Good made up for his misdemeanour with an assist as he teamed up with Holland to see fellow forward Watson make his mark on the game. Closing the gap between themselves and the Tigers ahead of the break, the Warriors were hopeful that they could turn the situation around but knew that such a feat would not be without its difficulties.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Filing onto the ice for the final period of the game, the Tigers were hopeful that they could add to their lead whilst the Warriors were aware that they would need to put in an outstanding performance to defeat MacKriel’s resolute men. Continuing to battle with the home team at the beginning of the stanza, Whitley then found themselves shorthanded at the midpoint of the period when Payette made his way to the penalty box for roughing to once again provide the Tigers with the advantage. Whilst Telford were unable to make the most of this chance to extend their lead on the power play, it was not long after Payette’s return to the ice that the Shropshire outfit were able to convert their possession into a fifth goal, this time MacKriel setting up Bowley who successfully punished Lawson to increase the gap between his side and the Warriors. Trying to battle their way back into the game, Longstaff’s line-up found it difficult to test Brittle at the other end of the ice; the Tigers dominating shots on goal by fourteen to Whitley’s four. With the game heading towards its conclusion and no change to the 5-3 score line, the Warriors opted for a timeout on 58:38, making the decision to pull Lawson from his net in a bid to grab a goal and recover some lost ground. This decision quickly backfired on Whitley however, as it took just seven seconds for Bowley to claim an empty net goal, Jets linking up with the forward following White’s collection of the puck in Telford’s defensive zone. Their three-goal deficit signifying a loss, Lawson swiftly returned to the ice but the Warriors were rendered helpless twenty one seconds later when Bowley achieved his hat trick to make it 7-3 on 59:06, allowing his team to cruise over the finish line. 

Slick Sharks outshoot Barons to collect silverware

Solway Sharks  4

Solihull Barons  1

Setting out to bounce back from last weekend’s road defeat against Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks invited Solihull Barons to the Dumfries Ice Bowl for one last time this season. Though taking to the ice without captain Struan Tonnar and two-way player Ben Edmonds, Solway were able to include stand-in captain Ross Murray who made his return from injury whilst first choice netminder Calum Hepburn took his usual place between the pipes having missed out on last weekend’s league contest. Meanwhile, Solihull Barons made the trip to Dumfries with their usual strong squad of sixteen skaters but were without usual netminders Josh Nicholls and Sam Hewitt as shot stopper Connor Ranby started in net with Michelle Franklin as backup.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Yet to lose a league game on home ice this season, Martin Grubb’s men headed out in search of a strong start to this contest in the hope that they could maintain their excellent form. Battling for possession against the Barons from faceoff, the Sharks were able to take control of the puck to set their sights on Ranby’s net. It was following some skillful play from Finnish import Kim Miettinen and creative left winger Steven Moore that young forward Daniel Abercrombie was able to present his team with the lead, slipping beyond Solihull’s defence to hit the target on 4:20. It was shortly after this goal that Baron Josh Bruce found himself sidelined for a crosscheck to award Solway a power play but, despite their numerous chances on Ranby’s net, the Sharks failed to make the most of this opportunity, allowing Perry Doyle’s men to return to full strength unscathed. The Sharks were persistent in their efforts to double their lead however, significantly outnumbering the offensive chances of the Barons to finally snatch their second of the game; this time Abercrombie working with Moore to setup forward Connor Henderson at the halfway point of the period to add to Solihull’s deficit. Continuing to dominate as evidenced by Solway’s twenty one shots on Ranby’s goal to the four attempts Hepburn was faced with, the Barons were glad to be given some reprieve when youngster Scott Henderson made way for interference on fourteen minutes to see Solihull try their luck in front of goal, though to no avail. Effective on the penalty kill, Solway were restored to five men and quickly assumed possession to find the back of the net for a third time as Abercrombie achieved his twentieth league goal of the season with support from fellow goal scorer Connor Henderson and hardworking winger Moore. Less than three minutes remaining, the Sharks continued to prove challenging opposition for their visitors who sought a goal to reduce their deficit but, in spite of efforts from the Barons’ top points scorers Niklas Ottosson, Joe Henry, and Thomas Soar to name but a few, the side were left with little hope as they headed in at the break.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Heading back onto the ice with a view to improve on their first period performance, Solihull were eager to grab a goal and it showed as they set out to test Sharks’ netminder Hepburn who had remained largely unchallenged in the opening period. With these increased chances on goal, the Barons appeared far more of a threat to Solway’s defence in the early stages of the second stanza, though the home team were certainly not short of their own opportunities to ensure Ranby was made to work at the other end of the ice. It was at the halfway point of the period that events again swayed in favour of the Dumfries outfit as Solihull’s defenceman Ryan Selwood was shown to the sin bin for roughing to hand Solway a power play which the side quickly took advantage of to score just forty one seconds later as Moore followed up his first period assists with a goal to add to his points haul; Miettinen and Abercrombie also grabbing their second assists of the game in the process. Now leading by four goals, the Sharks were aware of the threat posed by the Barons, the side having managed to turn around several similar situations to claim points this campaign. As such, Grubb’s men worked hard to keep Solihull at bay but the Sharks could not hold off Doyle’s determined team indefinitely as Bruce beat Hepburn to make it 4-1 ahead of the second interval, following linkup play from forward Andrew Whitehouse and blue liner Selwood.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Happy to hold onto their lead, the Sharks returned for the final period with the knowledge that the Barons would not give up the points easily and this proved to be the case as the visitors fought to double their tally with hopes that they could ignite a comeback. With both teams striving for their next goal, Solway’s forwards continued to work hard when in possession of the puck whilst import Ottosson sought an avenue for the opposition alongside line mate Soar. With neither side able to add to the scoreboard, it was not long before the sides clashed as young Shark Darren Stattersfield and forward Henry engaged in battle to earn themselves 2+2 for roughing with just over five minutes remaining in the period. It was not long after this that Head Coach Doyle opted to pull Ranby from his net to present his team with the additional skater but with play eventually switching to their own defensive zone, the Barons saw fit to reinstate their netminder. Time fast running out, damage limitation was top of Solihull’s priorities and it was not long after that the final buzzer eventually sounded on the Sharks’ victory; the Dumfries outfit then collecting the league silverware that they’ve worked so hard for this season. Reflecting on this game, Head Coach Martin Grubb observed: “We knew it would be a tough game as Solihull are a very good team and always come to play. I took the opportunity to take in the game from the stands with the playoffs in mind and Scott took over the bench. I thought we played really well on the puck, scored some really nice goals as we moved the puck around and we should have scored more but credit to Solihull as, after the first, they attacked us as much as they could but we were pretty solid as a group. We are determined to come into the playoffs in good form and this was an important win against a possible playoff opponent.”

Short benched Stars shoot down Sutton’s playoff hopes

Sutton Sting            2

Billingham Stars    5

Making the trip to Ice Sheffield with a view to trial their performance on a larger ice pad, Billingham Stars were without several key players, including forwards James Moss, Jack Watkins, Callum Davies and Scott Ward besides defencemen Scott Cooper, Callum Read and Matthew Campbell. The Sting, on the other hand, were able to ice an incredibly strong squad of nineteen skaters besides excellent netminders Dmitri Zimozdra and Zack Brown. Heading out in search of victory, the Stars were eager to grab a win against the Sting having already lost out on the road to the side this season but the Teessiders knew that this would be a difficult task, with this Sutton’s final game of their campaign and the side in with a chance of qualifying for playoff weekend whilst simultaneously at risk of relegation.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Aiming for no less than a victory despite their short bench, the Stars opened the game with a decent spell of possession to challenge netminder Zimozdra who dealt with Billingham’s early attacking play to ensure the visitors did not snatch an early lead. It was not long after the Teessiders’ initial attempts on goal that Sutton’s experienced defenceman James Goodman headed to the sin bin following a slashing offence to see his team go shorthanded. Working hard to create chances in front of goal, Stars Chris Sykes and Dennis Boström set their sights on Sutton’s net but were unable to beat Zimozdra whose saves were exceptional as he assisted his team’s completion of a successful penalty kill. Opportunities for Sykes, Boström and Swedish import Daniel Palmebjörk arose once more as the Stars persisted in their efforts to take the lead but again Billingham failed to put the puck in the back of the net. Whilst the Stars saw several chances fall their way as player-coach Michael Bowman continued to work tirelessly in his pursuit of a goal, the Sting were not without opportunities of their own; captain James Spurr and his team working hard to battle with their visitors for possession whilst defenceman Ryan Johnson narrowly missed out as netminder Mark Watson was called into action. The Sting’s hard work was soon cast aside however, as a roughing penalty for former EPL forward Lloyd Gibson placed the home side on the back foot to award Billingham a power play. Buoyed by this advantage, the Stars were eager to capitalise and did so just two seconds before the break, Bowman disappointing the Sting with his eleventh league goal of the season following help from ‘D’ man Ross Hanlon and Swedish import Palmebjörk.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Having waited so long for their first goal of the game, Terry Ward’s men were eager for another and it showed as the side quickly doubled their lead on 23:23, this time Boström linking up with Bowman to see his player-coach print his name on the score sheet for a second time in the clash, counteracting the Sting’s positive start to the period in the process. Following this goal, the Stars were able to bombard Zimozdra with shots as the side continued their excellent work ethic against Sutton’s steadfast defence but it took over ten minutes for Billingham to add to the Sting’s deficit as Boström fired beyond Zimozdra to make it 3-0 when Bowman turned assist alongside Sykes. Recognising their need to bounce back from this goal, the Sting were quick to retaliate as Gibson buried an unassisted effort to provide his team with some hope. Sutton’s celebrations were short-lived though as only thirty eight seconds later, blue liner Ben Davison found the target with support from Palmebjörk and hardworking forward Michael Elder. The score line 4-1, the situation rapidly deteriorated for the Sting as defenceman Chris Wilcox headed to the sin bin for holding only to be joined by Gibson just over a minute later as the goal scorer picked up a minor misconduct penalty to see his side reduced to three men. Twenty five seconds later, the duo were joined by Johnson who was sidelined for a slashing offence to present the Stars with an even longer advantage but still the visitors were unable to make the most of this opportunity as the Sting worked hard on the penalty kill to ensure that their deficit was not greater than three at the second interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning for the third and final period, the Stars were eager to wrap up their victory whilst Simon Butterworth’s men were wary that a loss would result in their side slipping into the league placement playoff place without any games left to change their fate and were hopeful that they could avoid this. Continuing their good work in the opening moments of this period, the Stars had several chances but ultimately failed to capitalise, with youngster Josh Nertney unlucky not to score and both Elder and Palmebjörk failing to convert their attempts. Battling back from Billingham’s attacking play, Sutton increased their efforts to add to their tally and were able to reap the rewards soon after, this time Wilcox and Johnson working together to send youngster Charlie Thompson through on goal with great success. Shortly after this goal, the Sting were again punished for their lack of discipline as Goodman made way for interference on 49:10 but the home team defended well on the penalty kill to ensure that they did not concede further. Whilst hoping this goal would ignite a comeback, the Sting were not short of opportunities to test netminder Watson but were faced with the determined Stars who were content to see out their victory. Making one last attempt to gain something from the game, Butterworth called a timeout on 59:13 and opted to pull Zimozdra from his net when play resumed but the decision to make use of the additional skater failed to payoff for the home team as Bowman took possession of the puck to find Elder who slotted into the empty net to make it 5-2 with just sixteen seconds remaining in the game. As a result of this encounter, Sutton Sting now find themselves in the league placement playoff place with all of their fixtures now played whereas the Stars continue to add to their points tally as they sit comfortably ahead of their opposition in second place with thirty six points from twenty seven league games. Commenting after this game, Star Chris Sykes shared: “It was nice to get a win in Sheffield against Sutton. We played on Pad 2 and sometimes that can really make the game scrappy but we played some good hockey and got the win we wanted. We had lots of guys missing through little knocks or work commitments but we made it work and got through it. We are happy with two points on the board.”

  

Cup clash chaos knocks Warriors for six as Sharks sink Whitley

Whitley Warriors    1

Solway Sharks       6

Taking to the ice for their final home game of the season in an NIHL North Cup clash against Solway Sharks, Whitley Warriors’ player-coach David Longstaff opted to oversee proceedings from the bench with a strong squad at his disposal, despite the absence of captain Dean Holland and first choice shot stopper Richie Lawson; the latter making way to provide some valuable ice time to backup netminders Jordan Boyle and Rory Dunn. By contrast, the Sharks were missing several familiar faces, including two-way players Jordan Buesa and Ben Edmonds, captain Struan Tonnar and alternate captain Ross Murray who continues to make a gradual return from injury. With little to play for in this game, there was certainly nothing to lose, though the Warriors were aiming to achieve a victory in their last home game of the season. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The first period facing off, the home team were aware that the opening goal would be important but, in spite of the close contest, the Warriors found it difficult to execute their chances, though the pace of stand-in captain Jordan Barnes and the intensity of enforcer Andre Payette undoubtedly aided Whitley’s attacking play. To combat this, the Sharks immediately piled the pressure onto starting netminder Boyle to make the early stages of the game both fast and fiery, with Solway’s Connor Henderson particularly under fire as the Warriors immediately set a precedent. As a result, it was not long before the Hillheads outfit found themselves shorthanded, forward Alan Yarrow the first to head to the sin bin on 4:34 for interference. Killing the penalty, the Warriors remained undaunted by the challenge ahead as Barnes made his presence known to Sharks’ netminder Calum Hepburn twenty eight seconds later only to find himself joining his team mate in the penalty box for boarding. Working hard to kill these penalties now that Solway found themselves on a five-on-three power play, Yarrow returned to the ice only for Payette to take his place two seconds later as the enforcer was considered to be guilty of roughing. This situation taking its toll on the Warriors, it was not long after Barnes returned to the ice that Solway finally capitalised, stand-in captain James Hutchinson working the puck well in Whitley’s crowded defensive zone to see a scramble in front of the net result in Daniel Abercrombie punishing Boyle following a pass from forward Connor Henderson. Though taking the lead, the Sharks were forced to continue their battle for possession against the Warriors, with forward Martin Crammond working hard to create some opportunities for his side whilst youngsters Jamie Ord, Anthony Wetherell and Ross Douglass drove into Solway’s defensive zone as they turned their attentions to Hepburn’s net. These efforts could not prevent play returning to Solway’s control as the short benched team continued to go from strength to strength before doubling their lead on 16:20; this time forward Marc Fowley winning the faceoff to slip the puck to young prospect Duncan Speirs who rocketed a shot beyond Boyle to make it 2-0 ahead of the interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Setting out in search of a goal in the second stanza, the Warriors were hoping to convert their possession, significantly increasing their efforts on Hepburn’s net to see the shot stopper tested from the outset whilst the Sharks continued their offensive play with hopes of placing greater distance between themselves and the Hillheads outfit. Though the persistence of forwards Callum Watson, Shaun Kippin, DJ Good and Barnes was yet to pay off, the Warriors enjoyed some prolonged possession in Solway’s offensive zone to come close to scoring on several occasions whilst contending with troublesome youngster Darren Stattersfield who slashed blue liner Joe Stamp. Clearing the puck from Whitley’s defensive zone, Stamp then grappled with the Shark in retaliation. Following this confrontation, Stattersfield was then confronted by Barnes who was sent back to the bench only for Payette to discuss the matter in his captain’s place. Finally facing off, the Warriors took possession of the puck and showed tenacity to get on the scoresheet as Watson danced past Solway’s defence to reap the rewards after a neat pass from young defenceman Liam Smedley. Any hopes of a comeback for the home team were soon hanging in the balance when play switched back to Whitley’s defensive zone, only for Stattersfield to link up with Miettinen who picked out Speirs in front of Boyle’s net to allow the forward to collect his second goal of the game with just over two minutes of the period remaining. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Disappointed to be trailing by two goals to the Sharks, the Warriors’ fast-paced start to the third period was largely down to Payette making the most of his ice time due to this encounter potentially being his final game at Hillheads. Exhibiting his usual intensity and power with even more fervour, the enforcer was eager to claim a goal for his team and came close to being rewarded for his efforts only for the puck to trickle wide of the post. At the other end of the ice, Solway were not without their own attempts on goal as Fowley, Speirs and Hutchinson were amongst those testing netminder Rory Dunn who had taken Boyle’s place at the start of the period to gain some ice time. Their passing play exceptional and their efforts on goal relentless, it was little surprise when the Sharks capitalised on 52:04 as Scott Henderson achieved his first cup goal of the season to make it 4-1, with Stattersfield and Slovakian import Juraj Senko on hand to assist. However, this goal was overshadowed by yet another misdemeanour from Stattersfield, the youngster slashing Warrior Lawson Glasby in the build up to this goal. Angered by this incident, Kippin confronted the Shark, only for Stattersfield to be met by Payette who raced from the bench to serve up some rough justice of his own. Still infuriated by Stattersfield’s actions, Kippin picked up a ten minute misconduct penalty before being ejected from the game, as well as incurring an additional match penalty for purportedly head-butting as he left the ice. Payette, on the other hand, then picked up a match ban for fighting which was soon followed up with a ten minute misconduct penalty for Yarrow as a result of the forward’s reaction to the incident. These penalties extinguishing Whitley’s fire, the Warriors watched on as Stattersfield teamed up with youngster Kieran Hair just minutes later to send Fowley through on goal with success. Thirty one seconds later, Fowley found the target again, this time Speirs and Miettinen picking up assists to put the points firmly beyond the Warriors’ reach. Clashing with Fowley soon after, Watson was sinbinned for holding as he pulled the goal scorer to the ice. This penalty running into the final minute of the game, Solway were able to see out their 6-1 victory without difficulty to return to Dumfries with three points from this North Cup clash.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Speaking after Whitley’s difficult double header, player-coach David Longstaff noted: “The players have worked hard and given everything. We’ve played a lot of players who don’t get a lot of ice time and I thought our three kids were great.”  Meanwhile, Solway’s Assistant Coach Scott McMeeken told NIHL Northern Trio: “It’s all about performance for us in these last few games on the run-in to playoffs so we knew we had a few things to work on going into the game. I was really pleased with how the guys did as Whitley is always a tough place to play, particularly the young line of forwards we had. It was nice to score a few power play goals too as we’ve not been great on the PP in the last few games.”

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