Lions
hunt down victory at Hillheads
Whitley Warriors 2
Nottingham Lions 3
Lining up against
Nottingham Lions with a short bench of fifteen skaters and netminders Richie
Lawson and Mark Turnbull at their disposal, Whitley Warriors found themselves without
defenceman Harry Harley and forwards Callum Watson, DJ Good, Adam Finlinson and
Ben Richards as well as youngsters Anthony Wetherell and Ross Douglass. The Lions, by
comparison, travelled with just thirteen skaters and shot stopper Thomas Hovell;
the side’s absentee list made up of ten players, including Czech import Ondrej
Pniok, young forward Cameron Pywell and defenceman Luke Smith.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Facing off against
Nottingham for the first period, the Warriors were quick to engage in a battle
for possession which made for some end-to-end ice hockey in the opening stages
of the game. However, it was not long before the home team edged ahead; power
forward Jordan Barnes working with player-coach David Longstaff to pick out
Canadian import Philip Edgar who moved the puck with skill to see off several
defensive attempts from the Lions before unleashing a shot beyond netminder
Hovell on 3:14. Continuing to scrap for control of the game, Nottingham’s ‘D’
man Joseph Gretton clashed with Whitley’s alternate captain Shaun Kippin in his
defensive zone which failed to catch the referee’s attention on this occasion.
It was not long afterwards though that Kippin exacted his revenge on Gretton,
boarding the defenceman who immediately went after the Warrior, resulting in
the two dropping the gloves to each earn 2+2 for roughing whilst Kippin
received an additional two minutes for his initial offence. On the power play
as a result of this incident, the visitors were quick to take advantage,
levelling the scoring just sixteen seconds later through alternate captain Marc
Levers who hit the target with a long range shot following passing play between
forwards Joe Aston and Richard Slater. With the score line level and the game
so close, both sides saw their fair share of chances with some near misses at
either end of the ice. Time running out ahead of the interval, forward
Hamish Hall incurred two minutes for interference on 18:08 when he brought down
blue liner Josh Maddock; his side grappling with Whitley’s defence in the process to slot the
puck into the net, although on this occasion, of course, it wouldn’t count. Unable to make the most of this power play, the Warriors were left no choice but to content themselves with the even score line as the teams headed in at the break with a goal apiece.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Returning for the
second stanza, Whitley began with eight seconds of their power play remaining
but Nottingham were restored to full strength only to grab a goal forty four
seconds into the period, Aston hitting the target courtesy of Gretton. Shortly
afterwards, Czech forward Jacob Pniok made way for hooking to see Whitley claim
another power play but, try as they might, the Warriors could not find a way
beyond Hovell to see another chance pass them by. After Whitley peppered the
Lions’ netminder with shots to build pressure, play then trickled to centre ice
which saw a tangle between Edgar and forward Paul Stanley; the duo respectively
receiving minors for holding sticks and hooking. Not allowing this to hold them
back, the Warriors continued to move the puck around their offensive zone whilst the Lions strove to hit back on the
counterattack. Though outshooting their opposition by twenty five to twelve in
this period, the Warriors could not make their chances count and were extremely
disappointed to concede a third, Levers racing into Whitley’s defensive zone
after receiving the puck from Gretton to linkup with Aston who established a
two-goal cushion for his side with just eight seconds of the period remaining.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Realising that they
would have to begin the third period with greater intensity than they had shown
previously, the Warriors immediately sought to challenge Hovell, working the
puck around the net to test Nottingham’s defence but it was pressure that the visitors
were able to cope with, though Whitley came close to scoring on more than one
occasion. Sensing that it would not be long before one of those shots made
their mark, defenceman Luke Thomas saw fit to lift the net following an incoming shot from the Warriors, handing his opposition a power
play in the process as referee David Emmerson called for delaying the game. Forty
seven seconds later, matters were made worse for the Lions as experienced
alternate captain and defenceman Adz Andrews unintentionally floored ‘D’ man Maddock in his
attempt to prevent the Warrior’s attacking play. Handed a match penalty for a
check to the head, Andrews made his way off the ice whilst Whitley were
presented with a five-on-three situation for over a minute before playing against four men
for the remainder of Nottingham’s five minute penalty. Failing to capitalise in
spite of their intensity and possession, the Warriors then conceded a penalty
of their own as forward Ryan Sample was sidelined for hooking to see Nottingham
challenge Whitley’s defence. However, returning to full strength to enjoy the
remainder of their power play, the Warriors were pleased when their advantage
was further increased as their visitors incurred a bench minor for icing too
many men on 50:44. Wasteful during their previous power plays, the Warriors were eager to make this one count and scored with eighteen seconds of their advantage remaining; Edgar and defenceman Martin Crammond passing the puck around Nottingham’s defence to
finally find ‘D’ man Dan Pye who hit home a low, blue line shot to take the
Warriors within one of their opposition. Fearing that Longstaff’s line-up were
very much in with a chance of taking the game into overtime, Head Coach Matt
Bradbury opted for a timeout and this was soon followed by a second hooking
penalty for Sample which the Hillheads outfit successfully killed to again
labour in their offensive zone but to no avail. Calling a timeout of his own on
58:27, Longstaff decided to pull netminder Richie Lawson to allow for the
additional skater but contending with the
Lions’ intention to snatch an empty net goal,
the Warriors were forced to accept their narrow defeat on the final buzzer.
Stars
fall to Pirates as Billingham suffer ninth league defeat
Billingham Stars 4
Hull Pirates 6
Heading into this
fixture with fifteen skaters due to the absence of player-coach Richie
Thornton, forward Luke Brown and defencemen Andy Finn, Ross Hanlon and Thomas
Keeley, Billingham Stars were hopeful that they could gain two points against
Hull Pirates who were also shortbenched, with suspended player-coach Jason
Hewitt, forward Matty Davies and defenceman Marcus Neil missing out on this
trip.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Facing off against Hull
Pirates with the aim to secure their first league victory since defeating The
Dragons on the opening day of the season, Billingham Stars were pleased to
claim a power play only seventy seconds in when right winger James Archer
took a seat in the sinbin for holding sticks. Undeterred by this small setback,
the Pirates rallied to kill the penalty and subsequently set their sights on
goal to beat netminder James Flavell moments after returning
to full strength; right winger Bobby Chamberlain finding the target after
receiving the puck from defenceman Lee Haywood. However, just over three
minutes later, Hull’s young
forward Cain Taylor was sent to the penalty box on 6:19 following an
interference call from referee Robin Elliot. Not about to waste this
opportunity to equalise, Billingham’s Latvian defenceman Artūrs Ozols was able
to hit the back of the net just five seconds later, captain Michael Elder playing the puck out to young blue liner Darren Stattersfield
in the first instance. With the score line now level, Billingham turned their
attentions to getting ahead in the game but this was easier said than done as
Hull threw everything into the battle to make Flavell work at the other end of
the ice. Though versatile blue liner Matthew Campbell picked up a penalty for
delaying the game shortly afterwards, the Pirates could not capitalise with the
additional man and no sooner were the Stars restored to full strength than
their visitors went shorthanded, forward Josh Gent sitting out for a holding
offence on 11:41. Likewise, Billingham were unable to punish this misdemeanour
but watched on as defenceman Chris Wilcox received a ten minute misconduct penalty on 15:00. The game becoming fiery, it was little surprise
when Star Scott Ward and Pirate Chamberlain clashed to each earn two minutes
for roughing whilst ‘D’ man Haywood also picked up a ten minute misconduct
penalty after he aired his thoughts on this matter with referee Elliot. With
these penalties disrupting the flow of play, Ward and Chamberlain were restored
to the ice in the final minute of the period to see their sides head in on level terms.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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With neither side
backing down as they sought a lead in the game, both teams went after possession
with fervour but it was the Pirates who were able to add to the scoreboard
first, forward Lee Bonner punishing the Stars just over one minute into the
period as alternate captain Samuel Towner worked with Archer to send the
forward in on Flavell’s net with success. Billingham, however, were quick to
respond to this goal as alternate captain Callum Davies fired the puck beyond
netminder Zack Brown after a neat pass from hardworking forward Sykes just over
a minute later. With both Wilcox and Haywood restored to the ice following the
termination of their respective misconduct penalties, Hull were then
disappointed to go shorthanded on 28:09 when Chamberlain was shown to the
sinbin for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Yet again though, the Teessiders failed
to beat Brown on the advantage and watched on as their visitors returned to
full strength only to regain their lost lead, this time Wilcox and Bonner
teaming up to see Archer achieve his eighth league goal of his 2017-18
campaign. The game again becoming heated as Billingham were disappointed to go
behind for a third time, Billingham’s blue liner Stattersfield
clashed with ‘D’ man Thomas Stubley to see the duo drop the gloves to both earn
penalties of 2+2 for fighting whilst the Star also received an additional minor
for roughing on 33:09. With these penalties once again breaking up play, the
sides continued to match each other and struggled to hit home as a result. These penalties terminated only for Chamberlain to head to the sinbin following a tripping offence on
39:17 whilst Stattersfield returned to the ice for all of twenty seconds; the
defenceman shown to the penalty box for the same offence soon after. As a
result, Billingham could not equalise ahead of the interval
whilst Hull struggled to widen the margin between themselves and their
opposition to head in with their narrow 3-2 lead intact.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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With these penalties running
into the second minute of the third period, both teams were eventually pleased
to return to full strength, though this did not last long for the Pirates
as forward Jordan Fisher was sidelined for hooking on 45:22 and, with just
eighteen seconds of this penalty remaining, Billingham found their power play
extended when Stubley was called to the sinbin for high sticks. In spite of
these chances, the Stars were still unable to break down Hull’s defence with
the additional man but were handed a third successive power play on 53:17 when
Bonner was made to sit out for tripping. Gaining momentum and increasing their
efforts on Brown’s goal, the Stars were finally able to draw level, having done
so twice already, Ozols turning assist for Elder who tied the score line at
3-3. However, Hull were able to catapult themselves back into the lead in under
a minute as forward Gent surpassed Billingham’s defence with support from
Towner and Fisher. Knowing that a one-goal lead was too fine a margin with
around five minutes of the game remaining, the Pirates were spurred on to
double the Stars’ deficit just fifty two seconds later as Chamberlain collected
the puck from Archer to present Bonner with his second goal of the game on
55:59. Frustrated to have fallen behind by two goals so quickly, Billingham
attempted to challenge Brown but knew that time was against them as they looked
for a way back into the game. The Pirates called a timeout on 58:12 to ensure
that they could hold on to secure a victory and, just thirteen seconds later,
the visitors made it 6-3, this time Gent grabbing his second of the evening
following build up play from Towner and Haywood. Resigned to their defeat but
not willing to give up on their efforts in front of goal, the Stars retaliated
with a fourth, Ozols completing his team’s scoring with an assist from Elder,
to see Sheffield leave The Forum with both points.
Dogs
bite back against Sharks as Sheffield stay top
Solway Sharks 2
Sheffield Steeldogs 3 (OT)
Prepared to face
Sheffield Steeldogs in spite of their short bench of fourteen skaters, Solway
Sharks found themselves without alternate captain James Hutchinson, two-way
players Josh Grieveson and Jordan Buesa, Houston brothers Lewis and Luke,
youngster Kieran Hair and left winger Adam Robinson. Meanwhile, Sheffield
Steeldogs were able to make the trip to the Dumfries Ice Bowl with a squad of
nineteen players which included Slovakian imports Milan Kolena and Adrian
Palak, sturdy netminder Dmitri Zimozdra and player-coach Ben Morgan.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Raring to go though
they were shortbenched, Solway took control of the game in the opening minute,
stunning their visitors with an early goal scored on forty six seconds when
forward Duncan Speirs fired an unassisted effort beyond Zimozdra. Maintaining
their energy in a bid to build on their lead, Solway continued to challenge the
Steeldogs’ defence whilst equally working hard to prevent their visitors from
getting on the scoresheet as Sheffield sought to level the scoring following
this goal. As such, it was little surprise when Morgan’s team equalised on
13:59 through skilled Slovakian forward Palak who outworked the Sharks’ defence
to hammer home the tenth league goal of his campaign, left winger Liam Charnock
and forward Cameron Brownley with the assists. With both sides continuing to
have their fair share of chances, and both Hepburn and Zimozdra equally tested,
it was to Solway’s disappointment that they handed their visitors the advantage
on 18:55 as forward Connor Henderson headed to the sinbin for a slashing
offence. Despite their efforts though, the Steeldogs could not capitalise ahead
of the break and filed from the ice with the score line at 1-1 and fifty five
seconds of their advantage still to play in the second period.
Returning on the
penalty kill, the Sharks worked hard to see off Sheffield’s attacking play much
to their relief but it was not long after the side returned to full strength
that events took a turn as young forward Scott Henderson was ejected from the game
for a check to the head against Slovakian Kolena which saw Sheffield’s defenceman Thomas Barry hit back at the Shark, causing Solway’s captain Struan
Tonnar to drop the gloves with the Steeldog, both seeking justice in the wake
of this incident. As a result of this, both Tonnar and Barry earned themselves
2+2 for roughing whilst the latter received an additional ten minute misconduct
penalty. The two teams battling on without their respective players, attention
once again turned to finding the target and it was not long after the halfway
point in the period that the Steeldogs were able to take the lead for the first
time in the game, Brownley burying the puck courtesy of Charnock and captain Lewis Bell. Remaining composed, the Sharks were quick to equalise with
Bowie on hand to make it 2-2 just over a minute later, Speirs receiving the
puck from Czech defenceman Marek Charvát to play his teammate through on goal.
The scores tied, Sheffield were hopeful that they could recover their lead but it was not long before poor discipline caught up with
them again, Palak punished for a hooking offence on 34:38. Despite this
advantage, Solway were faced with an effective power play from the Steeldogs
who returned to full strength only to gain a power play of their own moments
later as Czech defenceman Vaclav Kolarik was shown to the sinbin for a kneeing
offence in the final minute of the period. As the Steeldogs were unable to punish this
misdemeanour ahead of the interval, the teams headed in with two goals to their
name, though Solway would resume play on the penalty kill due to Kolarik’s
penalty.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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With nothing separating
the two teams as they took to the ice for the third period, Sheffield were
eager to recover their lead during the remainder of their power play. However, Solway remained strong in defence to see off the
Steeldogs’ attack, though Sheffield were able to control possession for a time
to challenge Hepburn after the Sharks’ returned to full strength. Withstanding
this pressure, it was Solway’s turn to increase their offensive play and they
did so to make Zimozdra work but the sturdy netminder remained calm and
collected to keep the home team out. A hooking penalty for Kolena on 52:35 saw
the Dumfries outfit take the advantage once more but, unable to make an impact
with the additional man, Solway saw the Steeldogs’ return to full strength
unscathed, only to go on the penalty kill themselves fourteen seconds later as
Kolena was brought down by Charvát on his return to the ice. Working hard
in their efforts to secure the points on the power play, defenceman Thomas Relf
unleashed a blue line shot to force a save from Hepburn whilst Brownley then
chimed the puck against the post to leave the Sharks fearing that they would
not take anything from the game. Restored to full strength, Solway then began
to control possession to hunt down a winning goal with several chances falling
their way but, in the end, the hard work of both sides was to no avail to see
the game go into overtime with the score line still 2-2. With three-on-three
overtime unfolding, the Sharks took control of the puck as they set their
sights on a winner. However, it was not long after that Speirs lost possession subsequent to a battle
along the boards, allowing forward James Spurr to link up with player-coach
Morgan as they broke into Solway’s defensive zone to find Kolena; the Slovakian
smashing a deciding goal past Hepburn to see the Steeldogs claim maximum points
whilst Martin Grubb’s men were awarded with a single point for their overtime
loss.
Considering the outcome
of this game, Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb observed: “Obviously the result
didn’t go the way we wanted but I was pleased with how we played against a very
good team. We had chances to win the game but so did Sheffield and on another
night, we would have got the extra point. I thought the players showed their
quality tonight so I can’t be disappointed in them.”
Stars extinguish Dragons’ fire in quest for victory
The Dragons 4
Billingham Stars 9
Travelling to Deeside
with an incredibly short bench of just twelve skaters and netminders James
Flavell and Mark Watson, Billingham Stars found themselves again without those
players who missed out on Saturday’s game besides forwards James Moss and Josh
Nertney, versatile blue liner Matthew Campbell and alternate captain Callum
Davies. The Dragons, on the other hand, were far greater in number with a squad
of eighteen which included captain James Parsons, player-coach Mickaël Brodin
and alternate captains Geoff Wigglesworth and Matthew Wainwright. With both
teams very much in need of a victory, the sides headed onto the ice to target
no less than two points, with the knowledge that a win would give them the
boost they required.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Throwing themselves
into this game, Billingham were quick to hand the Dragons a power play as blue
liner Darren Stattersfield was called to the sinbin for a hooking offence on
2:33 to present the home team with the additional man. However, the Welsh
outfit were unable to beat first choice shot stopper Flavell as the Stars
worked hard to kill this penalty and it was a missed opportunity that the side
would soon regret; the Teessiders returning to full strength to take the lead
just over two minutes later as alternate captain Chris Sykes fired the puck
beyond netminder Graeme Bird courtesy of captain Michael Elder with 6:47
played. Fifty seconds later, a boarding penalty for Dragons’ defenceman Ryan
Jones saw Billingham go on the power play but likewise, they were made to pay
for their inability to utilise their advantage; Brodin’s men returning the full
strength to even up the game as captain Parsons printed his name on the
scoresheet following creative play from experienced forward Brian Worrall and
‘D’ man Ross Kennedy. Close to three minutes later though, the Dragons found
themselves shorthanded once more as centre Steven Hetherington was sidelined for
interference to again see Billingham gain an advantage. Excellent on the
penalty kill, the home team were successful in their efforts to prevent
the Stars from scoring and it was not long after the side were restored to five
men that they themselves achieved a power play opportunity, Sykes warming a
seat in the sinbin for a crosscheck. This penalty running into the final minute
of the period, neither side were able to add to their tallies which was much to
Billingham’s disappointment as the side outshot their opponents by eleven shots
to six.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Facing off for the
second period, Billingham continued to seek a goal to get ahead in the
game for a second time and it was not long before another chance fell their
way, this time the side making the most of a power play, which arose from an
elbow by Dragon Ryan Jones, to make it 2-1 as Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs
linked up with Stattersfield to play Elder through on goal. The Stars’
celebrations were to be short lived however, as less than two minutes later the
Welsh side levelled the scoring again when Chris Jones was successfully sent
through on goal by blue liner Kennedy. With the game once again even, the
competition began to heat up and a check to the head from Stars’ forward Scott
Ward saw him receive 2+10. Though going shorthanded as a result of this,
Billingham were not about to let this unsettle their game plan and it showed as
the side were eventually restored to full strength to find the net for a third
time; Sykes with his second of the game with Elder on hand to assist once more after teaming up with Baškatovs. Once again though, the Dragons were able
to match Billingham’s efforts as player-coach Brodin threaded a pass to forward
Jordan Bannon who equalised on 37:31. The score line 3-3, the Stars were a
little frustrated to see their hard work undone for a third time and ended the
period on a power play which ran into the final stage of the game as Dragons’ defenceman
Craig Lutkevitch incurred two minutes for slashing ahead of the interval.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Determined to make
their additional man count as they headed into the last period of the game,
Stars’ captain Elder achieved his second of the evening as his team worked hard
to get ahead for a fourth time, Ozols and Sykes with the assists. Building on
the momentum created by this goal, Billingham were quick to increase the
Dragons’ deficit as Ozols picked out Sykes who bagged his hat trick on 43:53 to
prevent his opposition from stealing the Stars’ lead for a fourth time. Forty
five seconds later, a diving penalty for Baškatovs followed to award the
Dragons a power play and, unable to capitalise on this, the side were then
presented with a second soon after as Stattersfield headed to the box on 47:39
for interference. Though unable to score with the extra skater, the Dragons
gained possession to test Flavell and made it 5-4 shortly after Stattersfield
returned to the ice as Chris Jones played the puck to left winger Simon
Furnival who did not miss his mark. A delayed penalty against the Dragons just
over a minute later saw the visitors restore their two-goal cushion as
Elder collected his hat trick courtesy of Sykes. Frustrated to be trailing at
this stage having managed to keep up with the Stars for most of
the game, the Dragons began to lose discipline and a crosscheck from Bannon and
a slashing offence from Brodin were called on 53:59 to see the home team hand
Billingham a five-on-three situation. As such, the Stars took only forty six
seconds to add a seventh to their tally as Sykes returned the favour for Ozols
to see the Latvian defenceman accomplish his fourth league goal of the season.
Continuing on a power play with five players to the Dragons’ four as Brodin sat
out the remainder of his penalty, blue liner Ben Davison slipped the puck past
netminder Bird with help from Jack Emerson to make it 8-4. Disappointed with
their final period of the game, Dragons’ forward Bannon was then called to the
sinbin for a kneeing offence on 55:42 but his reaction to referee Roy
Hamilton’s decision saw him ejected for abuse of an official.
Losing discipline, Dragon Ryan Jones then received five minutes plus game for
boarding with just over a minute of the contest remaining. Very much in
control, Billingham hit home a ninth on 59:22 as Emerson played
sixteen-year-old Ethan Hehir through on goal to see the young forward score on
his debut. Pleased with this victory, the Teessiders now have five points from
eleven games to move back into eighth place after falling into the league
playoff position on Saturday evening.
Speaking after his team’s
double header, Stars’ alternate captain Chris Sykes reflected: “Saturday was a
home game against a strong Hull side with a few missing players and we stuck
with them all game but, in the last few minutes, they got a goal after we had
just equalised and it knocked the wind out of us and we just fell short of the
sun. On Sunday, we went to Deeside with a really short bench and we were tested
by them and it was also a close game until the last period when we managed to
get a few power play goals and get the step in front we needed.”
Lions suffer Shark attack as Nottingham concede heavy defeat
Nottingham Lions 1
Solway Sharks 9
Travelling
to Nottingham with the addition of young defenceman Ben Coughtrie to their line-up, though again without those players who were unable to ice against Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday evening, Solway Sharks were aiming
for a three-point weekend following their overtime loss to Ben Morgan’s side as they took to the ice against the Lions’ seventeen-man squad
which included captain Elliot Perrin, Czech forward Ondrej Pniok and young prospect
Connor Glossop.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Facing
off against Nottingham, the Sharks were eager to make an impression in front of
the net from the outset but the Lions’ defence held strong as the outfit looked
to achieve a goal on the counterattack. Going on the penalty kill from 3:29 when Nottingham’s forward Hamish Hall incurred a minor for tripping, the home team were forced to
defend against Solway’s strong offensive play but the Sharks could not find a way
through the Lions’ blue line to punish this misdemeaour. As such, Nottingham were able to return to full strength with the
deadlock intact to have a few chances at the other end of the ice but shot
stopper Calum Hepburn dealt with these attempts comfortably, the Sharks
maintaining their dominance as they sought to open their account. With
Nottingham’s defence unyielding for most of the period however, it was only on 17:33
that the Dumfries outfit were finally able to place the puck beyond Hovell, forward
Duncan Speirs finding the target following build up play between Czech
defenceman Marek Charvát and experienced blue liner Kyle Horne. Unable to respond
to this goal before the break, the Lions’ headed in with hopes to overturn
their narrow one-goal deficit in the second period.
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Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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These
hopes were soon dashed however, as Solway recognised the need to improve on
their execution in front of the net, the side doubling their lead just thirteen
seconds into the second stanza; left winger Steven Moore winning the faceoff at
centre ice to play the puck to Charvát who gained the zone to fire in a shot
which Moore then tipped into the net. Making the most of his team’s momentum,
‘D’ man Horne edged around his opposition to unleash a shot from just inside the blue
line which flew beneath Hovell’s blocker to make it 3-0 on 1:25. Forty eight
seconds later, the Lions conceded another, Speirs setting up fellow forward Joe
Coulter who was able to accomplish his fourth league goal as a result.
Unimpressed with their start to the second period after conceding three goals
in two minutes, the Lions opted for a timeout in an attempt to get back on
track before the game skipped entirely from their grasp and, whilst this temporarily
stemmed the flow of Solway’s attacking play, the Sharks were able to grab another to make it 5-0 as Moore
claimed his second of the evening on 28:30 following creative play from
alternate captain Ross Murray and young forward Daniel Abercrombie. A tripping
penalty against Czech forward Jakub Pniok presented the Lions with yet another
setback but just over a minute into this penalty, the Sharks conceded one
of their own as Murray was sinbinned for holding to see Nottingham gain a short
power play on their return to full strength. Though finally finding themselves
with an opportunity to get on the scoresheet, Matt Bradbury’s men were stunned
further as Solway’s forward Iain Bowie teamed up with Moore to see the left
winger seal his hat trick whilst the Sharks were shorthanded. The score line now
6-0 as a result, the Lions were shocked into a reaction as they resumed play, forward
Joe Humphries playing the puck to Glossop who slotted home just seven seconds
later. This goal had little impact on the Sharks however, their considerable
lead added to moments later when Speirs received the puck from Coulter to pick
out Czech blue liner Vaclav Kolarik who found the target on 36:10 to see his
side head in with a 7-1 lead at the interval.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Dominating play
in the middle section, having seventeen shots to Nottingham’s four, Solway
Sharks returned with the aim to ensure that there was no way back for the Lions
but found themselves shorthanded just over two minutes into the final stanza
when Speirs was made to warm a seat in the sinbin following a high sticks
offence. Working hard to kill this penalty, the Sharks were then disappointed
to hand the Lions a second chance to get on the scoresheet when netminder
Hepburn incurred a minor for tripping just before the halfway point in the
period. The competition of this game slowing down as the Lions were all but
resigned to their fate, Solway returned to full strength unscathed and were
then able to resume their attacking play to challenge Hovell who sustained
their pressure for a time before conceding with just over fifty five minutes
played; this time Scott Henderson the man finding the back of the net following
an excellent assist from shot stopper Hepburn who thereby made amends for his previous
misdemeanour. The scoreboard now reading 8-1 in Solway’s favour, the side were quick
to wrap up their scoring with a ninth just twenty six seconds later as Murray sealed
his team’s victory, Moore grabbing an assist alongside Abercrombie. With no
further scoring in the game and Nottingham willing the final buzzer to put an
end to their misery, Martin Grubb’s men were pleased to leave the National Ice
Centre with a win which takes them up to second place with nineteen points from
fourteen league games.
Looking back on this
game, Solway’s Head Coach Martin Grubb added: “We talked about needing to
respond in a positive manner after our overtime loss and we took control from
the opening faceoff. We stepped up a gear in the second period and scored some
nice goals against a Lions’ team that looked tired after being in Whitley on Saturday.
I am pleased with how we played tonight and happy with a three-point weekend
overall.”
Warriors battle with Barons as Whitley endure road defeat
Solihull Barons 5
Whitley Warriors 2
Journeying to Hobs Moat
Road on Sunday, Whitley Warriors’ line-up included Adam Finlinson and Harry Harley
who made their return to the side after missing out on Saturday’s game against
Nottingham Lions, though defencemen Josh Maddock and Dan Pye, forwards Callum
Watson, DJ Good and Ben Richards and youngster Ross Douglass were amongst those
on the absentee list for the Hillheads outfit. By comparison, Solihull Barons had
eighteen skaters at their disposal, with strong captain Josh Bruce, forward
Thomas Soar, Swedish import Niklas Ottosson and Brittle brothers Luke and Adam amongst
those available whilst netminder Josh Nicholls was called upon
to take his place between the pipes.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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This the first time
these teams have met this season, both sides headed out onto the ice with aims
to compete to the best of their ability. It was the home team who were able to
get ahead in the contest though as forward Luke Brittle surpassed Whitley’s
defence with an excellent unassisted effort on 6:08 to beat netminder Richie
Lawson. Resolute in their aim to challenge the Barons throughout the game, the
Warriors battled back to equalise just over a minute later through Canadian
import Philip Edgar who was able to achieve his fifteenth league goal of the
season following passing play between power forward Jordan Barnes and versatile
defenceman Kyle Hindmarsh-Ross. The score line level, neither team gave up on
their efforts in front of the net as they persisted in their fight for
possession but this was to be to the detriment of Edgar who came off worst in a
shoulder-to-shoulder collision which forced him to leave the ice. Shortly afterwards,
the visitors were awarded a power play opportunity as Ottosson headed to the
sinbin for hooking on 13:20 to see Whitley set their sights on goal, though
this was no easy task against the strong Barons who worked well on the penalty
kill to return to full strength without further concession. Though Nicholls was
called upon just slightly more frequently than Lawson, with Whitley narrowly
outshooting the Barons by fourteen shots to ten, neither side were able to add
to their tallies in the first period to file from the ice with a goal apiece.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Whilst both teams
returned with hopes to build on the hard work of their opening period, it was
to Whitley’s disappointment that they incurred a penalty just under five
minutes in as Barnes was sidelined for hooking. Killing this penalty to ensure that
Solihull did not capitalise on their misdemeanour, the Warriors then gained a
power play approximately two minutes after Barnes’ penalty terminated as
forward Elliot Farrell was shown to the sinbin for boarding. Any advantage gained
by Farrell’s punishment was quickly ruled out however, as Warrior Harry Harley
was ejected from the game twenty nine seconds later for a slashing offence; the
blue liner receiving five minutes plus game as a result. Whilst Whitley were
frustrated with this outcome, the playing field was evened up a little when
forward Adam Brittle was handed a minor for the same offence just before the
halfway point in the period. With just fifteen seconds remaining on this
penalty though, Whitley then incurred a bench minor for delaying the game to
see the contest interrupted further. These penalties disrupting the offensive play
of both outfits, neither could add to the 1-1 score line as the Warriors
laboured to kill their latest penalty, thereby preventing the Barons from regaining
their lead. The period all but over, it was the turn of Whitley’s player-coach
David Longstaff to sit out, the Warrior considered guilty of hooking by referee
Stephen Matthews to see his side return shorthanded after the break.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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After failing to capitalise
on power plays earlier in the game, the Barons threw everything into making
this one count so it was little surprise when skilled forward Philip Mulcahy
hit the net to send his team into the lead just thirty two seconds into the
third stanza; Slovakian Tomas Janak and captain Bruce with the assists. Striving
to draw level for a second time, the Warriors were then disappointed to concede
a third goal less than three minutes later when forward Adam Brittle printed
his name on the scoresheet following linkup play between Bruce and Mulcahy.
Beginning to feel the game slip away from them for the first time, Whitley
sought to claw their way back into the contest but it wasn’t to be as the home
team were spurred on by their latest success to increase the Warriors’ deficit
to three, Luke Brittle punishing Lawson on this occasion with help from Soar
and Ottosson. The score line 4-1, Longstaff’s line-up were in need of a goal to
keep their hopes alive and around five minutes later it was delivered by
alternate captain Shaun Kippin who helped the puck into the net
following a pass from fellow forward Finlinson on 54:05. With Lawson now the
more tested netminder of the two, the Warriors were eager to build on their
offensive play but were equally careful not to allow their defensive efforts to
slip. With no change in the situation as the period began to draw to a close,
Whitley called a timeout on 58:35 in which it was decided that Lawson would be
pulled from his net as the Warriors iced an additional skater in a bid to find
a third goal. However, just ten seconds later, Baron Andrew Whitehouse netted
an empty net goal to confirm his side’s victory. Calling a timeout of their own
on 58:45, the
Barons were able to see out the remainder of the game with the knowledge that
the points were theirs due to the little time Whitley had to change the outcome of
this fixture. Now sitting in seventh with fourteen points from thirteen games,
the Warriors find themselves overtaken by Solihull in the league standings, the
outfit seeming to have overcome their early struggles to climb Division One
once again.
Reflecting on his team’s
double header, player-coach David Longstaff shared: “On Saturday, we had more
than enough chances to win even though we were short of players and on Sunday,
to be level with Solihull with a period to go and missing ten players, I’m
really proud of the team.”
For those fans who wish to contribute to Ross Murray’s fundraising
campaign, please follow the link: https://mobro.co/rossmurray90.
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