Monday, 18 December 2017

NIHL Weekend Action

Pirates eclipse Stars
as Billingham’s struggle continues

Billingham Stars    2
Hull Pirates                         7

Preparing to play host to Hull Pirates for one last time this season, Billingham Stars lined up with sixteen skaters which included on ice leaders Michael Elder, Chris Sykes and Callum Davies whilst player-coaches Michael Bowman and Richie Thornton, defenceman Andy Finn and backup netminder Mark Watson were amongst those missing for the outfit. Hull, meanwhile, made the trip to The Forum with their full roster; top points scorer Matty Davies, player-coach Jason Hewitt and right winger Bobby Chamberlain amongst those taking to the ice whilst new signing Adam Long assumed his place between the pipes after making the switch from Peterborough Phantoms last week.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Determined to cause problems for the Stars from faceoff, Hull went after their first goal in the opening minutes and immediately sought possession whilst Billingham were hopeful of contending with the Pirates in order to take something from this encounter. Though both netminders were called upon in the early moments, it was the visitors who were able to establish a lead as Hewitt teamed up with Davies to allow Chamberlain to bury the puck beyond netminder James Flavell with 7:29 on the clock. Striving to battle back from this goal, the Stars worked hard to build possession in an attempt to snatch an equaliser but Hull were willing to bide their time and fired a second home just under seven minutes later as forward Lee Bonner made it 2-0 courtesy of alternate captain Samuel Towner and right winger James Archer. With time having passed before the side replied with their second, the Pirates were keen to ensure that their next goal followed swiftly as Hewitt received a pass from defenceman Lee Haywood to snatch hold of a goal-scoring opportunity he could not refuse. Just over a minute later though, the Stars were spurred into action as a result of their three-goal deficit, forward Josh Nertney bursting the net on 16:59 with a fantastic shot following linkup play between defencemen Matthew Campbell and Thomas Keeley. Heading in with this glimmer of hope ahead of the second period, the Stars filed in on the wrong end of the 3-1 score line with the aim to chip away at their deficit further.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
It was not long after the teams’ return to the ice that Hull Pirates went shorthanded; captain Jamie Chilcott taking a seat in the sin bin for interference to hand Billingham a power play. However, the Pirates did not allow this penalty to set them back and instead found the target for a fourth time when Towner teamed up with Archer once again to assist the right winger’s effort on goal. Just fifty seconds later though, the visitors handed the Stars a twenty-one second five-on-three situation as Haywood was sinbinned for crosschecking. Though unable to pull back a goal on the advantage, Billingham built sufficient momentum to score shortly afterwards, alternate captain Chris Sykes receiving the puck from Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs to assist fellow forward James Moss on 26:09. With both netminders continuing to be as equally troubled throughout this period, the game broke out into a stalemate in which neither side could add to their tallies and it was little surprise when this battle bubbled over; Stars’ defenceman Matty Campbell and Pirates’ forward Jordan Fisher each earning 2+2 for roughing with just under three minutes remaining in the period. As such, it was only in the final minute of the stanza that these players were restored to the ice, leaving Hull to head in with their 4-2 lead.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
With a two-goal deficit to eradicate, Billingham were aiming to grab a third goal but found themselves hindered less than three minutes into the final stanza when blue liner Ben Davison was sidelined for hooking to hand Hull the advantage. Working hard to kill this penalty, the Stars were effective in defence to see off the Pirates’ attacking play but it was not long after that the visitors were able to make it 5-2, Hewitt with his second of the evening as Davies worked with defenceman Chris Wilcox to ensure their player-coach was successful in his endeavour. Soon after, Billingham’s ‘D’ man Darren Stattersfield then made way for slashing to again award Hull the advantage which they were all too eager to capitalise on, Davies beating Flavell with support from alternate captain Jonathan Kirk and Bonner close to the halfway point in the period. With Hull now testing Flavell even more so than before whilst the Stars sought their own opportunities at the other end of the ice, the Pirates were soon able to complete their goal count on 55:51 when Chamberlain seized the opportunity to notch his seventeenth goal of the season following some neat offensive play from Hewitt and Davies. The score line 7-2, the Pirates dominated possession in the latter stages as Billingham once again accepted defeat, the side remaining in ninth place with five points ahead of Sunday’s game against Solihull Barons.

   
Warriors suffer heavy loss as Pirates target top spot

Hull Pirates          11
Whitley Warriors    0

Travelling to Hull without stand-in defenceman Martin Crammond, Canadian import Philip Edgar, blue liners Harry Harley and Dan Pye, and forwards Adam Finlinson and Ben Richards, Whitley Warriors were realistic in their expectations of this game as they readied themselves to contend with a strong Pirates’ team which consisted of top points scorer Matty Davies, right winger Bobby Chamberlain and four-time EIHL champion Jason Hewitt.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Starting the game as they meant to go on, Hull assumed possession and were eager to maintain it as they very quickly began to put Warriors’ netminder Richie Lawson under pressure which soon paid off, the home team opening their account on 4:39 when alternate captain Samuel Towner struck the net after forward Lee Bonner picked up the puck from defenceman Chris Wilcox to set up his teammate. Disappointed to have conceded in under five minutes, the Warriors looked for opportunities of their own but shot stopper Adam Long and his defence remained sturdy at the other end of the ice to prevent Whitley from drawing level. The pressure beginning to show at the halfway point of the period, a delayed holding call against ‘D’ man Liam Smedley resulted in the Pirates taking full advantage, this time Bonner linking up with right winger James Archer who swiftly printed his name on the scoresheet. Just over four minutes later though, it was Hull’s turn to run into penalty trouble when Bonner incurred a minor for boarding to reduce his side to four men. Though on the power play, the Warriors could not capitalise as instead, Hull made it 3-0 one second after the termination of their penalty, this time Davies shining in front of goal following neat play from Archer on 17:41. Unable to respond to their three-goal deficit ahead of the break, Whitley filed from the ice with the knowledge that they had much work to do if they were to quash the Pirates on their return to the ice.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Facing off for the second stanza, Whitley soon found themselves shorthanded when defenceman Josh Maddock was shown to the sin bin for delaying the game to hand Hull the advantage but this was one that they were unable to make count as the Warriors killed the penalty with success. Placed under pressure, Lawson was repeatedly called upon to see off the Pirates’ attack whilst Whitley looked to counter in the hope that they could get a lucky break but it was not to be. With just over twenty eight minutes of the game played, Hull’s forward Aaron Lyon was sidelined for a high sticks offence but this power play did not work in favour of the Warriors as fifty seconds later, Davies broke free with the puck to fire his unassisted effort beyond Lawson to make it 4-0 on 29:05. Moments later, the Warriors were again under fire as the onslaught continued and it was little surprise when Lyon added a fifth to his team’s tally courtesy of forward Josh Gent and alternate captain Jonathan Kirk. Shortly after this goal, captain Jamie Chilcott was made to warm a seat in the sin bin for slashing but again, the Warriors found no advantage from this call as Davies completed his hat trick with a second shorthanded goal to make it 6-0, this time Hewitt supplying the puck to the forward. Defeated by their growing deficit, Whitley called a timeout but found it incredibly difficult to make any of their attempts count after resuming play and, as the period drew to a close, the Warriors conceded a seventh unanswered goal as right winger Chamberlain netted with just one second remaining in the period courtesy of Chilcott and Davies.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Heading into the third and final period with the aim of damage limitation, the Warriors were dismayed to see the Pirates pick up from where they left off, Chamberlain firing home his second of the evening on 41:14, Davies again assisting, though this time alongside defenceman Lee Haywood. In consequence, it was not long before tensions began to show as Warrior Callum Watson exchanged blows with Haywood before the duo were separated and sent to the sin bin to each serve penalties of 2+2 for fighting. Just sixteen seconds after this fight, Chamberlain completed his hat trick as Davies and Hewitt arrived in support to add to Whitley’s woes. Less than two minutes later though, the visitors suffered a further setback when a slashing call against Smedley prompted a reaction from Warrior Ryan Sample which resulted in him joining his teammate in the box to serve a ten minute misconduct penalty. With Watson and Haywood  restored to the ice close to the fifty minute mark, it was not long after that the home team were able to take their goal count into double figures as Davies and Chamberlain turned assist for their player-coach to see Hewitt accomplish his seventeenth league goal of his campaign on 50:50 which prompted a change of netminder for Whitley as the side switched Lawson for backup netminder Jordan Boyle. With around five minutes left in the game, Pirate Cain Taylor made a hit on young forward Anthony Wetherell which saw the pair engage in a battle, the Warrior edging the victory in this instance and neither punished for their actions. However, Hull then found themselves on the power play as Smedley was found guilty of high sticks on 55:43 to hand his opposition further advantage. Again effective on the penalty kill, Whitley ensured that their latest misdemeanour did not lead to a goal but this was of no concern to the home team who watched their visitors return to full strength only to hammer the puck beyond Boyle just over a minute later, Gent wrapping up his side’s goal tally as forward Jordan Fisher snatched an assist alongside Lyon with just under two minutes remaining in the period. Whilst it initially seemed that the final buzzer would bring Whitley’s misery to an end, Warrior Ryan Sample opted to drop the gloves with Hull’s right winger Chamberlain to earn himself 2+2+10 for fighting and misconduct whilst the latter picked up 2+2 for fighting for his involvement in the incident. As a result of their 11-0 defeat, Whitley remain in seventh place with eighteen points from nineteen games whilst Hull now find themselves within a point of league leaders Sheffield Steeldogs, having played the same amount of games as their title rivals.

Reflecting on his side’s heavy loss, player-coach David Longstaff shared: “The gulf between the old EPL teams and last year’s league is massive and we’d find it hard to compete with a full team so travelling away without the same players, who never play away games, puts all the regular players under the cosh straight away.


Barons overpower Billingham as Stars strive for points

Solihull Barons     7
Billingham Stars     4

Making the trip to Hobs Moat Road following their 7-2 home defeat to Hull Pirates, Billingham Stars were hopeful that they could bounce back with a win over Solihull Barons and travelled with sixteen skaters besides netminders James Flavell and Callum Reynolds; the outfit missing forward Scott Ward, player-coach Richie Thornton, alternate captain Callum Davies, backup netminder Mark Watson and defenceman Ross Hanlon. Likewise, the Barons also boasted a strong line-up which included captain Josh Bruce, Swedish import Niklas Ottosson, forward Thomas Soar and Brittle brothers Adam and Luke.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Hopeful that they could make a positive start to this game in order to provide a platform to build on, the Stars were soon disappointed to go shorthanded as blue liner Ben Davison received 2+2 for crosschecking and unsportsmanlike conduct. Not about to pass up this opportunity to seize an early lead in the game, Solihull set their sights on goal with success as forward Luke Brittle netted on 5:35 after Ottosson played the puck to alternate captain Marcus Maynard. With Davison’s penalty terminated on 7:35 as a result, the Stars sought to equalise to ensure their opposition did not extend their lead but just two minutes later, Flavell was again picking the puck from his net as the Barons doubled their tally, this time forward Philip Mulcahy hitting home after left winger Bruce integrated him into play following a pass from Adam Brittle. Moments later, Solihull found themselves on the back foot as defenceman Dave Rogers was sidelined for slashing to award Billingham a power play. The visitors strove to test Barons’ netminder Josh Nicholls and in the end, it was Latvian import Deniss Baškatovs who reaped the rewards of his hard work, the forward finding the target on 11:42 to make it 2-1. Shortly afterwards, the Barons went shorthanded when Bruce was sinbinned for slashing to hand the advantage back to the Stars but on this occasion, Billingham could not capitalise and it would be an opportunity that they would quickly regret as Solihull returned to full strength only to make it 3-1, Adam Brittle beating Flavell with support from Mulcahy and ‘D’ man James Moeller to restore his team’s two-goal cushion. Twenty three seconds later, Stars’ defenceman Matthew Campbell headed to the sin bin for unsportsmanlike conduct but the Teessiders worked hard to kill this penalty and were subsequently able to head in just two goals behind the Barons at the first interval, though Solihull had outshot the side by twenty one shots to nine.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Returning for the second period, Billingham were determined to make sure that the game did not slip from their grasp and were intent on competing to a high standard against the Barons which was demonstrated in the opening moments of this stanza as both teams enjoyed their fair share of the puck to see both netminders tested. A tripping penalty for Slovakian alternate captain Tomas Janak saw the Stars again gain a power play as the Barons struggled to maintain their discipline but the Teessiders could not make this chance count despite the pressure they placed upon netminder Nicholls to see the score line remain 3-1. With neither team managing to get on the scoresheet in spite of their efforts, it was only when the Barons’ captain Bruce made way for high sticks in the final minute of the period that Billingham were finally able to snatch their second goal of the evening, alternate captain Chris Sykes the man on target as he netted with just three seconds of the period remaining following assists from defencemen Artūrs Ozols and Andy Finn.


Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
Taking heart from their second goal, Billingham returned in search of an equaliser but their hopes were quickly dashed when ‘D’ man Rogers unleashed an unassisted effort to make it 4-2 with just over a minute and a half of the third period played. Down but certainly not out, the Stars continued to rally in their efforts to get back into the game, knowing that they could still take something from the contest if they placed enough pressure on the home side. After several efforts from both teams, Billingham were eventually able to retaliate as Ozols achieved the fifth league goal of his campaign after a neat pass from captain Michael Elder to again see his side close in on their opposition. Just fifty seven seconds later though, a hooking penalty for Baškatovs reduced Billingham to four men to allow Solihull the additional man and it was a chance that they were eager to convert, the outfit again widening the margin between themselves and the Stars as Janak teamed up with Adam Brittle to allow Bruce to print his name on the scoresheet. Unwilling to give up at this stage in the game, Billingham showed fortitude to bounce back with a goal of their own just over five minutes later as forward James Moss claimed a fourth for his side whilst Baškatovs made amends for his previous misdemeanour to assist alongside Davison. Moments later, the Stars suffered a setback when Elder incurred a ten minute misconduct penalty. Calling a timeout, Billingham set out to draw level but just twelve seconds after Elder’s penalty was dished out, the Barons responded to make it 6-4, Ottosson’s unassisted shot flying beyond Flavell to crush the Stars’ objective. A tripping call against Solihull’s Matthew Maurice followed moments after this goal and Billingham opted to pull Flavell from his net as a result but the Barons were undeterred by their efforts and instead achieved an empty net goal on 59:21 through Bruce, again assisted by Adam Brittle, to conclude proceedings as the Stars recorded a 7-4 defeat.


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