Stars
glow in narrow playoff defeat to Steeldogs
Billingham
Stars 3
Sheffield
Steeldogs 4
Hoping to make the best
of this playoff fixture in front of their home crowd, Billingham Stars took to the ice with
sixteen skaters and first choice shot stopper James Flavell; the side setting
out to showcase their skill though missing forwards Josh Nertney, Scott
Ward and Ethan Hehir as well as defencemen Andy Finn and Darren Stattersfield.
Sheffield Steeldogs, meanwhile, made the trip to Teesside with just one skater
more than the Stars, their line-up including captain Lewis Bell, forward
Cameron Brownley and Slovakian Adrian Palak.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon
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Setting out to be more
than a match for the Steeldogs, Billingham aimed to challenge Sheffield in the
opening stages of the first period but the league champions proved difficult competition as Ben Morgan’s side immediately set their sights on Flavell’s net in
their efforts to get ahead in the contest. Rallying in defence to ensure their
opposition did not grab a goal, the Stars found their own offensive
opportunities few and far between so it was little surprise when the
first goal was delivered by their visitors, Brownley opening the scoring with
support from left winger Liam Charnock and skilled Slovakian forward Palak on 8:53.
With Sheffield dominating in front of goal, Billingham were unable to cause
much trouble for Zimozdra at the other end of the ice and instead found
themselves holding out against the Steeldogs in their defensive zone to keep
the score line at 1-0. A tripping penalty for Stars’ forward Jack Davies on
15:26 then placed the Steeldogs on a power play but the side were unable to
beat strong shot stopper Flavell who pulled off some excellent saves to keep
his team in the contest. Less than a minute after Davies’ penalty was served, Baškatovs
was shown to the sin bin for delaying the game to hand Sheffield the advantage
once again. Failing to capitalise with the additional skater, the
Steeldogs found their offensive play shut down by the Stars who were able to
head in just one goal behind their opposition as a result of their defensive
work.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Returning to the ice
with the hope that they could equalise, the Stars were keen to test Zimozdra
but Sheffield had other ideas and prevented Billingham’s attempts whilst
building momentum around Flavell’s net for a second stanza. Unable to make much
of the chances that fell their way, the Stars then found themselves shorthanded
for a third time as defenceman Matthew Campbell was sinbinned for clipping on
27:08. Trying to capitalise on this opportunity to double their lead, the
Steeldogs were unable to contend with Billingham’s penalty kill and instead accomplished an evenhanded goal around two minutes later when
Brownley claimed his second of the game, this time Charnock and Palak assisting
once again. Shortly after this goal, it was the Steeldogs’ turn to be reduced
to four men, this time alternate captain Timothy Smith sidelined for delaying
the game. Pleased to be awarded the power play, Billingham aimed to make an
impact but were unsuccessful in their efforts to claw back a
goal. With neither side able to add to their tallies in the latter stages of
the second period, the teams filed from the ice with just a two-goal margin between
them.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Facing off for the
third and final period, Billingham Stars soon found themselves presented with
their second power play of the game when Charnock made way for tripping on
41:59. Though striving for the net, the Stars were unable to beat Zimozdra and
instead conceded a shorthanded goal as Slovakian import Milan Kolena teamed up
with forward Lloyd Gibson who netted for his side on 43:00. Three goals down as
a result, the Teessiders were eager to make amends and did so twenty four
seconds later when Baškatovs chipped away at Billingham’s deficit courtesy of
forwards Jack Davies and James Moss. Creating some offensive opportunities of
their own following this goal, the Steeldogs were keen to make their victory certain and a penalty for Stars’ forward Jack Emerson on
48:04 appeared to be the perfect chance for Sheffield to grab a fourth goal but Billingham’s penalty kill proved effective. Seeking out a second
goal, the Stars were overjoyed to double their tally on 54:06 when Baškatovs
bagged himself another, this time receiving the puck from Moss after linkup play from Jack Davies. Spurred on by this goal, Billingham fired a third onto
the scoreboard just thirty three seconds later, this time Baškatovs picking up a pass
from blue liner Ben Davison to turn assist for Moss who buried the puck
to tie the game. Aiming to defend the 3-3 score line whilst
recognising the possibility of snatching a winning goal, the home team were
keen to hold on in the latter stages of the game but Sheffield were not about
to leave without a lead and subsequently
slotted a fourth beyond Flavell on 58:31 as Brownley assisted Palak. Unable to draw level with so little
time remaining, Billingham were forced to accept that the Steeldogs would have
the advantage going into Sunday’s game at Ice Sheffield for the second leg of
this playoff match-up.
Warriors
battle in vain as Tigers triumph over Whitley
Whitley
Warriors 2
Telford
Tigers 5
Playing
host to playoff opponents Telford Tigers, Whitley Warriors headed out with a
strong line-up of twenty skaters besides netminders Richie Lawson and Mark
Turnbull at their disposal, with player-coach David Longstaff opting for the
former between the pipes; suspended alternate captain Jordan Barnes amongst those unable
to ice for the Warriors, allowing defenceman Josh Maddock to fulfil this leadership role
instead. By comparison, Telford travelled with a compact squad of fifteen which
included player-coach Tom Watkins, Canadian captain Jason Silverthorn and
experienced defenceman Jonathan Weaver.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon
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Facing
off against the Tigers with the knowledge that this game would be a challenge,
Whitley Warriors were immediately dealt a blow following a fast-paced start as Telford grabbed the lead through Adam Taylor with just 1:14 on the clock following neat work from fellow forward Jack Watkins and alternate captain
Weaver. Retaliating with some offensive work of their own, the Warriors began
to create intensity to test shot stopper Denis Bell, with forwards Ben
Richards, Dean Holland and Philip Edgar striving to level the scoring. A
hooking penalty for Macaulay Halford on 7:55 then saw Whitley handed a power
play but the Hillheads outfit failed to make the most of this opportunity and
were quick to rue their missed chances as the Tigers returned to full strength
only to double their lead four seconds later when Silverthorn beat Lawson
following linkup play from alternate captain Rick Plant. Continuing to search
for a goal, the Warriors ploughed their efforts into their offensive play but
for little reward, the side facing excellent netminding from Bell besides
strong defensive work from the Tigers who were quick to regain possession
to call Lawson into action at the other end of the ice. With the period in its
latter stages, the Warriors came incredibly close to scoring but were left
wondering what might have been when the net was pushed off its moorings
by Bell following a shot from Whitley. With play end-to-end, the Warriors were disappointed to be trailing by two goals at the first interval.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon
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Looking
to get back into the game, the Warriors attempted to challenge Bell but the
Tigers had victory in their sights and were keen to add to their tally. Making
Whitley’s defence work in the early stages of this period and firing two shots
at the metalwork, Telford finally snatched a third goal when a low shot from
player-coach Watkins filtered past Lawson to make it 3-0 on 24:38. Disappointed
to concede in this manner, the Warriors set out in search of their first goal
of the game once again but the side were faced with the Tigers’ tough defence and
were made to dig the puck out along the boards before targeting Bell’s net.
With play becoming flat in this period, play was brought to life when tensions began to fray between Warriors’ forward Callum Watson and Telford’s captain Silverthorn, the
pair dropping the gloves to each earn 2+2 for fighting on 32:54. Undeterred by
this setback, the Tigers bagged themselves a fourth goal as versatile
defenceman Daniel Rose threaded a pass to Plant who rushed into Whitley’s
defensive zone to fire home on 35:26 to add to the Warriors’ woes. Despite their
aim to at least get on the scoresheet in the final stages of this period,
Longstaff’s line-up were hindered by their opposition and filed from the ice
with a four-goal deficit to overturn.
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| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon |
Due to
adverse weather conditions, Whitley Warriors were prevented from making the
trip to Telford on Sunday for their away leg of their playoff quarter-final to leave
the overall result at 5-2.
Sharks
snatch last minute equaliser in spectacular comeback against Barons
Solway
Sharks 4
Solihull
Barons 4
Heading into this game
with seventeen skaters, including captain Struan Tonnar, alternate captains
James Hutchinson and Ross Murray and top points scorer Iain Bowie, Solway
Sharks were more than up for this battle as they prepared for their
challenging playoff fixture against Solihull, the side missing left winger Steven Moore and two-way player Jordan Buesa from their line-up. By comparison, the Barons made
the trip to Dumfries with just one less skater than that of their opposition,
forward Thomas Soar, Swedish import Niklas Ottosson and netminder Josh Nicholls
amongst those travelling for this game.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Throwing everything
into this clash from faceoff, both teams sought to open the scoring but a
slashing penalty against Luke Brittle on 2:43 saw Solihull go shorthanded in
the early stages of the first period to allow Solway a power play. Though
testing Barons’ starting netminder Nicholls, the Sharks failed to make the
most of their advantage and were quick to regret their inability to punish
Solihull, their visitors finding a way past shot stopper Calum Hepburn just
over two minutes after returning to full strength; Ottosson the man on target
courtesy of fellow forward Ed Eaton. Shortly after this goal, Solway were
presented with an opportunity to equalise when Soar was made to sit out for
hooking on 8:37. Again struggling to beat the Barons’ defence, Martin Grubb’s
men could not draw level with the advantage and instead watched Solihull return
to full strength only to run into some penalty trouble of their own as
youngster Lewis Houston made way on 13:14 for tripping. Just fifteen seconds
after this penalty, Houston was joined in the sin bin by forward Duncan Speirs
who was considered guilty of hooking, a penalty which presented the Barons with
a five-on-three situation. Though coping with Solihull’s initial attacking
play, the Sharks returned to four men only to concede a second goal five
seconds later when their visitors’ alternate captain Tomas Janak linked up with Soar
to allow forward Adam Brittle to find the net on 15:19. Pleased with their 2-0
lead, the Barons then continued to build on their offensive play and were able
to find a third goal when forward Andrew Whitehouse played the puck to Elliot
Farrell who raced from the blue line of his defensive zone to fire home on
19:30. Frustrated to be behind by three goals, captain Tonnar then clashed with
the Barons to earn himself a minor for roughing on 20:00 as the period came to
a close.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Returning to the ice on
the power play as a result of Tonnar’s penalty, the Barons tried to find a way
past Solway’s netminder Hepburn but missed out on their chance to establish a four-goal
lead and instead conceded shortly after the Sharks’ returned to full strength as
Speirs collected the puck on the edge of Solihull’s defensive zone and rounded
Nicholls to make it 3-1 on 23:12. Just over two minutes later, the Barons went
shorthanded when captain Josh Bruce made way for crosschecking. This allowed
the Sharks another power play and this time the Dumfries outfit were determined
to make the most of it, the side scoring just seven seconds into their
advantage when forward Iain Bowie tapped the puck into the net following a long
range shot from blue liner Josh Grieveson. The score line a tentative 3-2 in
Solihull’s favour, the Sharks were keen to equalise and a slashing penalty
against Soar on 27:52 appeared the perfect opportunity for Solway to draw
level. However, unable to make the best of this chance, Grubb’s men buried the puck thirty five seconds after Soar was reinstated, this time
Tonnar playing the puck across the ice to alternate captain Murray who found
himself with enough time and space to recover the deadlock on 30:27. Soon
after, the Sharks suffered a setback when forward Connor Henderson made way for
holding to hand Solihull a power play and the outfit were all too happy to
regain their lead, the side scoring just twenty seconds later when Soar slotted
the puck into the net following build up play from Whitehouse and Janak. The
score line 4-3 in favour of Solihull, it was then the turn of Barons’ captain
Bruce to serve a second penalty; holding his offence on this occasion. Despite
Solway’s efforts with the additional skater, the side could not grab an
equaliser ahead of the interval and as such, headed in just one goal behind
their opposition.
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| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson |
Looking back on this
fixture, Solway Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb admitted: “We knew this would
be a tough game as Solihull are the form team in the league at the moment and
you can’t give them a three-goal start like we did. We did well to battle back
and showed real character to get a draw but ultimately we are disappointed not
to be taking a lead to Solihull.”
Steeldogs
snuff out Stars to progress to playoff semi-finals
Sheffield
Steeldogs 9
Billingham
Stars 3
(13-6 on aggregate)
Making the trip to Ice
Sheffield to take on Sheffield Steeldogs, Billingham Stars travelled with a
strong line-up of sixteen skaters, including player-coach Michael Bowman, blue
liner Ben Davison and young defenceman James Hellens, besides first
choice shot stopper James Flavell, in the hope that they could head into the semi-finals of the competition. Meanwhile, Ben
Morgan’s team took to the ice with a squad of nineteen players,
their side including captain Lewis Bell and forwards Lloyd Gibson and James
Spurr.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
With
both teams setting out in their quest for playoff glory, it was unsurprising that play was very even in the opening minutes of the game as the outfits turned their
attention towards goal, each calling their opposing netminder into action to
see both Flavell and Steeldogs’ sturdy shot stopper Dmitri Zimozdra ensure the scoreboard remained unchanged. As the period
progressed, Billingham went shorthanded as a result of a tripping penalty
against player-coach Bowman on 8:36. However, with just under a minute of
Bowman’s punishment remaining, both teams then ran into penalty trouble as
Steeldog Greg Wood and Star Jack Davies were shown to the sin bin for roughing.
Shortly after Bowman’s return to the ice, the Teessiders were disappointed to
concede their first goal of the game when Gibson found the net on 11:14,
player-coach Morgan and forward Charlie Thompson with the assists. Spurred on
by this goal, the Steeldogs then doubled their tally just over two minutes
later as captain Bell fired a shot beyond Flavell following neat work from left
winger Liam Charnock and Slovakian import Adrian Palak. The score line 2-0, the Stars continued to search for a goal to get back into
the game but the side suffered a further setback when defenceman Davison was
shown to the sin bin for slashing on 17:35. This resulted in a power play for
the Steeldogs and, though they were unable to capitalise with the additional
skater, the side grabbed their third goal of the game just two
seconds after Davison’s return to the ice; forward Cameron Brownley surpassing Billingham’s defence after passing play between Morgan and Slovakian import
Milan Kolena. In the aftermath of this goal, Stars’ captain Michael Elder and
alternate captain Chris Sykes took the opportunity to converse with referee
Andrew Miller, resulting in ten minute misconduct penalties for both players.
With this a disappointing end to the period for Billingham, the Teessiders
headed in with a three-goal deficit and much work to do to get back into the
game.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon
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Resuming
play for the middle stanza, the Stars were eager to get a goal to claw their
way back into the contest but Sheffield were just as keen to extend their lead
and did so on 24:05, Brownley notching his second of the game following a pass
from Morgan to make it 4-0. Struggling to test Zimozdra, Billingham then
incurred a penalty just over three minutes later when Latvian defenceman Artūrs
Ozols was sidelined for delaying the game to award the Steeldogs a power play
which they converted as forward James Spurr beat
Flavell on 28:35, alternate captain Tim Smith and Morgan with the assists. This
goal prompted a change of netminder for the home team who switched Zimozdra
with backup Brandon Stones to allow the shot stopper some ice time. With the
Steeldogs able to dominate in front of goal, the Stars’ chances on net were few
and far between and it was little surprise when Sheffield added a sixth to
their tally, this time Kolena on target as Spurr worked with young forward
Brady Doxey to assist just beyond the halfway point in the period. Four minutes
later, Flavell was again picking the puck from his net when Kolena turned
assist for Doxey to see the youngster print his name on the scoresheet. Moments later, the Steeldogs went shorthanded when
Gibson was sinbinned for holding sticks but, with Billingham unable to create any strong offensive opportunities on the power play, Morgan’s men bagged themselves
a shorthanded goal, Kolena returning the favour to see Spurr achieve his second
goal of the game with just forty six seconds of the period remaining. Heading
in on the wrong end of the 8-0 score line as a result, the Stars left the ice knowing that the game was all but beyond them, the score line 12-3 on
aggregate.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Returning
to the ice with the aim to improve on their performance,
the Stars switched shot stopper Flavell with Mark Watson to allow the backup
some ice time. Whilst increasing their attacking play, the Stars could not beat
Stones and it was only when Brownley made way following an interference call
that Billingham could make their efforts count, Bowman achieving the
Teessiders’ first goal of the game on the power play with support arriving from
captain Elder and alternate captain Callum Davies on 46:45. Buoyed by this
goal, the Stars then snatched a second close to the halfway point in the
period, Bowman claiming his second of the game following creative play from
forwards Alex Preston and Jack Emerson. With both teams demonstrating their
ability in front of the net, the Stars were able to edge shots on goal in this
period, only just outshooting the league champions by sixteen shots to fifteen. Though
Sheffield continued in their efforts to find the back of the net, it was the
Stars who were able to find the target next as Elder teamed up with Sykes to
allow Davison to hit home on 53:18, making the score line 8-3 in the process; 12-6 on aggregate. Both teams persevering in offence whilst
maintaining a strong defence against their opposition, the sides continued to
contend with one another but the Steeldogs were able to have the
final say as Gibson claimed his second goal of the evening with
less than three minutes remaining courtesy of Wood and Thompson. As
such, Billingham were forced to accept their crushing 9-3 defeat in their playoff quarter-final, the side beaten on aggregate
by thirteen goals to six overall to allow Sheffield to progress to the
semi-finals.
Speaking after this clash, Stars’ alternate captain Chris Sykes noted: “Congrats to the Steeldogs. They beat us over two legs. On Saturday, at home, we left ourselves with a chance but at Ice Sheffield, they just played their game and it happened to be so much better than ours. Congrats to the Dogs again.”
Speaking after this clash, Stars’ alternate captain Chris Sykes noted: “Congrats to the Steeldogs. They beat us over two legs. On Saturday, at home, we left ourselves with a chance but at Ice Sheffield, they just played their game and it happened to be so much better than ours. Congrats to the Dogs again.”
Sharks overpowered by Barons as Solihull claim playoff victory
Solihull
Barons 5
Solway
Sharks 3
(9-7 on aggregate)
Making the trip to Hobs
Moat Road with seventeen skaters, including captain Struan Tonnar, forward
Scott Henderson and Czech defenceman Marek Charvát, and again opting for
netminder Calum Hepburn in net, Solway Sharks were aware of the challenge
ahead as they took to the ice against their tough playoff opposition. By
comparison, Solihull Barons lined up with just one less skater than that of the
Dumfries outfit, the side led by captain Josh Bruce and alternate captains
Marcus Maynard and Tomas Janak besides player-coach and starting netminder
Daniel Brittle.
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| Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon |
Setting out to make a
positive start to get ahead in the early stages of the game, both teams looked
to create chances in front of goal but it was the Barons who were able to edge into the
lead when Luke Brittle worked with fellow forward Ed Eaton to set up Swedish
import Niklas Ottosson with just 3:52 on the clock. Just eight seconds after
this goal, Solihull suffered a blow when forward Adam Brittle was shown to the
sin bin for slashing to award the Sharks a power play. The visitors were unable
to make the most of this opportunity however, and instead watched the home team
return to full strength only to go shorthanded themselves almost two minutes
later when blue liner Josh Grieveson was sidelined for hooking. Though striving
to kill this penalty, the Sharks were unsuccessful in their defensive efforts
and Solihull claimed a two-goal lead with a power play goal, forward
Thomas Soar the man on target following creative play from forward Andrew Whitehouse
and alternate captain Janak on 9:28. Just over a minute after Grieveson
returned to the ice, forward Daniel Abercrombie warmed a seat in the
sin bin for tripping but this time the Barons were unable to capitalise and
instead went shorthanded themselves on 13:07 as forward Luke Brittle sat out
for hooking. Unable to pull back a goal on the advantage, Solway were
disappointed to let this opportunity slip by and, though continuing to test shot
stopper Brittle as much as possible, the side could not find a way past the
netminder before the break to head in with a 2-0 deficit to overturn.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
Though aiming to make a
better start to the middle stanza, the Sharks again found themselves
shorthanded as captain Tonnar made way for slashing on 23:17. Killing this
penalty effectively, Solway returned to full strength and immediately set their
sights on goal, scoring just thirty eight seconds later through Czech blue
liner Charvát whose unassisted shot beat Brittle to make it 2-1; 6-5 on
aggregate. The Sharks’ celebrations proved short-lived however, as just thirty
eight seconds later Solihull added a third to their tally, this time Eaton
setting up fellow forward Luke Brittle who did not miss his mark. Close to two
minutes later, a charging penalty for Barons’ alternate captain Maynard
presented the Sharks with a power play but the outfit could not break down
Brittle’s defence as Solihull worked hard to return to full strength unscathed.
As such, the home team continued to hunt down their next goal in their efforts
to extend their lead and put the clash beyond doubt but it took over six
minutes after Maynard’s return to the ice for the Barons to make it 4-1, this
time Janak burying an unassisted shot to cause Solway some concern. Glad to be
handed a power play three seconds after this goal following a tripping call
against Soar, Grubb’s men realised their need to make their additional man
count, the Sharks finding the net on 38:31 through Speirs who was helped onto
the scoresheet by defenceman Kyle Horne and Joe Coulter to wrap up the action
for the second period.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
|
Returning to the ice on
the wrong end of the 4-2 score line, Solway were quick off the mark in the
third period as forward Scott Henderson took his team within one goal of their
opposition on 41:13, Coulter and Hutchinson with the assists. Just twenty four
seconds later though, Solihull dashed their visitors’ hopes with a fifth goal,
this time Janak finding captain Bruce who surpassed Hepburn to make it 5-3; 9-7
on aggregate. With both teams closely matched in terms of offensive
prowess, the outfits persisted with their offensive play as Solihull sought to
creep even further ahead in the contest whilst the Sharks looked to close the
gap between themselves and the home team to keep their playoff hopes alive. With
neither team able to alter the scoreboard in the latter stages of this period,
the Sharks were disappointed to go shorthanded with less than three minutes
remaining as the side incurred a bench minor for too many men. With time fast
running out, Solway found that there was no way they could claw back two goals to tie
the game as the final buzzer sounded to confirm Solihull’s progression to the
playoff semi-finals. Speaking after his team’s
playoff defeat to Solihull Barons, Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb observed: “This
game became a winner-takes-all and again it was really disappointing the way we
started the game and we never fully recovered. We tried to get back into it but
credit to Solihull for making sure they got the job done and, although this isn’t
how we wanted out season to end, we have to learn our lessons and regroup for
next season. Good luck to the Barons as it was a close series over the course
of the season and they played very well over these two games. We had a couple
of key injuries at the wrong time but we will be back.”
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