NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 1st October 2016

Solway Sharks vs. Solihull Barons

Sunday 2nd October 2016

Whitley Warriors vs. Billingham Stars 

Following last weekend’s league and NIHL North Cup action, Solway Sharks will contend with Perry Doyle’s Solihull Barons on Saturday in a top of the table clash before Whitley Warriors and Billingham Stars prepare for their first Tyne-Tees derby of the season. This game is guaranteed to be a spectacular event and will certainly attract a large crowd as both teams aim to fill the rink for three-year old Frankie Sherwood who, suffering from Neuroblastoma, requires £500,000 to receive potentially lifesaving treatment in America. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Prior to this fixture however, Solway Sharks return to league action with an encounter against Solihull Barons who will embark on a quest for four points from this weekend’s double header to climb the NIHL table. As a result, the Sharks will require a win to stay one step ahead of Doyle’s men but will no doubt go into this game full of confidence on the back of their overtime victory against Billingham Stars on Sunday. Whilst Solway exhibited great fortitude and determination to make a fantastic comeback against the Teessiders, the side failed to impress initially and will hope to appear strong against the Barons from the outset. Finding the target three times last weekend, forward Richard Bentham was the Sharks’ top goal scorer and also managed to light the lamp against his former club, Blackburn Hawks. However, Bentham was certainly not the only player to make an impact in offence as power forward Ross Murray, new signing Jordan Buesa and left winger Steven Moore were amongst those on the score sheet. Also influential for the Sharks, young prospect Duncan Speirs tallied two assists before racing the length of the ice against Billingham to secure a game-winning goal for his team. If Solway are to stand any chance of defeating the Barons on Saturday, the Dumfries outfit will need to demonstrate this spirit and resolve once again, there being no room for mistakes against one of the toughest sides in the league. Defeating the Dumfries outfit twice in their previous campaign, Doyle’s men were able to dominate at Hobs Moat Road when the Sharks visited last season but equally, the Barons found it difficult to triumph over Solway at the Ice Bowl, first recording a 6-4 loss to Grubb’s outfit in November as well as a 3-1 defeat in February. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Offensively strong, the Barons will again show off their skill across all areas of the ice with current top points scorers Joe Henry, Niklas Ottosson and Matthew Maurice likely to make an impact. So far, Solihull have recorded some mixed results which include a win against Sutton Sting on home ice, a 5-5 draw with Telford Tigers in a thrilling encounter, a victory over Whitley Warriors at Hillheads and finally, a surprise defeat to The Dragons last Sunday. Despite this loss, Solihull are currently fighting for points at the top of the table and the side will travel to Dumfries with the desire required to triumph over their opponent prior to a difficult encounter against Blackburn Hawks on Sunday. Should the Barons accomplish a four point weekend, they will take the Sharks’ place at the top of the table. On the other hand, two points for the home side would provide Solway with their fourth consecutive league win, allowing the team continue their excellent start to their campaign whilst edging ahead of their competition.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Preparing for this league fixture, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “We are looking forward to facing a very good Solihull team who like to play attacking hockey so we will need to be better defensively than we have been in recent games. I like the blend of youth, experience, skill and grit that Perry Doyle has in his team and we know that they will come here and be looking to play at a high tempo so we need to match that energy and play smart. We know we made too many mistakes last weekend but we showed huge character on Sunday and proved we can score goals so we will need to take that last period performance into this game and play for sixty minutes, and not just in spells like we have, or we will be punished. We will work hard in practice this week and be ready to compete and look to get two more league points.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Whitley Warriors are set to host their first Tyne-Tees derby of the season as Billingham Stars make the trip to Hillheads for an NIHL North Cup clash. Whilst this fixture always attracts a large crowd, efforts to fill the rink have been intensified this week as the local rivals unite to raise funds for three-year old Frankie Sherwood who requires £500,000 to receive treatment for Neuroblastoma in America. Though this will be the backdrop for the game, with Star Ben Davison pledging £5 for every goal scored and netminder Richie Lawson donating £2 for every save he makes, the contest will certainly not be lacking its usual fieriness, with cup points up for grabs. New to the NIHL North Cup this season, Whitley Warriors will certainly have their work cut out as they take on the defending champions, having failed to pick up a win from the two games they have played in the competition. Collecting their first point in the Moralee Conference last weekend, the Warriors have enhanced their performances in recent games but still have much work to do to reach their full potential. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As ever, Whitley will be tested by Billingham’s line-up which includes Swedish imports Dennis Boström, who grabbed a goal against the Hillheads outfit in all four league games last season, and fellow forward Daniel Palmebjörk who hit home a debut goal for the side against the Sharks on Sunday. Also harnessing the skill of forwards Chris Sykes, Michael Elder and Callum Davies, not to mention the sturdiness of netminder James Flavell, the Teessiders will be battling for victory to make amends for their nerve-racking overtime defeat to Solway. However, the Warriors will also exhibit their fair share of talented individuals, including captain Dean Holland who appears to be have been inspired by his role this season to achieve seven points in four games. Printing his name on the score sheet, alongside player-coach Longstaff and versatile defenceman Harry Harley, who impressed with an equalising slap shot from the blue line against Telford Tigers last Sunday, the captain will lead his team out to face the Stars this weekend ahead of a second encounter between the two sides on Saturday 8th October. Both teams hoping to claim their first win in the cup competition, this will be a fantastic contest made worthwhile by the unison of two clubs in the name of a good cause.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Sharing his views ahead of this game, Star Chris Sykes observed: “Sunday is a big fixture no matter what the league standings say. The Tyne-Tees derby is about bragging rights as well as points; it’s a massive game! We haven’t seen Whitley this year. We’ve only seen what the scores say but we are turning up prepared and we are ready for a good battle. It always will be a good, hard fought game in Whitley. The players they have bring that factor but we know we can score lots of goals and we are going with the mindset to outplay them in their own barn. Also, it would be nice to see the rink filled with people to watch the game as it will be a good spectacle and #FilltherinkforFrankie is a massive part of the night so let’s raise some money for the little man.” Meanwhile, Whitley Warriors’ player-coach Longstaff admitted that this fixture will be no easy one for his team: “In terms of the game, Sunday will be a struggle for us. After a great, battling performance on Sunday, where we were only missing one player and showed what we can do with a full team this season, we go back to missing six players with four of them being defenders.”

For those hoping to attend one of these games this weekend, Solway Sharks host Solihull  Barons from 7:00pm at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday whilst Whitley Warriors will then ice in the Tyne-Tees derby against local rivals Billingham Stars with the hope that the game will attract a large crowd to aid the club’s Fill the rink for Frankie campaign. To donate, please follow the link: https://www.gofundme.com/28mzxuk. For those fans unable to make it to a game this weekend, fear not! Below are the listening details for NIHL Radio.

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

NIHL Weekend Action

Sharks harpooned as Blackburn claw North Cup victory

Solway Sharks             3

Blackburn Hawks       5

With both teams having undergone great transformations over the summer, this NIHL North Cup fixture was always going to be an interesting one as the two outfits pitted themselves against each other for the first time this season. Icing a strong line-up which included new two-way player Jordan Buesa, the Sharks were up against a Blackburn team who were aiming for a second consecutive North Cup victory, having defeated Whitley Warriors by two goals to one on home ice last Saturday.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the first period, the home side started the game the stronger of the two teams, controlling possession effectively to test the Hawks in the opening minutes of the game. Creating some good play in Blackburn’s defensive zone, the Sharks soon reaped the rewards of their industriousness on 7:11 when hardworking forward Ross Murray lit the lamp courtesy of junior Scott Henderson, grabbing his first goal of his 2016-17 campaign in the process. The Hawks continuing in their struggle for possession, Solway were quick to double their lead as netminder Stuart Ashton found himself picking the puck from his net once again with twelve minutes played, this time Richard Bentham finding the target with assists arriving from blue liners Kim Miettinen and James Wallace. Try as they might, Blackburn could not break down the dominant Sharks and were relieved to go on the power play when Duncan Speirs headed to the sin bin on 17:08 to serve two minutes for hooking. Unable to make the most of their advantage however, the Hawks watched Solway return to full strength to go in at the break with a two goal deficit.

Returning for the second stanza, the Sharks were hoping to add to their tally, this time encountering shot stopper Niks Trapans in place of Ashton. Solway suffered a setback approximately five minutes in however, when Wallace was shown to the sin bin by referee David Emmerson. Attempting to kill the penalty, Bentham was made to join his team mate around sixty seconds later for delaying the game. Working to build up some strong passing play, the Hawks gradually began to pile on the pressure and when a third consecutive penalty was conceded by the home team through James Hutchinson, Blackburn wasted little time in punishing their opposition as Aaron Davies fired home following link up play between Nick Oliver and Mikko Sierman. Spurred on by this goal, the visitors crept back into the game and eventually slotted the puck past netminder Kieran Hobbins to draw level, James Riddoch finding himself on the scoresheet. Minutes later, Sharks captain Struan Tonnar clashed with Hawks defenceman Bobby Streetly and both players earned themselves two minutes for slashing as well as a 2+2 for roughing. This penalty did not hinder Solway in any way however, as the team resumed their offence to grab a goal with less than three minutes of the period remaining as new signing Buesa showed his worth to make it 3-2; the youngster assisted by two-way player Ben Edmonds and alternate captain Hutchinson.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Behind in the game once more, the Hawks took to the ice with the need to at least get back on level terms but the side suffered a setback approximately five minutes into the period when Riddoch headed to the penalty box for delaying the game. However, though Solway found themselves on the power play, Blackburn were able to find the back of the net as Davies equalised on 47:14, following a pass from youngster Kyle Haslam. Stunned by their sudden change in fortunes, Solway’s attempts to get back on track were inhibited by a charging call against Scott Henderson which placed Darlow’s men on the power play. Taking just fourteen seconds to capitalise, Blackburn managed to take the lead for the first time in the game as Streetly and Oliver teamed up to play Mikko Sierman through on goal. Realising that this was an all or nothing situation, Head Coach Grubb made the decision to pull Hobbins from his net in the final minute to enhance his offence with six skaters. Any chance of a goal to take the game into overtime was soon torn away however, as Haslam received the puck from import Patrik Nyman to fire it the length of the ice and into the empty net.

Speaking after the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb commented: “On Saturday, I thought we started well and we were moving the puck well and probably should have went in a few more goals in front. We then came out flat, Blackburn were outworking us and we lost our discipline and that was very disappointing. We got ourselves back in front with a debut goal by Jordan Buesa but again, we made too many silly mistakes and didn’t battle hard enough. The third period, we again didn’t compete well enough and credit to Blackburn for seeing the game out. It’s a disappointment but we need to learn that you can’t take a night off or you get beat in this league or cup.”

  

Warriors grapple with Tigers to capture first point

Whitley Warriors    3

Telford Tigers        3

With the NIHL’s Moralee Conference highly unpredictable this season, this was always going to be a challenging game for David Longstaff’s Warriors as they tested their systems against an altered Telford Tigers outfit. Whilst backup netminder Jordan Boyle, and forwards Callum Watson and Alan Yarrow were missing for the home side, Telford travelled with a surprisingly strong line-up, the team having been accustomed to make the trip with a reduced roster in recent seasons.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With crowds turning out to witness the highly anticipated reunion of enforcer Andre Payette and Tiger Owen Bennett, the faceoff was barely over with when the two dropped the gloves; Payette almost instantly defeating Bennett who lost his footing early on in the fight. Both players conceding 2+2 roughing penalties timed at 0:05, play swiftly resumed with the two sides having attempts on goal in the early stages of the game. Shortly afterwards, these roughing penalties came to an end on 4:19 but Bennett was side-lined for longer than required due to skate repairs. Whilst play flowed between zones, forwards Adam Brittle and Matt Viney appeared dangerous for the visitors but the Tigers were soon reduced to four men when Slovakian import Karol Jets was sinbinned for a high sticks offence on 9:35. Though on the power play, Whitley struggled to control play in the confines of their offensive zone, despite their best efforts to take the lead with the advantage. Soon after, the Warriors were made to regret their squandered chances when Jets made his return to the ice only to fire the puck beyond netminder Richie Lawson on 12:00, following well-worked link up play between Viney and ‘D’ man Corey Goodison. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Striving to get a foothold in the game, Whitley continued to labour for an equaliser but a penalty conceded by blue liner Joe Stamp around the fifteen minute mark reduced the Hillheads outfit to four men and handed Telford a power play. Thirty five seconds later, Stamp was joined by team mate Martin Crammond in the penalty box whilst Goodison sat out for a slashing offence. This penalty coincidental, the Warriors were still just one man short until Stamp’s return. Eventually restored to full strength, Whitley quickly found themselves on the back foot once more as Daniel MacKriel’s team lit the lamp for a second time, former Hawk Ben Simister the scorer on this occasion with assists from alternate captains Brittle and Jets. Soon after this assist, Brittle then conceded two minutes for holding to present Whitley with the advantage. Recognising that the game was rapidly slipping from their grasp, and that they must make the most of the additional man, the Warriors hit home just thirty four seconds into Brittle’s penalty, forward Dean Holland first trying his luck before Longstaff nabbed the spilled puck to place it past shot stopper Daniel Brittle before the break.

Returning for the second period, the Warriors were aiming to reduce their deficit further but the opening minutes of the middle section were disrupted by poor discipline as Warrior Jordan Barnes made way to serve two minutes for a cross check. As a result, it did not take long before the puck was again in the back of the net as forward Brittle weaved through Whitley’s defence to widen the gap with his unassisted effort. This goal was soon followed by yet another trip to the sin bin as defenceman Dan Pye was called to the box for holding but, this time, the Tigers did not hold onto the advantage with Goodison considered guilty of hooking. Despite returning to full strength before their opposition, the Warriors found themselves unable to make a significant impact and, though continuing to see their fair share of possession, were unable to make the best of the chances they had. A tripping penalty from forward Callum Griffin presented a further opportunity for the Hillheads team but sturdy netminding prevented the Warriors from recovering lost ground in the game as Brittle dealt comfortably with the twenty four shots fired at him during this stanza.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off for the third and final instalment of the game, the Warriors resumed play with renewed vigour, exhibiting an intensity which was severely lacking in the first and second periods. Contending with the Tigers’ defence after the interval, Whitley found the target on exactly forty three minutes to make it 3-2, Holland grabbing his fourth goal of the season with support arriving from fellow forward DJ Good and ‘D’ man Stamp. From here, the momentum was very much in the Warriors’ favour, with the team making several attempts to find a way past Brittle to equalise. However, the hard work and efforts of Whitley’s offence again fruitless, the Tigers were able to test Lawson at the other end of the ice; the netminder called upon on to deal with attacking play from forwards James Smith, Brittle and Viney. Time fast running out for the home team, Longstaff opted to call a timeout with just over a minute left to play in the period. A disagreement between shot stopper Brittle and Warrior Shaun Kippin occurring before play resumed, tensions were high as the two teams took their places. Having pulled Lawson from his net, the Warriors looked on as Payette battled successfully to win the faceoff in Telford’s defensive zone. From here, the puck was played out to Holland and subsequently talented defenceman Harry Harley whose slap shot rocketed beyond Brittle and into the back of his net. Making this comeback in spectacular style to Telford’s dismay, the Warriors were then forced to defend for the remainder of the game as player-coach Longstaff retaliated to a blow from Bennett to receive two minutes for roughing but his team were able to hold onto their hard-earned point as the game came to a close. Reflecting on his team’s efforts, player-coach David Longstaff observed: “I thought we were good in spells and we’re getting better each week. I thought both goalies were great and it was great to listen to the excitement in the crowd. It really lifted the players.”

Overtime win sees Sharks seize points against unfortunate Stars

Billingham Stars  5

Solway Sharks     6

With games between these two outfits always highly entertaining, not to mention closely contested, Solway travelled to Teesside under the cloud of their 5-3 North Cup loss to Blackburn Hawks on the previous evening. This Billingham’s first game in the competition since their collection of silverware last season, the Stars were out to give their all in a bid to defend their title.

Facing off in the first period, Terry Ward’s men immediately began to create some strong offensive play to test Kieran Hobbins in the opening stages and the Teessiders were quick to reap the rewards as Jack Emerson grabbed the lead for his side just over three minutes in, Tom Keeley and Swedish import Daniel Palmebjörk picking up assists. Soon after conceding this goal, Solway’s Daniel Abercrombie found himself sinbinned for a high sticks offence which handed the already dominant home side a power play. Taking control of the puck from the faceoff, alternate captain Callum Davies found Palmebjörk who snatched his first goal for the Stars just four seconds into Solway’s penalty kill. Shortly afterwards, an interference call against Billingham’s Ben Davison caused the Sharks to go on the advantage which was enhanced further when Jack Davies joined his team mate a little over one minute later for crosschecking. Making the most of the five-on-three situation, Solway were able to halve their deficit on 8:15 with an unassisted effort from Marc Fowley. With over ten minutes played, Richard Bentham was side-lined for tripping and again, the Stars were able to punish their opposition on the power play, player-coach Michael Bowman hitting the target with an assist from captain Richie Thornton. Dominating play to overwhelm Solway, the Teessiders had soon found their fourth goal of the game through Dennis Boström as the despondent Sharks were left immobilised by the onslaught. The score line now 4-1, the Stars were firmly on the front foot though shorthanded, going in at the break, with forward Scott Ward taking to the penalty box following an interference call from referee Anthony Boynton.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With this penalty running into the second period, the Sharks were aware that they needed an early goal to stand any chance of getting back into the game and, despite the visitors’ inability to capitalise with the additional man, they were able to build some momentum to grab an even handed goal less than two minutes in when Bentham netted courtesy of youngster Duncan Speirs. The midpoint of this period then saw Davison concede his second penalty of the game, this time for tripping, but Solway were unable to punish the home side for their transgressions and went on to concede a penalty of their own as Kim Miettinen headed to the sin bin for slashing on 30:44. Edging their way into the game, the shorthanded Sharks were then dealt a blow when a delayed penalty against blue liner Stuart Kerr was converted into a goal for the Stars, this time an unassisted Chris Sykes finding the back of the net to achieve the fourth goal of his campaign. The three-goal deficit no easy one to chip away at, matters were made worse for Solway when Shark Scott Henderson found himself on the wrong end of a clipping penalty to reduce his team to four men on 37:55. With eight seconds of Billingham’s power play remaining, Grubb’s men were then made to pay for their lack of discipline once more when Kerr briefly joined his team mate to serve two minutes for slashing ahead of the interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Returning to full strength in the opening minutes of the final period, Solway began with a far different attitude and were able to score on 46:31 when hardworking left winger Steven Moore secured an unassisted goal for the Sharks to get his side back on track. Spurred on by this, Solway began to progress carefully. Labouring across all areas of the ice, each line was able to make a significant impact against Billingham whose early successes against the Sharks had perhaps lulled the team into a false sense of security. As a result, it was little surprise when the Dumfries outfit added another to their tally as effective forward Joe Coulter hit one past Stars’ backup netminder Mark Watson. Approximately two minutes later, the Sharks suffered a further setback when defenceman James Wallace was made to sit out for delaying the game. Weathering the storm well, Solway returned to full strength and showed such determination to find an equaliser that they were rewarded soon after as powerful forward Ross Murray linked up with Speirs to play the puck to Bentham who did not miss his mark.

This a spectacular comeback for the Sharks, Billingham were understandably devastated to head into overtime against Grubb’s reenergised team, having competed so well in the first two periods to appear the dominant side. Icing three players each, neither side were allowed to play imports in the overtime period, meaning Solway were without ‘D’ men Juraj Senko and Miettinen whilst the Stars could not ice forwards Palmebjörk or Boström. One and a half minutes into the overtime period, Billingham’s Richie Thornton found himself sinbinned which prompted Solway to call a timeout. This penalty providing the Sharks with an additional man, the four-on-three situation saw the visitors throw themselves into finding a goal and the team were sent into raptures on 63:02 when Speirs raced his way through the Stars’ defence before finally beating Watson with a fabulous unassisted goal.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking a point from this game due to their overtime loss, Billingham now sit just above Whitley in the NIHL North Cup table with one point. Commenting on the game, Star Chris Sykes reflected: “The first game of the cup for us is done but we are disappointed in the result. After being in control of the match for forty minutes to then throw it away in the third is a real blow for us. We got a point for going to overtime but we shouldn’t have been in that position at all after being three goals up going into the third but we will learn from our mistakes and we know the so called ‘best team’ in the league is easily beatable.”

Meanwhile, with the Sharks now on five points due to a regulation win against Whitley Warriors, a loss to Blackburn Hawks and an overtime victory against the Stars, Head Coach Martin Grubb provided the following insight: “On Sunday, we started terribly and our whole first period was unacceptable. It was a continuation from a poor Saturday and we needed to regroup after the first. I made it very clear what was expected, made changes to our lines and we started to play a little more in the second but we still were making bad decisions on the puck and we needed to do more. The third period, we said we needed an early goal and I told the boys we could win the game and to believe. You have to credit the character and desire they showed to take it shift by shift and I thought they were excellent in that period. We deserved to draw level and nearly won it in regulation time. We continued to dominate the overtime period and finished the job on the power play to show the spirit we have and I’m proud of how the boys stuck together and battled. ”

For more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/. Don’t forget, if you would like to sponsor Colin in his latest challenge, please do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3-Amigos-3-Peaks-challenge.

Special Report

Colin Lawson’s National Three Peaks Challenge

Set to celebrate his 60^th birthday, IceHockeyMedia photographer Colin Lawson is aiming to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge in three days to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Embarking on this challenge with friends Andy Howes and Dave and Harry Mitchell, Colin will set off for Snowdon on Tuesday. Following their ascent of the Welsh Peak, the photographer and his companions will then climb Scafell Pike before travelling into Scotland with the aim that they reach the top of Ben Nevis in time to celebrate Colin’s 60^th birthday. As well as marking this milestone, the group also hope to raise at least £1000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process, meaning every step will be worthwhile.

Fundraising for ice hockey clubs in the past, Colin is no stranger to a challenge. Initially putting his photography skills to good use with Sunderland Ice Hockey Club, and then Newcastle Vipers’ junior side, Colin captured team photos across various age groups which were then sold to parents to raise funds for the club. This work extended to Newcastle Vipers’ Elite League team and, when the team’s demise resulted in the junior setup merging with Billingham Stars, Colin continued his work for two seasons at The Forum, before moving on to Hillheads where he currently provides fundraising opportunities as Whitley Warriors’ official photographer.

IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Again hoping to give something back, Colin and his friends face a busy itinerary which also includes 1200 miles of driving. Setting off for Llanberis, North Wales on Tuesday, the group will then begin their climb, which is described as a hard grade walk with an ascent of 975m, from the Snowdon Mountain railway station on Wednesday. Immediately after their descent, Colin and his companions will journey to Seatoller, near Keswick, with hopes that that they arrive at approximately 7:00pm. On Thursday morning, the ramblers will then make the trip to Seathwaite to begin their climb of Scafell Pike, using the Corridor Route. Another hard grade walk, this peak can be particularly treacherous, with the group required to pick their way over a loose boulder field when they reach the top. From here, the fundraisers will make their way to Fort William in preparation for their ascent of Ben Nevis to mark Colin’s birthday.

Discussing plans for his 60^th birthday celebrations with NIHL Northern Trio, Colin revealed, “Friday 30^th is the big day, my 60^th birthday. After a good breakfast it’s off to the Ben Nevis Visitors’ centre car park and then a relatively leisurely walk up Ben Nevis; leisurely because there’s no travel involved when we are finished and, more likely, because we will be rather tired. I will be carrying a bottle of champagne to share with the three amigos at the top of Ben Nevis to celebrate. On Saturday, we will be homeward bound via Perth where the plus one, Dave’s brother Harry, lives. I’m hoping I’m not going to be too tired when I get back home as the family are taking me out to my favourite Indian restaurant!”

Returning on Saturday 1^st October, Colin will be back behind the camera for Whitley Warriors’ home derby game against Billingham Stars the very next day. “I’m not quite sure how much I will be climbing up onto the step I normally use to photograph the game,” Colin added, “but any sponsorship for Macmillan will make the pain entirely worthwhile.”

To sponsor Colin ahead of his National Three Peaks challenge, please follow the link provided: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3-Amigos-3-Peaks-challenge.

NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 24th September 2016

Solway Sharks vs. Blackburn Hawks

Sunday 25th September 2016

Whitley Warriors vs. Telford Tigers

Billingham Stars vs. Solway Sharks

Though there are only two league games set to take place in the Moralee Conference this weekend, including an encounter between Whitley Warriors and Daniel MacKriel’s Telford Tigers, Solway Sharks will prepare for a busy weekend in the NIHL North Cup, first taking on Blackburn Hawks on home ice before making the trip to The Forum where they will clash with close rivals, Billingham Stars.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Following last weekend’s 4-1 league win against Sutton Sting, Solway Sharks will be hoping to build on their recent successes with a North Cup victory over Blackburn Hawks. So far, Solway’s performances appear to be an improvement on those of last season. The Sharks have already recorded a league win against Billingham Stars on home ice and went on to execute Martin Grubb’s game plan in a combined league and cup encounter at Hillheads. Taking on the defending champions for the first time this campaign, the skill of Grubb’s men will be tested by a much changed Hawks side. Struggling to contend with Blackburn in all competitions last season, Solway took just two points from four league games against the outfit in their previous outing; their heaviest loss a 7-0 defeat at Blackburn Ice Arena in March. However, there were some positives to be taken from the Sharks’ encounters with the Hawks last season, none more so than their accomplishment of a favourable 5-3 score line prior to this loss. 

Exhibiting glimpses of their pace and power in their 2015-16 campaign, Solway have enhanced their roster further over the summer and now boast a sturdy defence and a great deal of quality in front of goal. This will enable the side to challenge their opposition this weekend as they look to retain their place at the top of the NIHL North Cup standings. With both Solway and Blackburn triumphing over Whitley Warriors, the sides sit in first and second place respectively, the Sharks finding themselves in poll position due to a better goal difference than that of the Hawks. Heading into this game on the back of a league loss to Billingham Stars, Blackburn will no doubt battle to make amends for this defeat whilst ensuring former team members Richard Bentham and Kim Miettinen are on the losing side, the duo having parted company with the Lancashire outfit to join the Sharks over the summer. Besides this, the Hawks will also be out to avenge their loss of silverware in the North Cup, having been pipped at the post by Billingham Stars last season. As a result, the side will be aiming for no less than top spot when they ice against the Sharks on Saturday. Speaking ahead of this fixture, Head Coach Martin Grubb stated: “This weekend’s cup games will be two extremely difficult games against two quality teams and we are going into them looking to maintain our consistency and our unbeaten run. We know that Blackburn are a good team and, even though there has been a turnover of players there, Matt [Darlow] has put together a good team who will be well organised and will compete all over the ice so we will need to make sure we are solid and take our chances.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

With this fixture played, Solway will then travel to The Forum for their second North Cup fixture of the weekend as they prepare to face off against last season’s cup winners, Billingham Stars. Aiming to defend their title this season, the Teessiders will take to the ice for their first encounter in the competition, endeavouring to place points on the board whilst avenging their 3-1 league defeat to Solway Sharks. The home team will be offensively strong heading into this clash with top goal scorers Chris Sykes and Dennis Boström likely to make an impact alongside forwards Jack Watkins, Michael Elder and Callum Davies. Aware that they need to be at their best to match the quality of the Stars, Solway Sharks have several players who could equally cause damage to Billingham’s blue line. In particular, forward Joe Coulter has contributed five assists and a goal to become one of Solway’s most influential players in recent games whilst new signings Connor Henderson and Richard Bentham have also made a great contribution to the side’s offensive efforts. If Solway go into this game having triumphed over the Hawks on Saturday, two points against the Stars could provide the Dumfries outfit with a considerable lead in the contest. However, victory for Billingham would make the competition more of a level playing field, with Whitley Warriors the only side yet to claim a point should this be the outcome. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whatever the score line, this will be a tough test for both sides and no doubt a closely contested game if previous encounters between these two clubs are anything to go by. Considering the clash, Head Coach Martin Grubb kindly expressed his views: “Sunday will be another tough game as Billingham will be confident after last week’s home win and they are a team with lots of offence so it will be about us executing our game plan and shutting them down. We will need to ensure we are good in our zone and use our speed and skill to take the game to them when we can and, again, we will go looking for maximum points. It’s arguably as tough a weekend as you can get in this league but we will be ready to play and to do what’s needed to win.” Meanwhile, Star Chris Sykes added, “It’s a big weekend for the Stars! First cup game of the season at home and we are ready to defend what we worked hard for last season. We have a good week of practice behind us and we know what Solway are bringing. They sometimes travel short on numbers so, if they do, we will be looking to take advantage but, as always, it will be a tough game.” 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Last, but not least, Whitley Warriors will play host to Telford Tigers on Sunday as the Hillheads team take to the ice in search of their first league win, having conceded a heavy loss to Solway Sharks on the opening day of the season, as well as defeats to Blackburn Hawks and Solihull Barons. Playing far better in their last two fixtures than in their first game, the Warriors are continuing to battle back to their best and provided fans with a glimpse of the team they were against Perry Doyle’s line up on Sunday; Dean Holland fired two goals beyond netminder Josh Nicholls whilst forwards Jordan Barnes and Ben Richards also played to a very high standard from the first faceoff to the final buzzer. Icing against Daniel MacKriel’s Telford Tigers, who currently sit in sixth position of the Moralee Conference with three points from three games, this game is likely to be an unpredictable one against the Shropshire side who are a very different team to last season. Now boasting the talent of top points scorer Adam Brittle, netminder Daniel Brittle and forwards Matt Viney and Ben Simister alongside the goal scoring prowess of James Smith, Callum Bowley and Slovakian import Karol Jets, the Tigers will no doubt present themselves as a force to be reckoned with as they look to build some good form in the league, having recorded their first win against Sutton Sting last weekend. With a draw and a loss to add to this victory, Telford have so far experienced mixed results and MacKriel will expect better from his side when they clash with the Warriors on Sunday. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Also likely to generate much discussion ahead of this game is the return of Tiger Owen Bennett to Hillheads, with the enforcer-like player set to encounter Andre Payette yet again in his career. The two having met in the EPL in recent seasons, Bennett and Payette have fought each other on several occasions and their reunion will surely provide a talking point, particularly if they choose to drop the gloves. Prepared to engage in battle this weekend, a home win will be crucial for the Warriors as they aim to recover lost ground in the Moralee Conference. Looking ahead to this game, player-coach David Longstaff noted: “This will be another tough home game with a team who has upped their budget this season. We’re trying to improve every week and it’s another test for our team.”

For those fans hoping to attend one of these fixtures, Solway Sharks host Blackburn Hawks in the NIHL North Cup from 7:00pm at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday before travelling to The Forum on Sunday for a 6:30pm face off against Billingham Stars. Further to this, Whitley Warriors continue with their league campaign on home ice this weekend, preparing for a 5:00pm league clash against Telford Tigers on Sunday. Can’t make it to a game? Fear not! Below are the listening details for NIHL Radio. 

NIHL Radio Weekend Listings

Saturday 24th September

7:00pm on NIHL Radio 1

Solway Sharks vs. Blackburn Hawks

Sunday 25th September

6:30pm on NIHL Radio 1

Billingham Stars vs. Solway Sharks

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

Also, for further media insight and player interviews, catch up with Episode 3 of ‘Stars Talk’ courtesy of Billingham Stars TV here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZFhcy0zVA.

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

NIHL Weekend Action

Blackburn claw points as Warriors lose out in narrow road defeat

Blackburn Hawks 2

Whitley Warriors   1

Whilst it was expected that this game would pose a great challenge to the short benched visitors, especially after their 9-2 defeat to Solway Sharks last weekend, David Longstaff’s depleted line up took to the ice prepared for the contest against an equally diminished Blackburn Hawks side.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Though the first period commenced with Blackburn winning the puck from faceoff, the Warriors battled for early possession and soon took the lead through defenceman Niall Simpson, who grabbed his first goal in a Warriors’ shirt with less than five minutes played. Soon after, a slashing call against enforcer Andre Payette saw the Hawks go on a power play but Matt Darlow’s men failed to draw level, despite a superb effort from forward Philip Mulcahy. With Whitley returning to full strength, it was not long before the Warriors acquired a power play of their own when Swedish import Patrik Nyman conceded two minutes for tripping. Though gaining the advantage, Whitley were forced to endure a successful penalty kill from the home side, having failed to place the puck past netminder Stuart Ashton. With six minutes remaining in the period, the Warriors defended well as Hawk Aaron Davies ignited Blackburn’s offence but the Hillheads outfit held onto their narrow 1-0 lead going into the second period.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Filing onto the ice for the middle section of the game, both teams resumed play with the same level of intensity and pace shown in the opening stanza, although neither appeared to match the quality they demonstrated against each other last season. Whilst the Hawks continued to pile the pressure onto Whitley’s blue line, forward James Riddoch found it difficult to link up with Nyman which, in turn, hindered the side’s attempts in finding an equaliser. Meanwhile, Longstaff’s men continued to work hard at both ends of the ice but were unable to make their chances count in their opposition’s defensive zone, despite DJ Good, Callum Watson and Dean Holland setting their sights on goal. As both sides struggled to find the back of the net, Whitley incurred a bench penalty for an ice infringement which presented Blackburn with their second power play opportunity of the game. Again defending well on the penalty kill to prevent their opposition from snatching a goal, the Warriors suffered a further setback minutes later when forward Martin Crammond was shown to the sin bin for hooking. Whilst the Hawks were unable to capitalise from this advantage, Darlow’s men found themselves in control of the puck when the Warriors returned to full strength. It was this switch in momentum which enabled the Lancashire outfit to get back on level terms; Bobby Streetly and Nick Oliver linking up to send Finnish import Mikko Sierman through on goal. Disappointed to concede, Whitley strove to get ahead in the game for a second time but it was not to be as the period was brought to a close with tensions rising between Warrior Shaun Kippin and Hawk Steven Duncombe who were swiftly separated by officials.

The final instalment of the game beginning with Kippin and Duncombe serving minor penalties for roughing, the teams each took to the ice with four skaters. It was in the early stages of this period that the power of Reece Cairney-Witter became evident when the defenceman made a hit on blue liner Josh Maddock who careered into the bench with some force. This clash was then followed by the collision of Blackburn’s Ollie Lomax with Nyman before Whitley Warriors conceded yet another penalty when Crammond found himself side-lined for a second time in the game. This leading to a favourable situation for Blackburn, the side fought hard to create some chances with the additional man, repeatedly testing Lawson. Whilst Davies, Sierman and Nyman all came close to adding to the Hawks’ tally subsequent to this advantage, the period was a mixed one for Riddoch who came close to the target, having struggled to thread and receive passes to and from his Swedish line mate throughout the game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Equally, the Warriors saw several of their chances go wide of the mark as Watson broke free to try his luck whilst Longstaff hit the puck at Ashton. It was the Hawks that were next to light the lamp however, their work ethic paying off as Davies fired home a fantastic winner, with Riddoch and Oliver picking up assists. Just over one minute later, a tripping call against Liam Brown caused the Warriors to go shorthanded. Killing the penalty effectively, Longstaff’s team then returned to full strength only to ice too many men. Whilst Holland was made to sit out as a result, Hawks’ blue liner Duncombe also incurred a minor penalty for holding. Unhappy with the decision, Duncombe made referee Tom Pering aware of his feelings only to receive an additional ten minute misconduct penalty. In the meantime, Whitley opted to pull shot stopper Lawson from his net in a bid to find a second goal, with hopes that they could claim a league point from this fixture which would then take the game into overtime as per the regulations of the NIHL North Cup competition. Despite this six-on-four situation being in Whitley’s favour, possession soon fell to Blackburn which allowed Davies to chance his luck at an empty net goal. With Davies failing to increase his team’s lead, and the Warriors unable to beat Ashton, the score line remained 2-1 to leave Whitley at the foot of the league standings, with valuable points missed in both the league and cup competitions. 

Solway triumphant as Sutton lack Sting

Solway Sharks 4

Sutton Sting     1

After much success against Billingham Stars and Whitley Warriors last weekend, Solway Sharks took to the ice against Sutton Sting with aspirations of a third consecutive victory. Travelling with just thirteen skaters and two netminders, Simon Butterworth’s team lined up against an almost full strength Sharks squad as captain Struan Tonnar made his return to Grubb’s line up.

Whilst Solway clearly set out to test netminder Dmitri Zimozdra in the early stages of the game, it was the Sting who opened the scoring on 6:39, Benjamin Jones slotting past netminder Kieran Hobbins after a pass from former Spartan Scott Morris. Less than two minutes later, Sutton’s captain James Spurr was shown to the sin bin for hooking. Though unable to find the back of the net on the power play, Solway retained control of the puck long enough to light the lamp after the visitors had returned to full strength, Daniel Abercrombie drawing level for the Sharks. Seconds later, Tonnar found himself sinbinned for a boarding penalty which reduced the Dumfries outfit to four men. Working hard on the penalty kill to prevent Sutton from scoring a second goal, the Sharks continued to battle against their tough opposition. Firing several shots at Zimozdra, Grubb’s men finally netted on 17:36 through Richard Bentham, following support from Finnish defenceman Kim Miettinen and fellow forward Joe Coulter. Though dominating in front of goal, Solway were unable to add to their tally ahead of the break, largely due to Sutton’s sturdy defence and Zimozdra’s efforts to keep his side in the game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The teams returning for the second period, the momentum was still very much with Solway whose pressure in the opening minutes paid off when Coulter hit home to achieve his first goal for the Sharks this season; Bentham snatching an assist alongside blue liner James Wallace. With the Sharks exhibiting quality in offence, Solway’s shot stopper Hobbins was called upon from time to time as a trailing Sutton Sting sought an opportunity to get back in the game before it was too late to do so. Placed on the power play just before the halfway point of the period courtesy of Tonnar, the Sting looked to alter the score line but their efforts were to no avail as Solway were effective on the penalty kill once again. Outshooting the visitors by twenty four shots to eight, it was clear that there would be another goal in the game for the Sharks but it was to Sutton’s credit that the home side were unable to make it 4-1 until 37:58, Abercrombie grabbing his second of the game with forward Connor Henderson and Slovakian defenceman Juraj Senko assisting the youngster before the break.

Whilst Solway were eager to hold onto their lead going into the final stanza of the game, Butterworth’s team recognised the need to reduce their three-goal deficit but were equally conscious to remain unified in defence, this being one of the side’s greatest strengths. Despite seeing the better share of possession during this period, the home side were unable to make their chances count as the Sting laboured on the blue line to prevent Solway from extending their lead further. Again, Zimozdra was one of the most hardworking players on the ice as the Sharks outshot Sutton by seventeen attempts to six but, with no further goals in the game, the 4-1 score line sealed Solway’s win well in advance of the final buzzer. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Now sitting at the top of the NIHL table with six points, Solway have enjoyed a very different start to their 2016-17 campaign than that of last season, having recorded three consecutive league victories as well as claiming maximum points from an NIHL North Cup game against Whitley Warriors last weekend. Reflecting on the game, Head Coach Martin Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “I am happy to have made it three wins from three games but we still know we need to improve on areas in our game. I thought we played a hardworking and organised Sutton team and, although we dominated possession, they never gave us loads of scoring chances. We played well in spells and I told the players I want us to play for the whole sixty minutes and set ourselves high standards, and we also need to take the chances that come our way. We had lots of shots but a mixture of good goaltending and poor finishing made the game harder than it needed to be. We have to be happy at the start we have made and the players should take confidence from that but I need to stress it’s only a start and we are striving for consistency and we will continue improving as a new group.”

Warriors vanquished as Barons claim Hillheads victory

Whitley Warriors 2

Solihull Barons   4

Following last weekend’s abysmal performance against Solway Sharks on home ice, Whitley Warriors were hoping for an improvement in their play if nothing else, though David Longstaff’s side would head into this fixture without defencemen Harry Harley and Joe Stamp as well as and forwards Callum Watson and Alan Yarrow. Perry Doyle’s travelling Barons were also without a full squad however, as Slovakian import Tomas Janak, forward Ed Eaton and defenceman Phil Knight were amongst Solihull’s absentees.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off for the first period, both teams began the game with great fervour in their efforts to gain possession, Whitley racing into the Barons defensive zone to apply some early pressure to netminder Josh Nicholls whilst Solihull also had a few chances of their own to test shot stopper Richie Lawson. Working hard to prevent the Barons from scoring one of these opportunities, Warrior Craig Johnson hurled the puck into the stands in his efforts to clear Whitley’s defensive zone and found himself sinbinned for delaying the game as a result. Organising an effective penalty kill with experienced teammate Andre Payette, David Longstaff ensured that his side did not concede in the early stages of the game. No sooner had Johnson returned to the ice however, than he found himself back in the sin bin, charging his offence on this occasion. Again on the power play, Solihull attempted to get ahead on the advantage but could not break down the systematic Warriors and watched another opportunity slip by. Shortly afterwards, the visitors were punished for their inability to capitalise when captain Dean Holland fired home a fantastic shot on 14:56 to beat Nicholls, following passing play between player-coach Longstaff and forward Martin Crammond. Whitley’s celebration proved to be short lived though as returning Warrior Dan Pye conceded a minor penalty for tripping. Certain that they would not allow another power play to pass by without finding the back of the net, just thirty nine seconds of the advantage were played before Thomas Soar slotted past Lawson courtesy of fellow forwards Joe Henry and Niklas Ottosson. As Longstaff’s line up returned to full strength, the Barons were buoyed by their equaliser ahead of the first interval.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Aware that the next goal in the game would be a crucial one, Longstaff’s men demonstrated great intent on the offensive in the opening seconds of the middle stanza, Jordan Barnes playing the puck perfectly for captain Holland who lifted it beyond Nicholls to claim his second of the evening. The score line 2-1, Solihull recognised the need to find a rapid equaliser and quickly responded through Ottosson who was helped onto the score sheet by defenceman Dale White and alternate captain Josh Bruce. In response to this goal, the Warriors battled hard for the puck, particularly power forward Barnes who was effective across all areas of the ice, digging in deep to send his line mates through on goal. Meanwhile, the Barons also saw their fair share of possession as the war of attrition continued, skilled forwards Soar and Ottosson trying to get their side ahead in the game. However, whilst Solihull outshot Whitley by twenty shots to eight in the first period, the tables were turned in the middle section to evidence the laborious work of the home side who looked to create as many chances as possible in the hope that they could eventually punish Doyle’s team. Gaining the advantage courtesy of an interference call against White appeared to provide the advantage that the Warriors were looking for with a little under three minutes of the period left to play and, whilst Longstaff’s organisation of his power play line was visible, the side failed to make their mark with the additional man and consequently went in at the break with nothing separating them from their opposition.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

In the same way that the Warriors opened the second period with intensity, Solihull took to the ice with great conviction which enabled the Barons to take the lead for the first time in the game. This time it was youngster Matthew Maurice who accomplished a goal when assisted by former Dragon Paul Davies and ‘D’ man Jacob Smith. Sensing that the game was slipping from their grasp, the Warriors’ work rate did not falter as they were forced back into their defensive zone time and again by the Barons. Initially soaking up the pressure, Lawson found himself beaten by Andrew Whitehouse following a blue line shot from Dave Rogers which was helped on its way by forward Richard Slater. The wind taken from their sails, the Warriors attempted to reduce the two-goal deficit but it was to be to no avail, despite the efforts of Whitley’s best players on the night, including Barnes, Holland and young forward Ben Richards. Conceding a penalty late in the game for icing too many men for a second consecutive night, Whitley took a bench minor which was served by Richards and, despite a late attempt by Longstaff to challenge Solihull’s defence, the score line remained 4-2 when the final buzzer sounded. Sharing his views after this game, player-coach David Longstaff had the following to say: “I thought the boys were great all weekend. We are gradually getting there and it’s a process for us. We’re getting better every time we get on the ice which is very pleasing from a coaching point of view. We had chances in both games and were a massive improvement on last weekend.”

Stars blaze to glory against bewildered Blackburn

Billingham Stars   3

Blackburn Hawks 2

Icing in front of a home crowd for the first time this season, Terry Ward’s squad was strengthened further by the return of Stars’ veteran Paul Windridge as the Teessiders lined up against a weakened Blackburn Hawks outfit, Matt Darlow’s side having travelled with just two lines.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for faceoff, Billingham entered into a battle for possession against the Hawks who went into this game with much momentum, having achieved victory over Whitley Warriors on Saturday. Applying some early pressure to the Stars’ defence, it was not long before Blackburn were able to open the scoring as Aaron Davies achieved his second goal of his 2016-17 campaign with just over six minutes played, following link up play between Swedish import Patrik Nyman and captain Ollie Lomax. Though falling behind at this stage of the game, the Stars regrouped to set their sights on an equaliser which was delivered on 9:57 by player-coach Michael Bowman who was sent through on goal by Dennis Boström, the Swede having struck Stuart Ashton’s mask just moments before. Forty seven seconds later, Blackburn conceded the first penalty of the game as Lomax found himself sinbinned for a slashing offence. Working hard on the power play, the Stars strove to take the lead through both Boström and Chris Sykes but it was not to be on this occasion as the Hawks successfully killed the penalty. Approximately three minutes later, it was the turn of Bowman to be shown to the penalty box but, no sooner had Billingham returned to full strength, than Hawks’ ‘D’ man Nick Oliver was made to sit out for tripping. As defenceman Tom Keeley attempted to make the most of this advantage for the home side, referee David Emmerson then called for tripping against netminder James Flavell which saw the power play ruled out. However, there was time yet in the period for the spectacular as blue liner Ben Davison raced into Blackburn’s defensive zone to fire home with just one second of the period remaining.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The score line 2-1, Billingham were aware that the visitors would try all they could to find a way back into the game and immediately went on the offensive. Believing that they had placed the puck beyond Ashton just minutes into the second stanza, Billingham were left disappointed to find that the spirited netminder had successfully made the save to prevent the Stars from sneaking even further ahead. Shortly after this attempt, the Hawks were shorthanded once again when alternate captain Nyman found himself side-lined for a cross check. Efforts from Sykes and forward Callum Davies failing to make an impact, Billingham were unable to add to their tally on the power play but the team were handed a second chance on 28:17 when Oliver made way to serve a minor for slashing. Frittering away this opportunity, the Stars were again handed the advantage when Nyman was considered to be guilty of roughing but it was over a minute after this power play before the Teessiders could light the lamp, Michael Elder slotting home with assists from Sykes and Davies. This goal provoked a retaliation from the Hawks who were quick to test shot stopper Flavell at the other end of the ice but the Stars headed in at the interval with their 3-1 lead intact.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Outshooting their opposition in the first and second periods, Billingham were aiming to hold onto their lead going into the final stanza, aware that victory could easily be snatched from their grasp. Seeking goals, the Stars set out to test Ashton and the shot stopper was forced into action by Elder with less than a minute of the period played. Meanwhile, the Hawks also appeared dangerous with possession as Nyman, Davies and James Riddoch worked hard on the offensive in a bid to reduce the deficit. Their efforts were rewarded with a power play on 49:55 when Scott Cooper was made to serve time for a crosscheck and Blackburn were thrown a further lifeline when a five-on-three situation arose as captain Richie Thornton joined his teammate in the sin bin. Just nine seconds into this two-man advantage, the Hawks were able to capitalise through alternate captain Steven Duncombe, following passing play from Davies and Nyman. It was shortly after this goal that Darlow’s men conceded a penalty of their own however, as Nyman was shown to the sin bin for a hooking misdemeanour. Returning to five men, the Stars were unable to place the puck beyond Ashton on this short power play and instead clung to their narrow lead. The dying minutes of the game proving tense, Billingham were subjected to further anxiety when Darlow called a timeout on 58:49 but, as possession fell to the Stars from faceoff, Blackburn could not find a way to level the scoring, allowing Ward’s men to claim victory.

After the final buzzer, forward Chris Sykes shared his thoughts on the game: “What a way to start the home opener with a big win for the Stars! The Hawks brought twelve players to The Forum and we knew we could take them at home after last weekend’s disappointment. We stuck to our plan, it paid off for us and we got a massive two points and a good start on home ice. We made a few mistakes but we can rectify them this week in practice and be ready for Solway next weekend in the Cup.”

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