NIHL Weekend Action

Stars shot down by Solway as Sharks sink teeth into cup clash

Solway Sharks      7

Billingham Stars    2

Travelling to Dumfries with an absentee list made up of defencemen Andy Finn, Richie Thornton, Thomas Keeley and Darren Stattersfield, forward James Moss and injured netminder James Flavell, Billingham Stars were hopeful that they could compete with Solway Sharks in their latest cup fixture to build confidence ahead of an important derby game against Whitley Warriors. The Sharks, on the other hand, were looking to recover from their recent cup result against Blackburn Hawks after losing out on the road by four goals to two and, as such, took to the ice with their usual line-up, missing only young Houston brothers Luke and Lewis and blue liner Scott Cooper whilst left winger Adam Robinson made his return to the side after icing with Meaford Knights in the GMHL last season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Continuing their close rivalry, it was unsurprising that the opening moments of this period saw both sides challenging for the puck to test their respective netminders, though without success as Stars’ starting shot stopper Mark Watson and Shark Calum Hepburn saw off some early attempts to ensure the deadlock remained intact with over half of the stanza played. It was only then that referee Andrew Miller was called into action to dish out the first penalty of the evening as Solway’s captain Struan Tonnar was forced to sit out two minutes for a slashing offence. Whilst unable to execute their chances with the additional man, Billingham did not let up in their quest to open their account, player-coach Michael Bowman finding the target just eight seconds later to fire his team into the lead. Disappointed to have fallen behind, the Sharks sought a goal of their own and, working hard to test Watson, eventually hit home as young blue liner Stuart Kerr played a pass to skilled left winger Steven Moore who worked his magic to draw level on 15:21. Finding the score line even as a result, the Dumfries outfit were eager to apply further pressure to Watson’s net in the hope that they might take the lead prior to the first interval. Though outshooting the Stars by seventeen to nine, Solway found it difficult to accomplish this feat and, as such, were left little choice other than to content themselves with their equaliser as the first period came to a close.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Carrying the spark of their momentum into the middle stanza, the Sharks blazed onto the ice to seize a second goal, this time Czech defenceman Vaclav Kolarik linking up with alternate captain Ross Murray to see forward Iain Bowie print his name on the scoresheet with just over a minute of the period played. Shortly after, Billingham’s enforcer Callum Pattison incurred a two minute penalty for holding to see Solway benefit from their first power play of the game, young forward Daniel Abercrombie achieving his third cup goal of his campaign with support from Moore and Charvat at the exact moment Pattison’s penalty terminated. The Sharks now leading by three goals to one, it was not long after that Pattison once again found himself sinbinned, the Star serving time for roughing on this occasion. Failing to add to their tally as they contended with Billingham on the power play, Solway were then gifted a penalty shot as ‘D’ man Dave Thomas brought down Bowie but the forward was unable to make it count as Watson proved a pair of safe hands in his bid to keep his team in the game. However, dismayed to have missed this chance, Bowie was hungry for his second goal of the evening and hit home less than three minutes later following neat play from Moore and Kerr who also achieved their second assists of the game. As Solway continued to dominate possession, it was not long after that Watson was picking the puck out of his net for a fifth time as Kolarik surpassed Billingham’s blue line over a minute later courtesy of Bowie and Kerr. Realising their need to respond to this goal, Billingham immediately unleashed an effort of their own as Sykes chipped away at his side’s deficit with help from Bowman. Despite this, netminder Hepburn remained largely unchallenged whilst Watson was made to contend with Solway’s offensive play at the other end of the ice but neither team could add to the scoreboard further, allowing the Sharks to head in on the right side of the 5-2 score line.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Heading into the third period, the Stars were aware that they would have to work hard to take points from this game, particularly as Solway showed no signs of relenting. With just over three minutes of the period played, Stars’ blue liner Thomas received another minor for hooking much to the frustration of player-coach Bowman who joined his team mate in the sin bin to serve a ten minute misconduct penalty. Whilst this was not the best start to the final stanza of the period for the Teessiders, Solway were left disappointed when forward Connor Henderson cancelled out this advantage fifty three seconds later to see the Stars return on a short power play. However, unable to make the most of this chance, Billingham were then made to pay for their lack of discipline as Pattison sat out yet again to allow Solway another power play which Bowie happily capitalised on to earn his hat trick forty four seconds into this advantage; Murray and Kolarik again picking up assists. Less than two minutes later, the Sharks were able to add a seventh to their tally, this time new signing Robinson getting in on the action as he found himself integrated into play by young forward Scott Henderson and captain Tonnar just before the halfway point in the period. Shortly afterwards, with Billingham realising that there was very little they could do to get back into the game, Terry Ward opted to replace Watson with netminder Callum Reynolds on 51:07 to present the youngster with some valuable ice time. With tension growing alongside Billingham’s frustration at their five-goal deficit, it was not long before the two side’s clashed, Pattison crosschecking Bowie to see the duo both sidelined for roughing, though the Star earned himself an additional two minutes for his first offence. These penalties served, Solway worked hard in front of goal, peppering Reynolds with fourteen shots in total but, try as they might, the Sharks could not beat the young shot stopper and equally, Billingham failed to counter in the final moments of the game to leave the score line at 7-2 on the final buzzer.

Looking back on his team’s cup victory, Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb revealed: “Games with Billingham are always decent games and can go either way but I felt after the first period we dominated the game, even if it wasn’t as high quality as usual. We played with speed and moved the puck pretty well and it was also nice to get a couple of power play goals. With one game, we knew we could play at a higher tempo and the challenge is to find and maintain consistency now.”

Warriors’ derby delight as Stars plummet to eighth place

Billingham Stars   3

Whitley Warriors   4

Lining up with a strong roster which included captain Michael Elder, alternate captains Chris Sykes and Callum Davies, and Latvian imports Deniss Baškatovs and Artūrs Ozols, Billingham were without only forward James Moss, player-coach Richie Thornton, defenceman Darren Stattersfield and usual first choice netminder James Flavell. Likewise, Whitley Warriors’ player-coach David Longstaff also had a skilled line-up at his disposal and, though young forward Ross Douglass, defenceman Will Robson and the versatile Stuart Tomlinson were unavailable for this clash, young prospect Jamie Ord made the trip to feature in the first NIHL North encounter of his campaign. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off against each other for the first time this season, Billingham Stars and Whitley Warriors hurled themselves into this hard-hitting contest but the opening minutes of the game proved frustrating for both as the rivals fought closely for possession of the puck to challenge their respective netminders Mark Watson and Mark Turnbull at either ends of the ice. Whilst the Hillheads outfit were not without their chances at the start of the game and were forced to contend with the Stars’ physical presence, the side’s passing play was not to the standard it has been in recent weeks and thereby provided an opportunity for Billingham on 8:13 when Warriors’ defenceman Josh Maddock played the puck into the path of tough guy Callum Pattison to allow the forward to pick out Luke Brown who punished Whitley’s mistake. Desperately searching for an equaliser to ensure that the game would not skip away from them, the Warriors were then pleased when Stars’ forward Scott Ward made way just over two minutes later for clipping to hand their visitors a power play. Unable to make their efforts count, though testing Watson on more than one occasion, the Warriors then incurred a penalty to award Billingham the advantage as defenceman Kyle Ross was found guilty of a high sticks offence to take a seat in the sin bin forty seven seconds later. With Ross restored to the ice, there was some confusion over whether or not he should assume his role immediately which allowed the Stars to find the net for a second time; Elder capitalising on Whitley’s confusion with assists from alternate captain Sykes and ‘D’ man Dave Thomas. Just under two minutes after this penalty was served, long-serving Warrior Martin Crammond was sidelined for a hooking offence to see his team successfully kill a second penalty, the side effective when shorthanded. As Crammond only found himself returning to play in the last minute of the period, there was no time for Billingham to extend their lead, nor for Whitley to open their account, leaving the hosts the happiest of the two teams.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Acknowledging their need to recover lost ground, the Warriors were determined to get onto the scoresheet and did so with just fifty one seconds of the period played as forward Callum Watson converted some fast paced play from team mates Jordan Barnes and Shaun Kippin to bring Whitley within a goal of their rivals. Eager to restore their previous two-goal lead, Billingham reacted quickly as Elder rocketed a shot beyond Turnbull on 22:55 after receiving a pass from hardworking alternate captain Davies; Ward also picking up an assist. Less than three minutes later, the Stars found themselves shorthanded as defenceman Andy Finn sat out for holding to see Whitley handed the additional man. Though struggling to utilise this opportunity, the Warriors recognised their need to reply following another fruitless power play and claimed their second of the game to make it 3-2 when Barnes collected the puck from Maddock to race into Billingham’s defensive zone and fire home a fierce shot, with support arriving from Watson. Feeling that their visitors were beginning to creep back into this game, Billingham were then disappointed to go shorthanded just before the halfway point in the period as forward Jack Emerson was shown to the sin bin by referee David Farren for a high sticks offence. Continuing to build momentum as the Stars’ spirits declined, the Warriors found it difficult to beat Billingham’s defence and shot stopper Watson, the netminder remaining sturdy between the pipes to keep Longstaff’s line-up at bay. However, the Stars soon returned to full strength and were keen to secure their lead, with Elder, Baškatovs and Sykes causing problems for Whitley’s defence, the latter appearing certain to make his mark on the game only to be denied by Turnbull. Though countering this with attacking play of their own, the Warriors could not draw level ahead of the break and, as a result, went in trailing by a single goal.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Going into this period with the knowledge that this game was now within their reach, the Warriors were spurred on to increase their pressure on Billingham’s defence, with forwards Watson, Adam Finlinson and Philip Edgar amongst those seeking an equaliser. As such, it was much relief to Whitley when one of their many efforts finally made an impact, this time Kippin slamming the puck beyond strong netminder Watson on 43:44, following some neat play from fellow forward Ben Richards and player-coach Longstaff. Whilst the Stars did not let up their attack against Turnbull, Whitley equally threw all they had at Watson; both shot stoppers outstanding to ensure their side did not fall behind. A penalty against Thomas in the fifty first minute allowed the Warriors to persist in their quest to get ahead in the game but again, the Stars’ defence were unshifting and, though under pressure, killed the penalty successfully. Undeterred, the Warriors’ hard work and perseverance finally paid off just over three minutes later when some clever work from Edgar saw the Canadian import pause to make a careful pass to Holland who presented Finlinson with the chance to unleash a shot which defeated Watson and handed Whitley a deserved lead for the first time in the encounter. Calling a timeout with just over a minute remaining in the period, Billingham’s aim was to snatch a goal to take the game into overtime and it was not long after that the Stars opted to pull Watson from his net to ice an additional skater as the side faced off in Whitley’s defensive zone. Striving for an empty net goal, Whitley parried the puck away with difficulty as Billingham turned their attention to their own target and a second faceoff saw the Warriors get the puck out of their own zone once again, only for Longstaff to call a timeout with just sixteen seconds remaining to make for a nerve-wracking finale. With Watson returning to the ice, the Stars’ held onto possession behind their net as Whitley counted down the seconds; the puck only just released prior to the final buzzer which signalled the Warriors’ hard fought triumph over their closest rivals.

Reflecting on what was a difficult game for his team, player-coach David Longstaff shared: “I thought it was probably our worst performance of the season until the last period. Our transition was very poor and we had to rely on Mark Turnbull. Two points is the most important thing though and I’m not sure we can play as bad in our own end again so I’m sure it’ll be a one off.” Also taking time to consider Billingham’s difficult double header, alternate captain Chris Sykes noted: “It was a bad weekend for the Stars. It seems we are in a tough position at the minute but we are working hard to get out of this and move forwards. Stick with us, Stars fans.” 

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