Kyle Ross. Photo by IceHockeyMedia.
Whitley Warriors got back to winning ways at the weekend with a hard-fought victory over a much-improved Sheffield Scimitars side.
Warriors went into the game without Shaun Kippin, Jamie Ord, Steven Chalmers, Thomas Fraser, Liam Smedley and Josh Crane, who were all unavailable. Callum Queenan was a welcome addition as he returned for his first game since early November. Mark Turnbull got his first start of the season in goal.
The home side couldn’t have got off to a better start when just 1:48 into the game, Kyle Ross scored his tenth goal of the season. The utility player has been in fine form over the last few weeks and his points production is proving that. Owen Yarrow recorded his first point in a Warriors shirt with the assist. The pair combined again at 16:07 to double the home side’s advantage but this time Kyle Ross turned provider. Having collected Harry Harley’s pass he set up Yarrow for his first senior goal and in doing so followed in his father’s footsteps. Alan ‘Rocket’ Yarrow was a big personality on the Warriors team for many years and now his son is carrying on the family name with a series of impressive performances since making his debut back in November.
Warriors ended the period in control and edged it in shots 12-8. They would carry on that strong form into the middle session but despite dominating the period, outshooting their opponents 25-5 ,couldn’t find a way past Scimitars goalie Brandon Stones.
Sheffield got a goal back at 25:51 through Latvian youngster Marcus Janssons to make the game closer than it should have been. With no further goals in the period, the Warriors took a slender lead into the final twenty minutes.
The third period would prove to be much closer with the Warriors ahead 10-9 in shots. They finally found a way to solve Stones when Callum Queenan and Adam Finlinson combined to set Connor Lewis up for his first goal of the season and restore the side’s two goal advantage. For Queenan it was his second point of the season having missed the last ten games, while Finlinson recorded his 22nd point of the campaign.
A little over five minutes later Sheffield had made it a one goal game again and set up a tense finale, Oliver Wagg converting a Scott Morris assist at 52:15. That certainly gave Sheffield fresh confidence of being able to salvage something from the game especially as Whitley lost in a similarly late fashion a week earlier. The Scimitars pulled goalie Brandon Stones with 40 seconds remaining for the extra attacker but Mark Turnbull stood tall and kept them at bay for a much needed win and two points.
With so many players missing it was a case of getting the job done. However, talented youngsters such as Owen Yarrow and Connor Lewis are using the extended ice time to great effect and are showing signs of a strong future.
Stats
Shots
Warriors: 47
Scimitars: 22
Scorers
Warriors: Kyle Ross 1+1, Owen Yarrow 1+1, Connor Lewis 1+0, Harry Harley 0+1, Callum Queenan 0+1, Adam Finlinson 0+1.
Scimitars: Marcus Janssons 1+0, Oliver Wagg 1+0, Scott Morris 0+1.
PIMs
Warriors: 2
Scimitars: 2
Man of the Match
Warriors: Anthony Wetherell
Scimitars: Scott Morris