Photo by Ice Hockey Media - Colin Lawson
Whitley Warriors continued their superb start to the 2015/16 campaign with a 6-2 victory away from home against the Solihull Barons down in the Midlands on Sunday evening. Whitley were almost at full strength for the contest as the only senior player missing from the Warriors line up was the injured Dean Holland who made the journey down to Solihull to support his teammates in person.
The first period of play was a niggly affair with 7 minor penalties being called by referee William Hewitt, Warriors picked up 5 of those penalties however the Whitley penalty kill was at the top of its game and after 20 minutes of action the scores remained level at 0-0.
Just a minute into the 2nd period Whitley took the lead when speedy winger Callum Watson fired home, Solihull quickly replied though as the highly thought of Thomas Soar levelled the scores with 30 minutes on the clock. Four minutes later Whitley retook the lead when Harry Harley lit the lamp and before the end of the 2nd session of play Warriors held a 3-1 lead as youngster Callum Queenan also got on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Whitley continued to impress and Warriors increased their advantage just 21 seconds into the final stanza when captain Jamie Tinsley fired home after being set up nicely by the lively Callum Queenan and then defenceman Daniel Pye made it 5-1 shortly afterwards. The home side were still creating offensive opportunities of their own though and Phil Knight pulled a goal back for the Barons with 47 minutes of the game played.
Callum Queenan grabbed his 2nd goal of the contest late on when the teenage winger fired home an unassisted marker for Warriors which saw the game end 6-2 in favour of the Tynesiders. In the later stages of the game a number of fighting penalties were called by the officials, one of the altercations saw Barons veteran Perry Doyle and Warriors Canadian import Andre Payette drop the gloves as the 2 experienced players went toe to toe.
Warriors have a double header of games next weekend as Whitley face a trip to Telford next Saturday before a home encounter against the Solihull Barons at Hillheads next Sunday on home ice at Hillheads (face off 5pm) in what should be a superb game of hockey between 2 entertaining sides who served up a match that was full of goals and incident in their last meeting with one another.
Whitley will go into the contest with a large squad to choose from as player/coach David Longstaff looks to continue Warriors exceptional start to the campaign. Doors will open at 4.30pm with Tickets priced at £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for juniors while a family ticket can be purchased for £24 which allows 2 adults and 2 children admission to the game.