Netminder Tom Brown leaps into action. Photo by Charlie Mood.
Whitley Warriors’ 2025-26 campaign got underway at Billingham Stars on Saturday with a 7-4 defeat, but the scoreline perhaps didn’t reflect what was a strong performance from the away side.
Missing six main players from their line up meant an opportunity for others to stake their claim for regular ice time. New import Cameron Ware was one of four players making their Warriors debut along with youngsters Lucas Campion, Ollie Jardine and Jack Williams, while Ben Richards made a first appearance in over five years.
Whitley applied some early pressure following the opening face off with Ware going close when shooting over from a tight angle. That would be a sign of things to come with that was a virtuoso performance from the Ontario native. But the hosts soon responded and scored three times in the opening 4:28 to take control of the game.
Just 64 seconds were on the clock when a speculative shot from James Hellens caught Whitley goalie Josh Crane cold before former Warriors import Rolands Gritāns, who assisted on the opener, doubled the Stars’ advantage after he buried a fierce shot on the break, an effort powerful enough to pop the water bottle of the top of the net.
Two goals down with less than two minutes on the clock and things would soon get worse for the visitors. Two penalties were called on them little over a minute apart, meaning they had to kill off a 5-on-3 powerplay, and that proved to be a task too far, Hellens grabbing his second of the game when putting home Shaun Galloway’s assist.
Despite that difficult start, Whitley began to grow into the game. They had a powerplay of their own 10 minutes in, before ensuring the second half of the opening session was a lot more even. They were rewarded when Ethan Dunn fired home his first senior goal. And what a goal it was too, for him to get off the mark! Harry Harley picked out the youngster close to goal, before he was able to rifle home a well-executed shot high into the roof of the net. In doing so, Ethan became the fourth member of his family to score for the Warriors, following in the footsteps of his father Wayne and uncles Bryan and Richard.
Whitley ended the period in the ascendency and Ross Douglass very nearly grabbed another goal back in the final minute after forcing Stars goalie Jacob Hammond into a palm stinging save.
The second period began with a flurry of chances for both sides as the play went end-to-end. Josh Crane made a smart stop from Michael Elder before Adam Wood responded with a shot at the other end and Ethan Reid narrowly dragged his chance wide. But once again Warriors were rewarded when Ross Douglass made it a one goal game after he put home from Ware, the Canadian collecting his first point in the Maroon & Gold.
However, within 3 minutes, Billingham restored their two goal advantage, Gritāns grabbing his second of the game after waiting for Crane to commit and go down for the save, before intelligently steering his shot into a partially empty net.
Crane was called into action again soon after, making crucial stops either side of another Billingham powerplay, including a double save from Callum Wilkinson from point-blank range. But he was powerless to prevent Gritāns from completing his hat trick against his former side soon after when the Latvian shot home straight from a face off draw. Billingham really turned the screw towards the end of the period as they looked to add to their advantage.
Whitley started the third period strongly. Douglass forced another save from Hammond in the opening minute before they eventually found the breakthrough which made it a two goal game. Their sustained pressure paid off when a ferocious shot on the turn from Ware found the net for his first Warriors goal.
That soon became a one goal game when, on the penalty kill, Ware led a 2-on-1 rush for a shorthanded breakaway which he buried and suddenly the visitors felt they might just be able to take something from the game.
Whitley were playing aggressive on the forecheck and that had their hosts pinned back deep in their zone. All was going well until Lennon Thomas took exception to a hard but fair hit along the plexi by Jay Lucas on Tom Wakefield and the pair dropped the gloves. That put the Stars back on the powerplay and they duly converted with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game, Iain Brown scoring from Joe Dowdle.
Billingham saw the game out from there and even added an insurance marker inside the final 3 minutes when Gritāns added a fourth of the night after he dangled past the Whitley defence before firing low into the net.
What may have looked a comfortable win for the home side was anything but and with that surging comeback early in the third period the Warriors had plenty to be happy about heading into the return fixture at home the following day, not least the impressive debuts from Ware and Campion along with an excellent performance from Ethan Dunn.
Shots
Stars: 36
Warriors: 21
Penalty minutes
Stars: 13
Warriors: 17
Scorers
Stars: Gritāns 4+1, Hellens 1+1, Galloway 1+0, Brown 1+0, Moss 0+5, Preston 0+2, Sykes 0+1, J Dowdle 0+1, Dowd 0+1
Warriors: Ware 2+1, Douglass 1+1, Dunn 1+0, Campion 0+2, Harley 0+1, Betham 0+1, Lucas 0+1
Man of the Match
Stars: Rolands Gritāns
Warriors: Cameron Ware
Whitley returned to home ice on Sunday for the return pre-season fixture. They were able to welcome back Kyle Ross and Callum Queenan into the line up but were without Jamie Ord who left the game early on Saturday after taking a knock.
In a complete reverse from what happened the day before, it was Whitley who were fast out of the blocks and were in the lead inside the opening two minutes.
A huge slap shot from Ethan Dunn was too powerful for Stars goalie Mark Turnbull to hold onto. The rebound fell perfectly for Lucas Campion who arrived like a steam train to fire home the rebound for his first Warriors goal.
Thomas Brown, who was making his first Warriors appearance, was soon called into action denying Sam Dowd on a 1-on-1 opportunity. The home side were then given a chance to double their advantage after being awarded a powerplay.
Although they couldn’t find the net during the man advantage, they did score just seconds after the Stars returned to full strength, a seeing eye shot from Callum Queenan finding the top corner of the net after he shot through traffic to make it 2-0.
Whitley were looking to press home their early advantage and could have been three goals to the good when Cameron Ware, making his first home appearance following a memorable debut the night before, sent a rising shot goalwards and was only denied by Turnbull’s high glove save.
Billingham’s best chances fell to former Warriors import Rolands Gritans who forced Thomas Brown into two stops inside a minute. But soon after the home side went further ahead. The puck came through the low slot towards Matthew Betham who reacted quicker than the Billingham defence to tap home at the back door.
Whitley played some high octane hockey throughout the opening period and were good value for their 3 goal lead at the break.
However, after an even start to the second session, Billingham hit back with four unanswered goals in just 9 minutes to turn the game around. A speculative shot from range by Chris Sykes, went through traffic and found the net to get the visitors on the board before Iain Brown took advantage of a couple of fortunate bounces to make it a one goal game.
From the resulting face off, Gritāns was able to charge up the ice with Michael Elder forcing the puck home just 15 seconds later and just like that, the game was tied.
The comeback was complete with seven minutes left in the period. Billingham were on a powerplay but after the puck had clearly crossed the blue line and left the Warriors zone they were allowed to play on. The officials missed call for offside led to the Stars taking their first lead of the game. Callum Wilkinson stabbed home a rebound to make it 4-3 to Billingham.
Either side of that goal, Ware was still making his presence felt. He split the Billingham defence to drive at goal, only to be denied by another Turnbull save before having to deal with the dual threat of Sykes and Elder during a minor altercation.
Disappointed to be a goal down, Whitley came out for the third period with purpose, and there was a series of nice tape-to-tape passes as they looked for a way back into the game.
After killing off a bench minor penalty, Whitley were back on the attack. Ollie Jardine, who was making his senior home debut, cut in from the left wing boards before shooting towards goal and beating Turnbull on his five hole to draw the side back level. What a way to register his first senior goal!
The game was a lot more physical thereafter and Billingham used that to their advantage to regain the lead. Wilkinson bundled home from close range for his second, with what proved to be the game-winning goal.
With less than six minutes remaining, Callum Queenan had the best chance to level. But the puck came to him far too fast for him to be able to control, with the goal gaping.
Warriors continued to push for an equaliser right up until the final minute but Billingham were able to close out the game and make it a pre-season double over their local rivals.
However, Whitley can be pleased with their efforts over both pre-season games and in Cameron Ware they seem to have found a new fan favourite.
Shots
Warriors 34
Stars 45
Penalty minutes
Warriors 16
Stars 8
Scorers
Warriors: Matthew Betham 1+1, Callum Queenan 1+0, Lucas Campion 1+0, Ollie Jardine 1+0, Liam Smedley 0+2, Kyle Ross 0+1, Ethan Dunn 0+1, Ethan Reid 0+1
Stars: Callum Wilkinson 2+0, Michael Elder 1+1, Chris Sykes 1+0, Iain Brown 1+0, Darren Stattersfield 0+2, Joe Dowdle 0+1, Rolands Gritans 0+1, Tom Wakefield 0+1
Man of the Match
Warriors: Thomas Brown
Stars: Ben Greenhalgh
