A thrilling game of ice hockey saw Whitley Warriors pick up their first point of the season in an energetic and lively 3-3 draw at home to Telford Tigers on Sunday evening. A late strike from Harry Harley with less than 2 minutes remaining saw the team from Hillheads come back from a 3-1 deficit heading in to the final period to take a well earned share of the spoils.
Warriors hosted Telford on the back of a disappointing start to their NIHL Division One Moralee Conference campaign thus far, with the Hillheads outfit still looking to get their first point on the board. The previous weekend had seen David Longstaff’s men go down to a hard fought 4-2 home defeat to Solihull Barons shorn of a number of key players but were boosted this time out by the return of blue liners Joe Stamp and Harry Harley. Speedy winger Callum Watson was again missing for the maroon and gold, however, who were able to move Canadian import Andre Payette to an advanced left wing position.
A summer of change for the visitors from Telford had seen numerous alterations on and off the ice for the side who finished 6th last season. Player/coach Dan Mackriel returned to take the reins of the club with whom he had trained as a junior on the back of leading Blackburn Hawks to league and playoff success. Not content on taking Mackriel, the Tigers would raid Blackburn once more pulling off the magnificent capture of Adam and Daniel Brittle, two of the league’s outstanding players who like their player/coach decided to return to their hometown in Shropshire.
The game exploded into life with only 5 seconds on the clock when Payette for the Warriors and Owen Bennett of the Telford Tigers dropped the gloves early with their physical altercation earning both combatants 2 plus 2 penalties for roughing. Payette’s willingness to put his body on the line sparked the home side into action with some early intense fore checking and hits from a Warriors side looking to gain the upper hand.
The first real chance of note fell to Shaun Kippin after 3 minutes when player/coach Longstaff dropped the puck to Kippin in space in the slot only to see Brittle turn away the resulting shot. Despite having enjoyed the better of the opening 10 minutes Warriors would find themselves a goal behind with 12:00 on the clock, Karol Jets able to tip in beyond a helpless Lawson for 1-0 Tigers. Boosted by the unlikely goal Telford took a 2-0 lead following a swift counter from Whitley pressure, Lee Simister breaking clear to slot into the bottom corner. Undeterred the Warriors continued to look for a route back into the game on the power play and went into the interval only a goal behind when David Longstaff lifted a loose puck over the prone Brittle. Following in from a shot off the post by Dean Holland the Warriors 25 pounced for a power play marker at 18.59.
Into the second period and a familiar pattern was beginning to emerge; Warriors forcing their visitors back for spells with Telford looking to fast breakout plays to counter with menace. The Tigers game plan soon came together perfectly with the clock showing 22:14. With Jordan Barnes serving a 2 minute crossing check penalty Tigers were able to make the man advantage count when Adam Brittle broke up the left wing and fired a laser shot in to the top corner for 3-1 on the power play. The score line seemed somewhat harsh on a Warriors team who would continue to battle and create plenty pressure on Daniel Brittle without finding a way beyond Telford’s last line of defence. Controlling play from the blue line Harry Harley was becoming more of an influence on proceedings firing off shots from the point but to no avail with the 3-1 score line standing heading into the final period of an intriguing match up.
As Europe’s chart hit “Final Countdown” appropriately played out over the rink’s PA system the Warriors knew one last big push was required to take something from a game they had more than played their part in. Backed by a vocal home crowd the Warriors began again on the front foot applying increasing amounts of pressure onto Brittle.
Captain Dean Holland pulled one back to 3-2 just 3 minutes in to what would be a period dominated by the home side. Fed by DJ Good, Holland took aim and rifled home a powerful shot to give Warriors momentum timed at 43:00 in a play that also saw Joe Stamp pick up an assist.
Young forward Ben Richards was able to lose his man early and force a quick fire double attack on the Tigers net before a moment of quality from Harry Harley saw the returning D man pick up possession of a loose puck near his own blue line, skate between two opponents before deking beyond a third and pinging a wrist shot off the bar at 45 minutes.
Those in attendance must have feared lady luck was against their heroes and with time quickly running out Warriors coach Longstaff opted to call a time out and pull net minder Lawson for the extra skater. At the ensuing face off, Andre Payette was able to win the face off to the right of the Telford goal before the puck was worked across to the impressive Harry Harley who once more released a cannon slap shot that would this time fly into the net and earn the Warriors a much deserved point in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Man of the Match awards were bestowed upon Daniel Croft for Telford Tigers and Dean Holland for Whitley Warriors.
Warriors’ assistant coach Dave Holland gave his thoughts immediately after the game: –
“Tonight we’ve picked up a really good point; I think we’ve improved a lot over the last few weeks. We started off a bit on the wrong foot against Solway who we must remember are one the better teams in this league but week by week we’ve got better. For me to come back tonight from 3-1 down going into the final period and draw 3-3 is a great point and shows we’re going in the right direction.
“Having some of the lads back tonight gave us a bit more strength; we aren’t quite where we want to be yet but certainly third period we dominated. We were able to change the lines up a little bit tonight but going forward, there will be nights we have guys missing and ideally we could do with a couple of extra bodies. We’ve lost some important players over the summer in the likes of Jamie Tinsley and Callum Queenan and replaced with Uni lads who are working hard with the rest of the team.
“Our performance tonight was good and encouraging especially as we’ve not been able to train much this week because of the work being done on the ice. Joe Stamp has come straight back after 2 weeks off, the result is encouraging and a pleasing performance to show going forward we can improve.
“Looking to Billingham we should have Callum Watson to come back into the fold whilst Dean (Holland) is getting back to fitness still after his injuries last season. He’s started well, he’s happy with where he’s at right now and we look ahead with more promise for Billingham next weekend.”
Warriors are in NIHL North Cup action next Sunday, 2nd October 2016 at home to local rivals Billingham Stars, face off at the usual time of 5pm. We hope to see another bumper crowd along at Hillheads!
STATS
GOALS
Warriors – 3
Tigers – 3
POINTS
Warriors – Holland 1+2, Longstaff 1+0, Harley 1+0, Stamp 0+1, Payette 0+1, Good 0+1
Tigers – Jets 1+1, A. Brittle 1+1, Simister 1+0, Viney 0+1, Goodison 0+1
MAN OF THE MATCH
Warriors – 14 Dean Holland
Tigers – 27 Daniel Croft
PENALTY MINUTES
Warriors – 14
Tigers – 14
OFFICIALS
Referee – David Emmerson
Linesman – Steven Wardell
Linesman – Mark Bone