Shaun Kippin and Callum Queenan link up to cause trouble for Barons netminder Graham Laverick while Adam FInlinson makes his presence known in the corner. Photo by Charlie Mood.
Solihull Barons came to Whitley Bay winning the three previous matchups between the sides this season. As their charge for the title continued they were looking to sweep the Whitley Warriors. Coming into the game the Barons captain Niklas Ottosson had a league leading 85 points scoring 38 goals, including 4 short-handed, in 26 appearances. The Warriors knew they had to keep the big Swede quiet and they managed this with the captain not picking up a point in the game. A dominant display saw the Warriors avoid a season sweep in impressive and dominant fashion winning 6-2.
The game started with Warriors netminder Ryan Wardell weathering an early barrage of shots from the Barons. After back-to-back icings from the Barons the Warriors were starting to mount pressure with Grigors in particular firing shots on net. On the 6.39 mark of the first period Dean Holland received a two minute minor for tripping. The Warriors successfully killed the powerplay and showed a shorthanded threat with Adam Finlinson early on.
Once again the Warriors were on the penalty kill with 7.56 minutes remaining in the first. This time Jordan Barnes called for interference. In net, Wardell lost his stick and had to shut the Barons out whilst using a stick he had taken from a teammate before retrieving his own. The Barons continued the pressure and with traffic in front of the net Brandon Anderton opened the scoring for the visitors.
The Warriors responded immediately when Solihull captain Ottosson was called for tripping 46 seconds after the opening goal. On their first powerplay of the night, Adam Wood setup Harry Harley whose slapshot was deflected in by Kyle Ross.
After levelling the game the Warriors truly began to dominate. In the last two minutes of the period they were able to score twice, with goals 51 seconds apart. With the puck bouncing around, McDonald gave the puck to Barnes who fed it through nicely to Simpson. Simpson was able to cut in nicely and score a slapshot at the top of the red circle scoring 18.05 in the first. Solihull players were becoming more frustrated and Bailey Challans was called for interference at 18.39. In the resulting powerplay Kyle Ross scored his second powerplay goal of the first period with assists from Phil Edgar and Harry Harley. The Warriors closed the first period out on top 3-1.
1st period scoring
Whitley 0-1 Solihull – 14.03, PPG Brandon Anderton, A Dani Haid, Charlie Webb.
Whitley 1-1 Solihull – 15.34, PPG Kyle Ross, A Harry Harley, Adam Wood.
Whitley 2-1 Solihull – 18.05, G Garry Simpson, A Jordan Barnes, Matty McDonald
Whitley 3-1 Solihull – 18.56, PPG Kyle Ross, A Phil Edgar, Harry Harley
A frantic start to the second period saw the Barons back on the powerplay when Anthony Wetherell was called for a tripping less than two minutes into the period. However, this powerplay would only last for 4 seconds before assistant captain Alex Whyte was given 2 minutes for high sticking. The Warrior’s scored on the 4 on 4 after Phil Edgar set up Dean Holland nicely for him to slap one past Laverick 2.31 minutes into the second period. Barons could not handle the Warrior special teams but Laverick was able to stand tall and see through the rest of the 4 on 4.
Whitley maintained on top of the Barons and Gary Simpson displayed a strong forecheck which drew the ire of the assistant captain Richard Crowe who felt he was slashed. Crowe was called for interference 5.48 into the second period. Crowe followed his fellow leaders Whyte and Ottosson and it was his turn to see the Warriors score a powerplay goal from the box. Harry Harley picked up his third assist of the game, laying it up for Adam Wood to score a magnificent slapshot against Laverick. The slapshot Warriors players had been taking from the blue line was a threat the full game and the Barons penalty kill didn’t have any answers. The Warriors went 5-1 up just 6.18 minutes into the second.
It was now Simpson’s turn to head to the penalty box when he was called for hooking 8.59 minutes into the second. Maurice fanned on the puck which led to a fantastic breakaway opportunity for the Warriors spearheaded by McDonald who beat Laverick with the shot but hit the post. McDonald very close to scoring his first shorthanded goal of the season but instead the Barons picked up the puck and who else but that man Maurice scored a powerplay goal assisted by Webb and Anderton as they countered. Webb and Anderton were involved in both powerplay goals for the Barons, this one timed at 30.29 minutes. This left the score 5-2 to Warriors with half the game still to play and the momentum with the Barons.
Whitley would find themselves shorthanded again when captain Kippin received 2 minutes for tripping only to be joined by teammate Connor Lewis one second later when he received 2 minutes for a face-off violation. I think it’s fair to say everyone was confused by the call in the arena but Warriors’ special teams stood tall once again as they killed the 5 on 3 powerplay. A long 5 on 3 powerplay as the penalties were called at 32.30 and 32.31 minutes of the game. Notably on this penalty kill it looked like Whitley would be down to two skaters on the ice when McDonald blocked a shot and was slow to his feet and appeared to struggle putting any weight on his right leg. The one-legged McDonald bravely finished his shift and Barons failed to capitalise.
The second period really was end-to-end action and now it was the Warriors turn to mount pressure with Laverick freezing the puck from a Grigors shot. Whitley won the faceoff and Kyle Ross once again stepped up in Gretzky’s office showing excellent edgework and soft hands to take two Barons players out of the play holding up the puck. This display of skill really made this goal of the night for me with the secondary assist from Ross as he gave the puck to captain Kippin who set up Adam Finlinson who buried the puck in the back of the net. Whitley now led 6-2, 37.41 minutes into the game. Which was nearly increased to 7-2 immediately from the faceoff when the puck was passed to Ord who was wide open in front of goal but he was unable to get his shot away whiffing on the puck with 1.30 remaining in the second.
This was a hard fought battle in the second period with both sides using the body. Jordan Barnes was finishing the period strong when he received a 5 minute penalty for elbowing with 51 seconds left in the period. Matt Maurice was back in the thick of it for the Barons and had words with Barnes but Maurice didn’t want to drop the gloves, setting things up nicely for the final period.
2nd period scoring
Whitley 4 – 1 Solihull – 22.31, G Holland, A Edgar
Whitley 5 – 1 Solihull – 26.18, PPG Wood, A Harley
Whitley 5 – 2 Solihull – 30.29, PPG Maurice, A Webb, Anderton
Whitley 6 – 2 Solihull – 37.41, G Finlinson, A Kippin, Ross
The Warriors penalty kill came out on top. Instead the tempo of the game was slowed down with Whitley remaining in control. Just after the halfway point of the period, the crowd got the moment they had been hoping for since the elbowing penalty. Billy Crofts decided to step up to Jordan Barnes and after a few punches were exchanged Barnes got the takedown to the delight of the Whitley faithful. The Barons attempted a late resurgence but the Warriors held their own and Wardell never looked concerned.
Final score
Whitley 6 – 2 Solihull
Man of the Match
Solihull – Niklas Ottosson
Whitley – Kyle Ross