Whitley Warriors travelled down to Ice Sheffield to take on the Sheffield Senators on Saturday afternoon. Warriors were missing a number of players due to injury however David Longstaff still had a strong roster at his disposal given the overall strength of Whitley squad.
Warriors teenage forward Callum Queenan who has been called up to the GB under 20 squad recently got Whitley off to a superb start as he found the back of the net just 2 minutes into the contest. Warriors created numerous openings in the 1st period of action however the talented Mark Hartley in Senators goal was able to turn away all of Whitley’s other efforts in the opening stanza of action.
The 2nd period of play saw Warriors continue to create chances as Whitley had 19 shots on the home side’s goal however Hartley continued to excel between the posts as he was able to prevent Warriors from adding to their 1st period strike. Senators Oliver Simms was ejected from the game on the 24th minute mark for a boarding offence by the referee.
Shortly into the final period of action Senators Jordan Martin was sent to the penalty box for a high sticking misdemeanour however Sheffield were able to net a shorthanded goal to tie the game up when Alex Harding fired past Warriors in form netminder Richie Lawson. The game was level for just over a minute though as Andre Payette lit the lamp with 44 minutes on the clock after some nice build up play from Callum Watson and Scott Cooper.
Seventy seconds later Warriors took a 3-1 lead when Callum Queenan grabbed his 2nd goal of the game with the lively Watson and DJ Good picking up the assists. Whitley were then able to grab 3 goals in the last 7 minutes of game through Payette, DJ Good and Kyle H Ross to claim an impressive 6-1 victory against a talented and Senators line up which has a great number of up and coming youngsters in their ranks.
Supporters are reminded Warriors are in action on home ice next Sunday when the Sheffield Spartans visit Tyneside for a NIHL North Division 1 match up. Tickets are priced at £8.50 for adults and £6.50 while a famiy ticket can be bought for £24 for what should be a highly entertaining game of hockey between 2 sides who will aiming to end the season in a play off place.