Image (C) Jo Loat
17th-18th December
By Anthony Russell
It was a frustrating weekend for the Bison as they fell to both Peterborough and the Raiders. It’s time now to take a look at the rest of the NIHL National Division.
Saturday
The league leading Leeds Knights were heavy favourites against the Bees even with a depleted roster. Cole Shudra made it 1-0 early on and whilst Ryan Webb tied the scores, a goal from Kieran Brown and a second from Shudra made it 3-1 at the first break. A wild second period initially saw the Bees draw level after two quick goals from Brendan Walkom but the Knights made it 5-3 thanks to Matt Haywood and Shudra’s hattrick goal. JJ Pitchley and Webb’s second tied the game at 5-5 but Zack Brooks and the second of the night for Brown made it 7-5 after 40 minutes. Alan Lack’s goal made it 7-6 with over 16 minutes to go but a 4th of the night from Shudra made it 8-6 and put the game and the Bees’ resistance to bed.
Whilst their form has lurched about, Swindon’s record against the top three had been pretty good. They had a chance to test that against the MK Lightning and both teams’ defences did the business in a scoreless first period. Liam Stewart broke the deadlock just 49 seconds into the second period on the powerplay but the Wildcats had an answer later in the period from Aaron Nell. Nell’s second of the night just 60 seconds into the final period put the hosts in the driving seat but it didn’t last long as Lewis Christie equalised for the visitors. With time running down and the overtime period looming, there was heartbreak for the hosts. Arguably the best British line in the league did the damage. Sean Norris to Bobby Chamberlain to Sam Talbot and the MK/Coventry two way star found the net with just 6 seconds left of the clock to make it 3-2 and steal the points for MK.
The newer teams in the league batted it out at Planet Ice Bristol as the Pitbulls took on the Seahawks. Finley Ulrick and Jay Warren traded goals in the first before the visitors pulled ahead in the second. Owen Bruton made it 2-1 before a second of the night from Ulrick made it 3-1 on the powerplay. The third was a to and fro battle between the sides. Nic Gorcic got the Pitbulls back within one with 1.41 to go but a late goal from Emil Svec, back in the Seahawks lineup after his suspension made ended the game at 4-2.
Dogs and cats love a good battle which is what we got in Sheffield as the Steeldogs hosted the Telford Tigers. Cam Brownley put the the hosts ahead but Jason Silverthorn and Danny Rose both found the net to have Telford in front after 20 minutes. However the Steeldogs are rarely outdone at home and brushed the Tigers aside. Jordan Buesa and Matt Bissonnette put the hosts back in front in the second period. In the third Buesa’s second made it 4-2 and Tim Smith’s shot found the empty net late on to seal the deal at 5-2.
Sunday
After stealing the points late against Swindon, the MK Lightning headed to Berkshire to take on the Bees and despite taking the lead through Liam Stewart were pegged back by Brendan Walkom’s goal. With the score at 1-1 at the end of the first, the Lightning needed to push on and did. Hallden Barnes-Garner and Rio Grinell-Parke both found the net before Walkom’s second of the night brought the Bees back to within one. Sam Russell’s strike made it 4-2 but Walkom’s hattrick goal made it 4-3 after 40 minutes and the Bees very much in the encounter. However the skill of the visitors told as Callum Field restored the two goal lead and with the extra attacker out for the Bees, Deivids Sarkanis fired in to the empty net to make it 6-3 and break the Bees’ resolve.
Ice Sheffield played host to the Puppy Bowl as Steeldogs and Pitbulls met. Alex Graham got Sheffield the lead on 58 seconds but a goal from Reece Kelly, fresh off his first point in the EIHL, tied the game at 1-1. Graham gave the hosts the lead back in the second which was doubled by Vlads Vulkanovs. However Bristol came back into the game and tied the scores; Tamas Elias and Caly Robertson scored either side of the second break to make it 3-3. However the points stayed in the north on this night as Graham’s hattrick goal and an empty net goal from Matt Bissonnette saw the game in 5-3 to Greg Wood’s side.
After winning in Basingstoke, the Peterborough Phantoms had a lengthy trip up to Hull to take on a Seahawks side going for back to back 4 point weekends. Natham Salem got the hosts on the board before Glenn Billing tied the scores at 1-1 ahead of the first buzzer. Hull took the lead back in the second as Owen Bruton converted Sam Towner’s pass and it was 3-1 on Salem’s second of the night as he converted on the powerplay. Three became 4-1 when Lee Pollitt potted a rebound to give the hosts a commanding lead. From there the Seahawks pushed on. Emil Svec made it 5-1 before two goals from Andrej Themar made it 7-1 and beyond over as a contest. Lukas Sladkovsky got one back for the Phantoms late in the game but 7-2 was the final.
Tigers vs Wildcats was the offering in Telford on Sunday and the Tigers were left looking more like Tiggers. Colby Tower, Tomas Malasinski and Aaron Nell all found the net in the first period to have Swindon 3-0 to the good after only 20 minutes. Matters were made worse for the hosts as goals from Sam Godfrey and Chris Jones made it 5-0 with only 21.45 gone on the clock. Russ Cowley only compounded the misery of former teammate and Telford coach Tom Watkins with Swindon’s 6th goal just before the second buzzer. The third saw a bit of a fightback as Finley Howells and Sam Watkins both found the net. The Tigers won the final period but the game went to the Wildcats 6-2 leaving the Wildcats having won 7 of the last 10 and the Tigers having lost 9 on the bounce.
As the last one of these ahead of the festive season, a very Merry Christmas and we’ll see you for our round ups in the new year.
Anthony Russell is the writer of Banners On The Wall (http://bannersonthewall.wordpress.com) which has covered the Bison and British hockey for the last 11 years. He hosts the BOTW What’s Current Stream, the NIHL’s live show for news and views, Wednesday night at 8pm at Twitter.com/BannersOTW
