REPORT: MATCH WEEK 14
BILLINGHAM STARS bounced back to winning ways in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 with a dominant 9-4 victory over Solihull Barons at the Forum on Sunday.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Still not at full strength and with Callum Wilkinson an additional scratch due to illness, the Stars were at least able to add Joe Walls back into the squad to face a Solihull side missing Phil Mulcahy through injury. The Barons were looking to continue their recent good form and caught everyone by surprise from the opening face off when the ever-dangerous Niklas Ottosson found a way past Billingham netminder Jacob Hammond via multiple deflections to put the visitors on the board within eight seconds. That was as good as it got for Solihull however, and the hosts were level before the two-minute mark when Michael Elder’s quick pass found Chris Sykes free at the back stick. The Stars were in front less than two minutes after that, Iain Brown bursting down the left wing and finding Sykes in an almost identical position to flick home. Sykes turned provider in the ninth minute, Elder with the tap-in as the Barons hit penalty trouble. Indiscipline costing the visitors dear, James Hellens blasted past Solihull netminder Ben Lee on the power play in the 17th minute to give the hosts a three-goal cushion at the break.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
The Barons tightened up in the middle session and tried to find a way back into the game. On 27 minutes they got a lifeline, Hammond making a great kick save but the rebound fell kindly to Dan Mulcahy to fire into an empty net. Their joy last less than two minutes, Shaun Galloway firing into the far corner after being teed up by Joe Walls.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
The advantage still three goals going into the final twenty, the onus was on Solihull to come forward and eventually they pulled one back through that man Ottosson in the 53rd minute. Again the Stars’ response was immediate, James Moss going past Lee’s glove from just inside the blue line a minute later. The Barons were not quite done, Matt Maurice finding the net from the right dot seconds into a 55th minute power play, but the home side were not about to let their dominance go unrewarded and three goals in the final four minutes through Lucas Dowdle, Brown and Elder put the gloss on a 9-4 win.
Man-of-the-Match for the Stars was Shaun Galloway.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Stars Stats:
Michael Elder 2+4; Chris Sykes 2+3; Iain Brown 1+4; James Moss 1+0; James Hellens 1+0; Shaun Galloway 1+0; Lucas Dowdle 1+0; Joe Walls 0+1; Rolands Gritāns 0+1
SOG: Jacob Hammond 41 (15 / 10 / 16)
Barons Stats:
Niklas Ottosson 2+2; Dan Mulcahy 1+2; Matt Maurice 1+0; Alex Whyte 0+2
SOG: Ben Lee 47 (18 / 14 / 15)
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Weekend Results:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
✈️ Hull Jets 2️⃣ - 4️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 4️⃣ - 1️⃣ Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️
💫 Billingham Stars 9️⃣ - 4️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️
🐾 Widnes Wild 1️⃣ - 4️⃣ Whitley Warriors 🏹
🦁 Nottingham Lions 2️⃣ - 3️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 5️⃣ - 7️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos