BLACKBURN HAWKS 8-1 TELFORD TITANS 22/02/14

The Hawks had the opportunity to guarantee their place in the play-offs on Saturday evening, and took full advantage, with a competent display against a gutsy Telford outfit. A huge crowd of over 900 supporters descended upon the Arena and took their seats, as the referee dropped the puck, to start the game.

The first penalty of the evening came with only 8 seconds gone, when the visitor's Harrison received a 'delay of game' call, for depositing the puck over the boards. This was closely followed by co-incidental penalties against Blackburn's Canadian, Jon Adams, and Telford youngster, Gordon, for 'slashing' and 'cross-checking', respectively. However, the home side couldn't create any chances on goal. Once back at full-strength, the Titans launched their first meaningful attack of the match, but Stuart Ashton, who was deputising for the suspended Danny Brittle, produced a cool glove save, to settle his nerves. He was called into action again soon after, when a Telford forward found himself one-on-one, but the young net-minder closed off his options well, and made the save. With half of the period gone, the opening goal arrived, when Adams gratefully fired a rebound past Gospel in the Titans net. Two minutes later, and the score was doubled, when Matt Viney chased down a pass out of defence. The loose puck was gathered by Aaron Davies, and he passed back to Chris Arnone, who flashed a 'one-timer' past the keeper. With the Hawks predominantly on the front foot, it came as something of a shock when the visitors halved the deficit. A rare mistake in the Blackburn defence saw them lose possession in their own zone, and Harrison fired in off the crossbar. There was some conjecture as to whether the puck had crossed the line , but the officials eventually deemed that it had done so, before bouncing back into play. A couple of minor penalties, against Viney, and then Gordon, saw the period draw to a close with both teams enjoying time with a man-advantage, but the defences held firm.

The second period began with the Hawks on the power-play, and it was not long before Gospel was beaten for a third time. Jake Nurse surged down the left wing, and as he headed towards goal, unselfishly passed across the front of the net, to the waiting David Miekle, who made no mistake. The free-scoring forward, Adam Brittle, who has built up an almost 'telepathic' understanding with Adams, was the next to get his name on the scoresheet. The two combined to set Brittle free on the left, and he had time to pick his spot, right in the top right-hand corner of the net - giving the goalkeeper no chance. 4-1 soon became 5-1, when Blackburn scored on the power-play. Arnone pressurised a defenceman into 'coughing up' possession, and when he gave the puck to Danny Mackriel on the offensive blue-line, he had plenty of time to shoot beyond the unsighted keeper. The Telford goalie was working 'overtime', to keep his team in the tie, and produced an unbelievable save with his stick, whilst prone on the floor, to deny Adams.

The final 20 minutes began with both sides upping the physical aspects of their game - big hits coming from each team. On 47 minutes, Viney turned goal-provider once again, when he battled down the left of the offensive zone, before beating two defenders, and picking out Tom King, who coolly lifted a first-time shot past Gospel. A minute later, and the demoralised netminder was retrieving the puck from his net once more, when Jared Owen fired home from in-close, after a good passing move involving Ivo Dimitrijevs, Davies and Brittle. The final goal of the game came with only 8 minutes remaining, when Owen found Adams on the right, and when the Canadian cut inside, he only had one thing on his mind. He wound-up, and unleashed a ferocious slapshot past the flailing glove of the keeper. With the game winding down, King took exception to some underhand play from Gordon, and with the youngster having repeatedly refused to take on-board several warnings from both the opposition, and the officials, he decided to inflict his own form of justice. A bone-crunching check into the boards saw the powerful Hawk ejected from the game - leaving behind a crumpled heap, as Gordon reeled from the impact. Indeed, it took him several minutes to recover, although he still looked in considerable distress as he was escorted from the ice. Ashton had the final say in the match, when he made a fine save from a deflected shot, and the hooter was greeted by a loud cheer from the crowd, who knew that 'post-season' hockey had been assured.

Stuart Ashton was awarded MVP, for a diligent display between the pipes.

 

 

Image courtesy of John Milton - www.togger.co.uk

BLACKBURN HAWKS 7-2 WHITLEY WARRIORS 09/02/14

With play-off spots yet to be secured, the two League points on offer were vital for both teams. A win for the Hawks would further consolidate their position behind Solway, whilst the visitors knew that a victory could close the gap on the leading pack. This was evident as both sides lined up, with Blackburn's Chris Arnone and Rick Hughes prepared to play, even though they were carrying injuries. Aaron Davies, Tom King, and Chris Butler, however, did not ice, against what was a full-strength Whitley outfit. As usual, a large crowd flocked to the Arena, for what promised to be an enthralling encounter. 

Any late-comers to the game may have missed the opening goal of the match, as the Hawks went ahead in the 1st minute. The silky stickwork of Adam Brittle saw him drive across the face of goal, then draw the Warriors netminder, Ritchie Lawson, out of his crease, before rounding him, and sliding the puck into an empty net. It was the perfect start for the home side, and settled the players as they looked to dominate their opponents. The Whitley goalkeeper knew he was in a game, as he kept out attempts from Dan Mackriel, David Miekle, and Jon Adams, but was powerless to stop the 'irrepressible', Jake Nurse getting on the scoresheet in the 9th minute. A pass out of defence saw Mackriel challenge for the puck on the offensive blue line, and with the defenceman's stick inexplicably snapping, he was able to find space on the right. He looked up, and picked out the fast-approaching Nurse, who's backhand finish proved too good for Lawson. It was far from one-way traffic, however, as the Warriors carved out plenty of chances of their own. A 'lofted' pass was mis-controlled by Rick Ravey, and allowed M.Good to race clear on the right, but the Hawks goalie, Danny 'Dangy' Brittle closed down his angles well, and the shot flew over the bar. With Reece Cairney-Witter sitting out a two-minute penalty, a scrambled 'powerplay' goal from in-close, by Harry Harley, saw Blackburn's lead halved, but this didn't seem to deter the Hawks, as they continued to pour forward. The closest they came was when Ollie Lomax saw an opportunity to push forward and test Lawson, but his long-range shot smacked the post. On 17 minutes, Lawson was beaten for the third time, as Nurse benefited from a pass from behind the net from Mackriel - seeming to scoop it over the flailing netminder. 

 

As with the first period, the second started with another early goal for Blackburn. Brittle was proving to be a real 'handful' for the visitors, and with the referee making a 'delayed' penalty call, he was able to score at the second attempt. Lawson was getting very little protection from his defence, and had to be in inspired form to deny the rampant Hawks forwards. On the half hour, Whitley took advantage of a defensive lapse when Craig Rogers was isolated in his own zone, and Adam Reynolds beat Dangy comfortably. This was as good as it got for the visitors, though, as within two minutes, they went three behind again, courtesy of a powerplay goal from Scott Robson. Culley was penalised for tripping Lomax, and a good passing move around the offensive zone created space for Robson. He shot towards goal, and although Lawson made a routine save, he released his arms, letting the puck drop down, and over the line. A couple of slashing penalties against either team saw a 4-on-4, but when Lomax drew a four minute penalty on Watson, for tripping and cross-checking, the home side sensed the opportunity to put the match well out of reach. Within seconds, a shot from the blue line was tipped beyond Lawson, but contentiously 'chalked-off' for high sticks. 

The final twenty minutes began with the Hawks still with a two-man advantage, and yet again they registered an early goal. Jared Owen gained possession on the right, and with plenty of time to select the right pass, found Brittle, who completed his 'hat-trick' with a wrist shot past the unsighted keeper. Frustration was clearly getting to the Warriors, as they continued to take minor penalties, allowing Blackburn to maintain a stronghold on the game. Arnone went on an exhilarating 'coast to coast' dribble, and shot towards the top corner. However, the netminder threw up a glove, producing a classy save for the cameras. With 5 minutes to go, Brittle rounded off the scoring when he drove past a static defender, and slid a pin-point shot into the bottom corner. With Whitley clearly a well beaten team, the Hawks took their foot off the gas, somewhat, and wound down the clock without too much concern.

Not surprisingly, the MVP went to Adam Brittle, for his 4-goal display.

 

Image courtesy of John Milton - www.togger.co.uk

BLACKBURN HAWKS 7-4 SHEFFIELD SPARTANS 02/02/14

There was a 'War of the Roses' clash at the Arena on Sunday evening, as the Hawks welcomed the Sheffield Spartans. With the visitors still harbouring thoughts of a top four finish, it promised to be an epic encounter. Ironically, there was a family get-together on the ice, as Stuart Brittle 'faced-off' against his two brothers, Adam and Danny.

The first period began with a nervy moment for Blackburn, when, after only 2 minutes, Will Barron broke through the defensive ranks, giving Craig Rogers no choice but to slash him, and take a penalty. However, the Spartans were unable to create any openings with their man-advantage. This was closely followed by a 'delay of game' penalty for each team, which resulted in a 4-on-4, although Stones, the visiting keeper, was the only one to be tested, when Adam 'Addy' Brittle latched onto a pass from Matt Viney with a ferocious one-timer. As the intensity began to increase, two big hits, by Reece Cairney-Witter and Ollie Lomax, had the crowd on their feet, and the Sheffield players flat-out on the ice. With the visiting players still recovering, Ivo Dimitrijevs was able to open the scoring, by shooting a pin-point effort through traffic. A couple of minutes later, and Lomax was heading for the showers, when he stepped into an altercation between Dimitrijevs and Weeks. He was clearly infuriated, to the point of being ejected from the game by the officials for two 'ten minute' penalties - incitement, and then misconduct. A holding call for the Spartans gave the Hawks a powerplay, but they were stunned by a short-handed goal from Barron. He collected a lobbed pass from Stuart Brittle, and had plenty of time to pick his spot, with a cool backhand finish. However, parity didn't last for long, as Arnone benefited from some good interplay from Addy and Aaron Davies, to smash a slapshot past the netminder, and restore the Hawks lead. With only a couple of seconds remaining in the period, Jake Nurse was the second Hawk to leave the game, when he was involved in the first fight of the evening. Blackburn's Rick Ravey and Jones had 'words' in the corner, but when the Spartan refused to accept an invitation to 'dance', Nurse challenged him, and wasn't taking "No" for an answer, earning him a lengthy penalty, and a 'game misconduct'. 

The second period began with Sheffield having a two-man advantage, and they made the most of it, by scoring two rapid-fire goals - both carbon copies of each other. Firstly Pyatt shot through a crowded goalmouth, and then Weeks did exactly the same, although his took the slightest of deflections from Parkinson's stick, to beat the Hawks' netminder. Eventually, the home side were able to return to 5 skaters, and they then set about getting a foothold back in the game. Ivo lead the way, with an intricate dribble around 3 defenders, but as he skated around the back of the net, his wrap-around attempt hit the side netting. Just after the halfway point in the match, the scores were tied once more, when Jon Adams gleefully tucked home the puck from close-in, after Stones failed to hold onto a Craig Rogers' wrist-shot. Thirty seconds later, and Davies was unlucky to see his goal wiped off, for having a 'man in the crease', but on 36 minutes, Blackburn went ahead for the third time. Adams worked himself some space behind the Sheffield net, and spotted Addy in front, who's precise shot into the bottom corner was just beyond the keeper. Within a minute, Davies did have reason to celebrate a goal of his own, finishing off a solo effort at the second attempt - lifting a shot high into the net, and sparking loud celebrations in the crowd. 

In the third period, an early 'hooking' penalty for the Spartans, resulted in goal number 6 for the home side. Scott Robson found Danny Mackriel out on the left, and as he cut inside, rifled a bullet shot past the goalkeeper, to virtually end the game as a contest. It was only a matter of time before Stuart Brittle had the chance to score against his brother, Danny, but when he did break away, the Blackburn netminder denied him with a sharp save. The watching crowd were quick to seize on this, and a 'tongue in cheek' chorus of "You'll never beat your brother!!" rained down from the stands. With the Hawks attacking almost at will, another goal was on the cards, but not before Arnone took out some of his frustrations on Weeks. The Sheffield player had been pushing his luck all evening, and with only 6 minutes remaining, the pair skated towards centre ice, for a 'discussion'. With both men sat in the penalty box, serving co-incidental penalties, Stuart Brittle did get the better of his brother, with a neat shot inside the near post, to give the visitors a glimmer of hope, but this was quickly extinguished by a goal from Robson, who ghosted-in to the front of the net, and slid a shot beyond the keeper. The 7-4 scoreline was a deserved win for Blackburn, but the real winners were the watching fans, who had enjoyed a fabulous game of end-to-end hockey - a ideal advertisement for the sport.

MVP went to Adam Brittle, for a dominant, hard-working display.