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Post by humbucker on Nov 11, 2017 16:06:03 GMT
Hi Shorty. A good move for Sam Gospel he definitely needs some games under his belt and this move will certainly help him and his game. I believe an offer was made to the Lions at the very start of the season as it became obvious that Sam would need ice time and the local club had just made the move to NIHL Div 1 for the 2017/2018 season. Unfortunately I believe that the costs required to accommodate Sam could not be covered or justified given the Lions tight financial situation. The Lions had also signed Tom Hovell and James Hadfield for the new term as netminders. It would have also meant the Lions netminders sitting out too many games as Sam would have probably got the nod over the others for games. Of course Sam could have been recalled at anytime without sufficient notice which might have proved unsettling for the team as a whole. I hope he does well as the Pirates have had some pretty tight games of late some quite high scoring eg the 9-8 overtime loss at the Solihull Barons and an equally high scoring game but a win on that occasion against the Barons up at Hull just recently.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 11, 2017 22:23:33 GMT
Tonight's Results: Billingham Stars 4 Hull Pirates 6, Solway Sharks 2 Sheffield Steeldogs 3 Overtime win for Sheffield who remain 'top dogs' in the conference, pun intended. A short benched Lions headed to Whitley with what looked to be a real uphill task against the mid table Warriors. Against the run of play and outshot Tom Hovell frustrated the Warriors keeping out 56 of the 58 shots on his net. The Lions fired in 23 shots on the Warriors net but made three of them count to take the game 2-3. Looking at the line up for the game the odds were massively stacked against the Lions but they just got stuck in and took two very welcome points. Noted that Hamish Hall has returned to his home club and the extra body and experience is very welcome. Ondrej Pniok did not travel and the spare import (Norwegian student) had university commitments and missed the opportunity of getting his first ice time. Period Scores: 1-1/0-2/1-0. Scorers: Joseph Aston 2+1, Marc Levers 1+1, Joseph Gretton 0+2, Jakub Pniok 0+1. MOM Marc Levers. It looks like we won on penalties as well with Warriors 12 mins and Lions 39 mins. Solway Sharks are in Nottingham on Sunday with a face off at the earlier time of 6.00pm
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Post by humbucker on Nov 12, 2017 22:14:54 GMT
Tonight's results: Solihull Barons 5 Whitley Warriors 2, Blackburn Hawks 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 2 another overtime win for the dogs. Deeside Dragons 4 Billingham Stars 9. The stars finally get their second win of the season much to their relief I would think? Following on from their successful road trip to Whitley on Saturday it was expected that the Lions might make a decent showing tonight at home to the Solway Sharks, but it was not to be as the Lions slumped to an ignominious defeat 1-9. This is the worst defeat of the season with a middle period best forgotten as they allowed the Sharks free range which they accepted with relish banging in 6 goals to the Lions 1 pp effort from Connor Glossop. For nearly 18 mins of the first period the Lions kept out the Sharks who managed just the 1 goal but then came the collapse. In the final period the Lions kept the scoring to just the 2 goals against. I feel sure that the Lions dressing room might have been best avoided after this extremely poor team performance. I must admit the chances of pulling the Sharks teeth would have been a remote if not impossible ask of the team, but the Lions are better than what they showed tonight. Well that one should be consigned to history but lessons will hopefully have been learned otherwise there could be some painful times ahead. A two point weekend would have been all that the Lions would have wished for given the opposition but a loss of this magnitude sort of sours the team's achievement. Oh well, hopefully some better results to come.
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Shaggy
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Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 12, 2017 22:54:12 GMT
That second period killed off the game for the Lions... in fact, the first 3 minutes of the 2nd period - which saw 3 quick goals conceded - was probably what finished things off. Definitely a bad day at the office.
However, there are two important things to note.
Firstly, it was one period that did the real damage. The Lions held Solway scoreless for I think about 18 minutes of the first period, and then only conceded 2 goals in the third period. So they still kept things respectable for two-thirds of the game.
Secondly, before the season even started, lots of people wrote off the Lions completely - confidently predicting scorelines like tonight's every single game. Yet this is only the second 'bad' result in 13 games (the other being the painful 6-0 defeat by Sheffield Steeldogs). Two more wins than the predictions (which were 'zero') and most of the losses being a lot closer than expected.
Tonight was bad, no mistake... and there's work to do at team level, not least with the offence - more scoring is desperately needed. But it's far from all bad...
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Post by humbucker on Nov 13, 2017 9:45:47 GMT
I find myself, more or less in agreement with Shaggy's comments particularly relating to the first and third periods of the game but that mid point collapse put pay to any chance of a recovery. The doom sayers before and at the start seasons wrote off the Lions as a purely mid table Div 2 team but overall their showing has proved most if not all wrong. We are aware that the battle for the Lions will be, realistically, below mid point in the table given the opposing forces with budgets that the Lions could only dream about but may never achieve. Of course this financial situation does mean that the team do not have to scour the hockey player market place to fill the playing roster and recruit through the Nottingham Junior System. There are senior players, of course, that have come on board such as Marc Levers and the return of Connor Glossop, and Hamish Hall are welcomed, whilst not forgetting new additions Joe Aston, James Hadfield, Ruskin Hughes,and Jakub Pniok. On the night when a disappointed Lions team lick their wounds and move forward it was good to see the old stalwart Luke Thomas receive the MOM in a game he would probably want to forget. Setting aside the scores in a number of games as Shaggy says the team have got to up the goal tally to compete whilst the whole team have to close teams down. Easier said than done of course and of that there is no doubt. Plenty of games left to turn it around but a two point weekend is probably more than was expected, certainly by yours truly.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 17, 2017 17:10:24 GMT
Weekend Games: Saturday: Telford Tigers v Deeside Dragons, Solway Sharks v Hull Pirates. The Tigers have not had a conference game since 4th November when they lost to the Sheffield Steeldogs 3-2. They re-comence their conference challenge having dropped from top spot to third and take on Deeside Dragons who are presently languishing in last place. Should be a home win for the Tigers but hopefully the Dragons make them earn the points. Sharks v Pirates could be a tighter affair with the advantage being with the second place Solway team by virtue of home advantage.
Sunday: Hull Pirates v Deeside Dragons, Sheffield Steeldogs v Whitley Warriors, Solihull Barons v Blackburn Hawks, Nottingham Lions v Telford Tigers. After their trip to Solway Hull have home advantage as they meet Deeside Dragons who will be playing their second game on the road against ex EPL teams. Steeldogs v Whitley could swing either way the dogs having won their past two games with tight finishes and in overtime. The Warriors come off a pointless weekend having lost by the odd goal to the Lions at home and a 5-2 loss on the road to the Solihull Barons so will be wanting to get back to winning ways. Solihull Barons entertain Blackburn with the Hawks probably still reeling from their last weekend's 1-2 overtime loss to the Steeldogs and a 1-2 loss in regulation time to the Barons a couple of week's ago. The Barons have the upper hand I would think? The Lions need to get themselves settled and focused in their game against the Telford Tigers following their, out of character, performance last time out against the Solway Sarks. No easy games and Telford are in the ascendancy and will be battling to get back their top place in the conference as they look to taking the honours by scuttling the Steeldogs ambitions. Has to be Telford to lose this one in reality so it could be a damage limitation exercise for the home team, hopefully the Lions do better than that on Sunday.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 19, 2017 10:07:44 GMT
Saturday's Results: Solway Sharks 3 Hull Pirates 6, Telford Tigers 11 Deeside Dragons 1. Sam Gospel played his second game for the Pirates ending with 93.18% save rate helping the Hull team to a tremendous on the road win against the then second placed Sharks. Telford Tigers moved to second place in the conference with a comfortable home result against the Dragons. The Tigers will be looking to close the 3 point gap at the top of the conference as they chase the Sheffield Steeldogs. A positive result here in Nottingham is vital to closing the gap therefore the Lions will have to be on the top of their game for 60mins as less than that will play into the Tigers claws. Face off at the NIC 7.30pm.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 19, 2017 23:36:58 GMT
Tonight's Results: Sheffield Steeldogs 5 Whitley Warriors 2, Solihull Barons 6 Blackburn Hawks 2, Hull Pirates 20 Deeside Dragons 3.
The Lions game clearly demonstrated the gulf between the top of the conference and those just trying to make a game of it as best they can. Telford Tigers came with a determination to put this game to bed as quickly and as efficiently as possible with period scores as follows 0-2/0-4/0-3. Try as they might there was no holding the Tigers who put Tom Hovell under massive pressure in the Lions goal facing 65 quality shots, and that performance earned him a worthy MOM. The games come thick and fast but to date having faced the top teams the Lions have avoided double digit losses and that in itself is remarkable given the opposition they are facing week in and week out. A home win would be a real boost for the team and the supporters as the four points gained have been on the road. Deeside Dragons become the first team to concede 20 goals when they travelled short benched to take on the Hull Pirates. They remain the basement club at present with the Lions just two points to the good so all to play for to avoid that unenviable spot.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 25, 2017 13:02:39 GMT
Weekend Games: Whitley Warriors v Deeside Dragons, and Solway Sharks v Nottingham Lions. The Dragons and Lions at the tail end of the conference face a real battle as they scramble for the odd few points to avoid the certain relegation slot at the foot of the table. Given the recent results of both teams it would be hard to see either of them getting a positive result, but one does not give up. The Lions are travelling light as far as I am aware. Fourth and final meeting with the Sharks with them having already defeated the Lions on the three previous occasions.
Sunday: Hull Pirates v Sheffield Steeldogs, Telford Tigers v Whitley Warriors. Hull, Sheffield, and Telford are getting the results and hold the three top places in the Conference with the Steeldogs heading the table with the Tigers hot on their tail. The Pirates sit comfortably in third place.
The game of the weekend for the Deeside Dragons and the Nottingham Lions has to be their meeting at the Deeside rink. This will be another long journey for Lions but a crucial game for both teams. Although the Dragons suffered a massive loss last weekend it has to be noted that the team was short benched and missing a number of senior players including their import. Not sure how many of the Lions will be available for this one but I believe Adz Andrews should be back from his three game suspension. I am aware that Marc Levers took an injury last weekend during the Telford game along with Jakub Pniok who was also injured during the first period of the same game and missed the final two periods. Deeside although losing games they are scoring goals against some of the top teams so are showing that they do have some ablilty to get something out of their games apart from a win. They did beat the Solihull Barons very early in the season but nothing since. Both teams must be hopihg for that elusive positive result. No prediction with this one other than a real struggle for dominance.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 25, 2017 23:06:11 GMT
As expected the Dragons and the Lions lost their respective games with Deeside going down 11-2 to the Whitley Warriors and the Lions losing out 15-0 to the Solway Sharks. The Lions went North with a makeshift team that really stood no chance of a result other than a beating. A number of newish players had their first road trip and Myles Dallison had his first game in the net facing 82 shots. This game was more of a practice match with no penalties and virtually one way traffic for the home side. Worryingly the Lions were without both imports and Marc Levers who I presume is still injured. Should the Lions team travel to bottom club Deeside Dragons as short staffed as tonight this may just play into the home team's hands. Both teams require points with the Dragons more desperate to move from the last spot as both teams are aware that last place is certain relegation at the end of the season. Second last place gives that team a relegation play off opportunity with a chance to stay up. Enough games left to pull the season around but realistically anything above third last place will be a massive bonus, and is achievable. Not much rest for the Lions after their Scottish trip before they set off for Wales.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 26, 2017 18:10:11 GMT
The Lions set off to Deeside at lunchtime today. Before they went I managed to have a brief word with Matt Bradbury about last night's game and particularly about the number of players missing and the young goalie who stepped into the breach. Myles Dallison is an 18yr old who found himself stepping up for the first time in a senior game and acquitted himself very well as did the other youngsters. They were up against a seasoned team virtually at the top of their game and it obviously told given the scoreline. I had not realised just how many senior players were missing but in total it was nine. Marc Levers recovering from injury, Luke Smith,Joe Aston,Connor Glossop,and James Hadfield,unavailable. Adz Andrews was on his final game suspension,and Joe Humphries illness. Imports Ondrej and Jakub Pniok returned to the Czech Rep due to a family bereavement. The Lions will be short staffed again tonight.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 26, 2017 21:44:33 GMT
Tonight's Results: Telford Tigers 7 Whitley Warriors 0, Hull Pirates 6 Sheffield Steeldogs 4. Getting tight at the top with Steeldogs 1 point ahead of second place Tigers, and Pirates 2 points behind Tigers but with a game in hand.
The Lions have a blank weekend as they lost to Deeside Dragons 7-5. The return of Marc Levers, Adz Andrews, and Joe Aston helped settle the 13 player Lions team and they made a real showing keeping all three periods tight 2-2/2-1/3-2. A couple of S/H goals did not help in the game but overall I don't think I expected a positive result although I did hope the Lions might just nick it but the Dragons did the nicking on the night instead. Goal Scorers: Cameron Pywell 1+2, Joe Aston 1+1, Joe Gretton 1+1, Jake Fisher 1+0, Ruskin Hughes 1+0, Marc Levers 0+2, Adz Andrews 0+2, and Paul Stanley 0+1. Overall given the circumstances I think the Lions did the best they could and had they been at near full strength the chances of the win would have been greater by far.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 27, 2017 8:58:29 GMT
Follow up report Dragons v Lions: During the game in Deeside last night the physical side of the game took an unpleasant turn leading to the Lions being reduced to just eleven skaters as both Paul Stanley and Captain Elliot Perrin, both senior players, were injured and took no further part in the game. Eventually a Dragons player received a match penalty but only after some quite bad events in the game had happened. A positive from last night was that the younger players held out and took the game to the Dragons with Jake Fisher scoring his first goal at senior level.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 28, 2017 23:31:19 GMT
It's an important weekend coming up for the Nottingham Lions... two key games at home. On Saturday 2nd December, the Lions will be hosting the Solihull Barons in a very rare game in the NIC main arena. Later on that day, of course, the Panthers are hosting Them Up The M1... so the Lions game is relatively early, facing off at 12:30pm. So anyone who is up for making a day of it in Nottingham city centre - or lives close enough - will be more than welcome. Lions games against Solihull are never dull... there's a lot of history between the two teams, basically they just don't like each other very much! The Lions gave them a nasty surprise with an unexpected 4-5 away win earlier this season, then the Barons came back up here and got revenge in a 1-6 win. Ouch. But anything can happen with these two teams... Then on Sunday 3rd, the Lions are hosting the Deeside Dragons in their more usual surroundings of the Olympic Rink, face-off at the normal 7:30pm. As you can see from the posts above... this is probably going to be a bit of a fractious affair as well, the Lions are going to want payback! Deeside are with the Lions at the bottom of the division... but even with an injury-ravaged team and after a long trip up to Solway the night before (and a long trip to Deeside!) the Lions still managed to hold it to a 7-5 loss - not a bad margin under the circumstances. If the Lions can get back some players for the weekend, there is every chance of taking two very valuable points from Deeside. Ticket prices are <here> - note the lowest prices in British senior ice hockey, and Panthers ST holders getting in for just £3. The Lions need support... please come along and give them some backing.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 1, 2017 13:17:41 GMT
Saturday's Games: Hull Pirates v Billingham Stars, and Nottingham Lions v Solihull Barons. Hull sitting in third spot in the conference face Billingham a team who have yet to reach anywhere near the form of last season and sit uncomfortably just above the relegation zone. They do have a number of games in hand over their lower placed rivals for the potential wooden spoon but need to get something going and soon. Overall the Billingham team are really too good a package to be candidates for the drop and I for one feel certain that the Stars will make some progress over the coming weeks, but I do think it will not be this week given the Pirates present form. The Lions face their 'old pals' the Solihull Barons on the main arena at 12.30pm Saturday with the teams level at one win a piece but with the goal difference significantly with the Barons. A bit of a faltering start to the season for Solihull with losses against the unfancied teams in the conference, particularly Deeside and Nottingham. The Barons have since had a tremendous run of success having lost only one game, in overtime, in their last eight outings lifting them into fifth in the conference. Their last visit to Nottingham saw the Barons take home the points with a 1-6 scoreline, a relatively comfortable win on the night. Given recent shortages on the Lions bench of some important senior players of late it will be interesting to see the team Nottingham are able to field on Saturday. There have been a number of youngsters drafted in to cover shortfalls and they have performed well but their inexperience at this level both in hockey terms and physically has shown but the experience they have gained has to outweigh the shortfalls in the long term. I spoke with Matt Bradbury recently who told me that he looked at the age profile of one team in particular, and that showed an age average of around 34 years, and with little in the team's junior set up to cover. They also did not have a budget sufficient, at present, to pay for the experience that they require to maintain a competitive team into the future. The junior system in Nottingham, although not perfect, does provide a conveyor belt for young players to move to senior hockey and that is, for some clubs, the only way that they might survive into the future, plus of course a player's commitment and sufficiently deep pockets.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 2, 2017 22:00:15 GMT
Tonight's Results: Hull Pirates leap into second place in the conference with a 8-3 win over the Billingham Stars. Solihull Barons paid their second visit to Nottingham and comfortably pocketed the points with a 1-8 victory over the Lions. A game of two periods really with the Barons quickly out of the blocks scoring 5 unanswered goals in the first period. The middle period saw the Lions holding the Barons who failed to add to their score as Tom Hovell kicked away 18 shots. In the third the Barons found their scoring heads once again knocking in 3 goals but the shut out for the Barons nettie Daniel Brittle was broken by a last minute goal scored by Ben Wood in his first game back in a Lions uniform. Assists credited to Marc Levers and Ruskin Hughes. Not an unsurprising result given that the Barons are finding it a struggle to actually lose a game at the moment. I suppose all bubbles at sometime have to burst but not in Nottingham tonight. On the player front I gather that James Hadfield (netminder) is injured (knee) as is defenceman Luke Smith (fractured hand). Richard Slater (ex Barons) a forward who started really well when he made the move has hung up the skates and Connor Glossop has been released by the club. A greater number of young players are coming through and making their first showing in Lions uniform, always good to see.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 2, 2017 22:39:53 GMT
Sunday's Games: Whitley Warriors v Sheffield Steeldogs, Solihull Barons v Solway Sharks, Billingham Stars v Blackburn Hawks, and Nottingham Lions v Deeside Dragons. The Warriors would welcome a win having dipped in form of late but the 'dogs' have been on a roll and sit at the top of the conference. The Barons have a tougher job as they meet the Sharks but when they last met in Solway the Barons only lost the game 2-4. The Barons could certainly take this one. Billingham have yet another tough game as they meet the Hawks but the Stars have won a couple of cup games during this season but await a conference win over Blackburn.
The main game for the locals just has to be the one at the NIC when the Lions take on the Deeside Dragons in a crucial game for both teams. In their first meeting in Deeside last Sunday the Dragons took the points in a 7-5 game. Home advantage certainly told with a good crowd making their presence felt as they shouted on their team. Unusually for the Lions they scored a few and that must have been encouraging for the team. This game has the makings of a real scrap and the stripeys may have their work cut out to keep the lid on this one. For both teams they have to realise that winning the game from the penalty bench is a tough call so hopefully we have a physical game with maximum commitment from both teams. A win for either team puts a couple of points between them in the conference basement and all to play for to avoid certain relegation. As it stands one of these two teams is looking into the abyss unless a massive change in fortunes occurs. This could certainly be the one to watch for the neutrals but for both sets of supporters it could be a rather nerve racking experience. A hard one to predict but hope our boys take the points.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 4, 2017 0:10:24 GMT
Tonight's Results: Whitley Warriors 2 Sheffield Steeldogs 4, Solihull Barons 2 Solway Sharks 3, Billingham Stars 3 Blackburn Hawks 5. Whitley's woes continue as they lose to the all conquering Steeldogs and Solihull Barons solid run of results comes to an end as the Sharks bite. Billingham slip up in the Hawks back yard and head into the drop zone as the Lions win puts them one point ahead of the Stars. The Stars do have enough games in hand to pull their season around.
The Nottingham Lions finally win one on home ice as they take down the Dragons 8-1 to drop the Deesiders into the relegation slot, for now. Having lost by two goals to the Dragons at Deeside last Sunday in a frantic and sometimes ill tempered game the then short benched Lions were able to put matters to right as a much strengthened Lions bench faced the Welsh outfit tonight. It would certainly appear that the Lions kept their heads and the penalty tally low in a game that could have been explosive to say the least. Only one major penalty in the game and that went to a Dragons player during the second period. Period Scores: 2-0/1-0/5-1. Scorers: Ruskin Hughes 3+0, Marc Levers 2+2, Jake Fisher 2+1, Joseph Aston 1+3, Cameron Pywell 0+2, Ondrej Pniok 0+1, Luke Thomas 0+1, and Adz Andrews 0+1. Lions MOM Jakub Pniok. In goal tonight and giving Tom Hovell a well earned rest was the Lions legend Alan Levers who donned the uniform once again. I don't know how many times teams have turned out with two sets of brothers icing in the same game but the Lions did tonight with the Levers and the Pniok brothers playing.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 8, 2017 16:59:24 GMT
Weekend Games:Sunday: Whitley Warriors v Billingham Stars, Blackburn Hawks v Solihull Barons, Deeside Dragons v Sheffield Steeldogs, and Hull Pirates v Nottingham Lions. Billingham Stars will be looking to grab that elusive win at Hillheads home of the Warriors. The Whitley team have been having a lean time of it lately and will be desperate for two points to keep them in touch with the conference leading pack. The fifth place Solihull Barons will hope to put their last narrow loss to the Solway Sharks behind them as they take on the sixth place Blackburn Hawks. Deeside Dragons take on table topping Sheffield Steeldogs hoping to put the bite on the 'dogs'. This is one big ask for the Dragons who must go all out to achieve anything in a game that on form shouts a Sheffield win. I note that Chemsford Chieftains of the South 2 Wilkinson Conference have released Filip Supa, a player with a formidable points record when icing for the Dragons a season or so ago and that has stimulated a lot of interest in the Deesiders camp. He certainly is the type of player to rejuvinate the flagging fortunes of the Dragons, wait and see I suppose? The Lions, like the Dragons, have a massive task on their hands as they travel to meet the Hull Pirates having lost their first encounter here in Nottingham in September 3-5. It is the Lions first visit to Hull who are sitting nicely in second place in the conference and having strengthened since the two teams last met. The Pirates are on a seven game winning run in the conference so will be aiming to make that eight on Sunday. The chances of a win for the Lions have to be low realistically with any result other than a regulation loss on the cards. Games against the top five or six teams are always going to be a struggle with damage limitation being the order of the day. Points from any of the top teams will be welcomed in the Lions camp to avoid the definite drop zone at the season's end. The youngsters in the Lions team are really having their eyes opened to what is expected of them as their hockey careers develop, and that has to be a good thing for them to experience. There are no Saturday games.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 10, 2017 12:15:08 GMT
Cancellations due to adverse weather conditions: Deeside Dragons v Sheffield Steeldogs, and Hull Pirates v Nottingham Lions. No news on Whitley Warriors v Billingham Stars game as yet.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 10, 2017 21:26:44 GMT
Tonight's result: Whitley Warriors 7 Billingham Stars 3. Whitley remain in the top half of the conference whilst the Stars remain in the bottom three. There are only a couple points between the Lions, Stars, and Dragons with plenty of games left for all three to trade places before the end of the season. The Stars have already beaten the Dragons home and away with two more to play but have yet to meet the Lions.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 15, 2017 19:35:01 GMT
Weekend Games: Saturday: Billingham Stars v Hull Pirates, and Sheffield Steeldogs v Solihull Barons. On form alone top of the table Steeldogs should down the Barons. The Stars are desperate for points but second placed Pirates will take some stopping and form suggests that Billingham may struggle to cause the upset that they would like to inflict on their opponents. Sunday: Hull Pirates v Whitley Warriors, Solihull Barons v Billingham Stars, Deeside Dragons v Blackburn Hawks, and Telford Tigers v Nottingham Lions. The Warriors missed out the last time they met the Pirates losing at home in overtime. Since then Whitley hit a bit of a slump but came back with a 7-3 win last Sunday against Billingham. With home advantage the Pirates should win this one. The Barons return to home ice to take on the Billingham Stars in what might be a swing game with the Stars hopefully looking to grab a couple of points. The Barons will definitely have to turn up for this one. Deeside Dragons will be after a big couple of points to keep their hopes of staying up in Div 1 alive and just might have a shout in this one if they do not, yet again, perform what has become their undoing by racking up the penalties that lead to certain defeat. The Tigers on home ice will be looking to tear out the Lion heart with a big and decisive home win. They are seeking to get back to the top of the conference table and to be crowned champions as they were last season in the EPIHL. The Tigers need to unseat the Steeldogs to achieve their aim and goal difference just may come into play. At present the Stars, Dragons and Lions are the targets for big scores and with all of these three in particular it really is about damage limitation and trying to just make the top teams work for the spoils. The Lions continue to blood the young guys in games such as this and prepare them for the targeted games that can be won to achieve their aim to stay in the Moralee Conference and that is what it is all about for the team. To come as a fifth place Div 2 team into Div 1 it was all about survival this season and that is the goal. Anything else will be a welcome bonus.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 16, 2017 21:52:45 GMT
Tonight's results: Billingham Stars 2 Hull Pirates 7, Sheffield Steeldogs 8 Solihull Barons 2. No change at the top as the in form teams comfortably take the points.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 17, 2017 22:23:33 GMT
Tonight's Results: Hull Pirates 11 Whitley Warriors 0, Solihull Barons 7 Billingham Stars 4, Deeside Dragons 1 Blackburn Hawks 9. Well the Pirates did a real destruction job on the Warriors that may cause David Longstaff a sleepless night, or two. The Barons battled back and took the game to the Stars with a nice win. Billingham at least got a few and may feel that overall they could not have expected more at the Hobs Moat. Deeside missed out as the Hawks flew in to take down whatever fire was left in the Dragons.
The Lions with 14 skaters and Tom Hovell in the nets took on the vastly more experienced Telford Tigers who welcomed back into their ranks, after a significant suspension, Jon Weaver who certainly made his presence felt as a sustained assault was mounted on the Lions net. Tom faced 83 shots and succumbed 11 times in a game where Telford were after a cricket score on their rush to get back to the top of the conference. The Lions although struggling to dent the home team's defence did get a couple and that, at least, is more than the Lions scored against them the last time the two teams met. The first period saw the major damage done as the Tigers ran in 6 goals to the Lions 1. Although still being heavily outsot the Lions put up a more determined performance in the second period holding the Tigers to just 2 goals. In the third period with the pressure still on and with the Tigers ripping into the Lions they only managed 3 goals with the Lions getting their second of the game. The game ended 11-2. Scorers for the Lions: Cameron Pywell 1+1, Joe Humphries 1+0, Joe Gretton 0+1, Jakub Pniok 0+1. MOM Jakub Pniok. With all three basement clubs losing out in the points stakes Deeside Dragons remain in last place, Billingham Stars second last and the Lions are still one point ahead of the Stars.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 22, 2017 18:36:16 GMT
Moralee Conference Games: Saturday Only: Telford Tigers v Solihull Barons, Solway Sharks v Billingham Stars, and Blackburn Hawks v Nottingham Lions. Solihull have a real battle on their hands to stop the rampant Tigers from ploughing their furrow towards the top of the conference. The Stars have met the Sharks on four occasions this season, three times in the cup, and one in the conference. The Stars have lost on all four occasions and the fourth place Sharks are pushing for a higher placing in the conference. Solway Sharks should take this one if form is anything to go by. The way the game develops between the Hawks and the Lions will depend to a great extent on how many of the Lions declare themselves unavailable for this one. It maybe a game between a mid table home team wanting more and a team brimming with hopeful youngsters thin on experience. This one could prove to be yet another road trip with a team attempting to reduce the damage and with a massively overworked goalie! The chances of anything other than home win are remote but as is said, hope springs eternal, but is hope enough? Well last game before Christmas and a well earned break. Next game for the Lions is yet another away fixture against Billingham Stars on 6th January 2018.
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