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Post by humbucker on Nov 15, 2019 17:20:58 GMT
Games this weekend: NIHL 1 Conference Saturday 16.11.19 Solihull Barons v Solway Sharks Sutton Sting v Blackburn Hawks
Sunday 17.11.19 Whitley Warriors v Solihull Barons Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars Nottingham Lions v Solway Sharks (Face off 5.40pm)
NIHL Cup (Northern Group) Saturday 16.11.19 Dundee Comets IHC v Whitley Warriors
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Post by humbucker on Nov 16, 2019 18:16:50 GMT
Following on from the Lions v Wild game last Sunday I had a look at the Widnes website to get an idea of how they viewed the two games against Nottingham. As an aide memoir the results against the 2018/19 season's Laidler champions and play off champions were a Lions 2-3 win at Widnes and a Lions 6-5 home win after a penalty shoot out in the home game. The write ups appeared fair enough with the Widnes camp feeling that both of the games were definitely winnable by the Wild. Looking at the available bench strength of both teams the Widnes Wild would be considered stronger given their British depth of experience plus the addition of imports and with very few face masks in the squad. The Lions have a smattering of old boys but the vast majority of the team are drawn from the Junior Section of the club as, for one thing, player development and secondly limited finances meaning there are no pay packets at the end of each week for senior Brits or imports.The kids had to take up the slack led by their senior team mates. Realistically the Lions went into both of these games knowing they would be up against it but willing to listen, take on board the game plan, and implement that plan. They got the results and they were hard worked for and well deserved. Mike Clancy Head Coach of the Widnes Wild spoke of his three year plan to move his team into the NIHL 1 Moralee Conference so I had a look at their junior set up and noted that all of their teams are at the lower end of all lower leagues. I then began to wonder where his team is going to come from given, I would think,that it might take appreciably more than three years for a dribble of players of the right standard to compete at NIHL 2 never mind NIHL 1! It would appear to me that Mr Clancy will require a bucket load of readies because in three years he will need to buy a team to compete at NIHL 1. The Widnes Wild crowd are used to dominating at NIHL 2 and are very loyal to a winning team but as we know fans can be quite fickle therefore it will be very interesting to see how they react if Mike Clancy gets it wrong and finds his team languishing at the lower end of which ever conference the Wild end up competing in. I really think his three year plan is a'wild'guess at the very least with lashings of hope thrown in for good measure . Notice the pun?
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Post by humbucker on Nov 17, 2019 23:00:01 GMT
Weekend Results; Saturday Conference Solihull Barons 4 Solway Sharks 1 Sutton Sting 6 Blackburn Hawks 5
Sunday Conference Whitley Warriors 7 Solihull Barons 0 Blackburn Hawks 6 Billingham Stars 2 Nottingham Lions 2 Solway Sharks 11
NIHL Cup (Northern Group) Saturday Dundee Comets IHC 3 Whitley Warriors 7
Tonight the Lions welcomed an old friend Martin Grubb (Head Coach)and his Solway Sharks team to Nottingham. Martin who is also a GB Coach heads up a very professional organisation in the Sharks and are used to winning but came to grief on Saturday as they fell to the Solihull Barons. So the Sharks came to Nottingham determined to alleviate their frustrations by inflicting an emphatic win over the Lions. A 2-11 win certainly appears emphatic but may have flattered the Sharks rather but having massively outshot the Lions it was a strong result for the Scottish outfit. I believe it might prove useful if a two way process could occur between the Panthers and the Lions as their are a couple of young Brits that would benefit from more ice time, but I suppose the players themselves might consider that a backward step and might resist that move as a poor option, which, if that is the case, is a loss for them in my opinion. The live stream went international as Martin Grubb's brother, Colin watched the game from his home in Texas. Colin is a goalie coach over there and runs a school for up and coming netminders, as well as a proper job to meet the bills. Period Scores: 1-2/1-5/0-4 Tom Hovell in goal for two periods with Joshua Crane taking over for the last period. Scorers: Bailey Martin Challans 1+1, Owen Edward Davis 1+0, Jordan Wright 0+1, Jack Mattew Crowston 0+1.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 22, 2019 20:57:16 GMT
Games this weekend NIHL Cup (Northern Group) 23.11.19 Billingham Stars v Murrayfield Racers Solway Sharks v Dundee Comets IHC
24.11.19 Dundee IHC v Solway Sharks Murrayfield Racers v Whitley Warriors
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 23.11.19 Sutton Sting v Solihull Barons
24.11.19 Widnes Wild v Blackburn Hawks
NIHL 1 Conference 24.11.19 Solihull Barons v Nottingham Lions
Given the results between these two to date the Lions will be looking to keep the score at a more acceptable level as the Barons have hit double figures in the NIHL Cup and Conference on their recent meetings. Last Sunday the Barons got their first real bloody nose this season when Whitley Warriors knocked in seven unanswered goals against them. The Barons will be out to restore their credibility with the home fans which translates as any team visiting the Hobs Moat coming under relentless pressure from the home team supported by a very wildly vociferous Solihull crowd. A possibly hard night on offer for our young squad but every game forms part of a sometimes hard but necessary learning curve for the Lions.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 24, 2019 14:08:55 GMT
Nottingham Lions Update The Lions travel to Solihull minus a few players due to commitments at under 20s but travel with a greater group of the younger guys who will be cutting their senor hockey teeth against the Barons. Both Lions netminders are unavailable tonight one due to work commitments and the other through injury. Hull Jets have agreed to loan netminder Dean Andrew Bowater for tonight's game. Young Luca Sheldon will be backing up.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 24, 2019 23:37:52 GMT
Weekend Results NIHL Cup (Northern Group) 23.1.19 Billingham Stars 6 Murrayfield Racers 5 Solway Sharks 13 Dundee Comets IHC 0
24.11.19 Dundee Comets IHC 1 Solway Sharks 13 Murrayfield Racers 7 Whitley Warriors 4
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 23.11.19 Sutton Sting 2 Solihull Barons 11
24.11.19 Widnes Wild 5 Blackburn Hawks 6 (O/T Win)
NIHL Conference 24.11.19 Solihull Barons 13 Nottingham Lions 1
The Barons coming off a 2-11 thrashing of the Sutton Sting last night gave the Lions a hard night at the Hobs Moat tonight. Period Scores: 3-0/5-0/5-1 both netminders used with Dean Bowater from the NIHL 2 Hull Jets playing up at NIHL 1 for the Lions had a real taste of of a game at a higher level, whilst young Luca Sheldon also had 27mins in the nets to see out the game. Thomas Palmer broke the Barons shut out with assists from Jack Crowston and Michael Berehowskyj. Tonight it was great to see Nottingham having such depth at junior level that the club was able to put out an u20s team as well as a number of the Lions who are also eligible to play at junior level turning out to play for the senior team.
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Post by humbucker on Nov 29, 2019 21:04:28 GMT
Games this weekend: NIHL Conference 01.12.19 Solihull Barons v Blackburn Hawks Billingham Stars v Sutton Sting Nottingham Lions v Whitley Warriors
David Longstaff's Warriors pay their second and final visit of the season to Nottingham with the Lions yet to score a single goal against a strong Whitley team. The Lions did beat Whitley away from home a couple of seasons ago but have drawn a blank since that one high point. The major problem has been the low number of shots on the Warriors goal in the two meetings to date so definitely an improvement will be sought to break through the Whitley defence this Sunday. An early 5.40 pm face off in this one so bring the kids along.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 1, 2019 22:58:03 GMT
Weekend Results NIHL Conference Solihull Barons 9 Blackburn Hawks 2 Billingham Stars 5 Sutton Sting 8
The Lions although missing some of the up and coming players to their junior club team they put in a good performance in the first period and just about held on in the second. The third period will be one they will want to have serious thoughts about as the team totally lost touch and were duly punished by a well drilled Warriors. Lose focus and the advantage will be grabbed by the well seasoned players that the young Lions will face week on week, a tough lesson to be learned. Lets look at the positives. The Lions broke their duck against this team collecting a couple of goals in a 2-3 first period loss. Jack Matthew Crowston and Cameron Pywell shared the spoils both collecting stats of 1+1. In the second there were 3 unanswered goals against the Lions but they were still very much in the game at that point. The third was where the youngsters well and truly came unstuck leaving the whole team something to reflect upon following this 2-13 result. As was said earlier some positives but also some real howlers mainly in the last 20 mins so plenty of work to be done in the future training sessions.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 7, 2019 0:29:47 GMT
Games this weekend NIHL Conference 07.12.19 Solway Sharks v Sutton Sting
08.12.19 Whitley Warriors v Solihull Barons Billingham Stars v Solway Sharks
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 08.12.19 Blackburn Hawks v Nottingham Lions
The Lions will be looking to recover from the last home game against the Warriors where they lost focus and suffered as stepping off the gas allowed this more experienced team to punish them severely. Ice hockey requires three periods of effort and a high level of concentration and eventually the results will come. There is some real quality in this young team with the potential to put some real pressure on the big boys in this conference. On the road this Sunday up at Blackburn, in a cup game, in which the Lions are provided with the opportunity to play a full three period game with hopefully a tighter result for the guys, win or lose. My hope is the former, of course.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 9, 2019 0:05:55 GMT
Weekend Results NIHL Conference 07.12.19 Solway Sharks 9 Sutton Sting 3
NIHL Conference 08.12.19 Whitley Warrors 4 Solihull Barons 2 Billingham Stars 4 Solway Sharks 5
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 08.12.19 Blackburn Hawks v Nottingham Lions The Lions travelled to Blackburn very short benched tonight and faced a Hawks icing a full line up and entered a battle zone with an impressive penalty total. There probably was no reason for the Hawks to turn what should have been a relatively easy night at the office into a war zone but that was almost the outcome tonight. Blackburn racked up 68 mins in penalties whilst the Lions picked up 38 mins. The Lions were totally dominated with an eventual scoreline that reflected what the youngsters were up against going down to the Hawks 11-0. The Hawks spent the majority of the game on the offensive with their defence having a quiet night as the Lions barely collected a handful of shots on the Blackburn goal in this game.
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EMB
Randall Weber
Posts: 4,045
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Post by EMB on Dec 9, 2019 10:28:32 GMT
Weekend Results NIHL Conference 07.12.19 Solway Sharks 9 Sutton Sting 3 NIHL Conference 08.12.19 Whitley Warrors 4 Solihull Barons 2 Billingham Stars 4 Solway Sharks 5 NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 08.12.19 Blackburn Hawks v Nottingham Lions The Lions travelled to Blackburn very short benched tonight and faced a Hawks icing a full line up and entered a battle zone with an impressive penalty total. There probably was no reason for the Hawks to turn what should have been a relatively easy night at the office into a war zone but that was almost the outcome tonight. Blackburn racked up 68 mins in penalties whilst the Lions picked up 38 mins. The Lions were totally dominated with an eventual scoreline that reflected what the youngsters were up against going down to the Hawks 11-0. The Hawks spent the majority of the game on the offensive with their defence having a quiet night as the Lions barely collected a handful of shots on the Blackburn goal in this game. Is that a short bench through injury or just finances? I follow you roundup each week to see how this young team are progressing. Thanks
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Post by humbucker on Dec 9, 2019 20:35:09 GMT
Hi EMB The Lions bench strength will vary from week to week due to player commitments to other teams within the junior system. The Nottingham club is performing very well at virtually all levels and particularly at u18 and u20, that being the pool of players that the Lions draw from week to week. Some of these players have, on occasions, played as many as three games over a weekend for their respective junior teams and the Lions. Finance will always be an issue for the team and as we lose players at the top end more and more are coming through from the juniors. The loss of senior players, and the Lions have lost many, does not help against some quite powerful experienced opposition as those wise old heads within the team do steady the ship somewhat. Retention of players also proves to be an issue as likely targets are on display and word does get around when that potential really starts to show. The interest in development needs to be increased for there to be any seed change in the Lions fortunes but, of course, there has to be an element of financial clout for that to occur. Just two or three players on a payroll with it written in to aid development might help but might certainly discourage those guys who have stuck around for season after season putting themselves out there for the team. Solutions for Accounting have proved quite a life saver with their sponsorship and that is most certainly appreciated.This Lions team, due to circumstances,will change from game to game so working systems can prove challenging, a headache, and exhausting for the coaching team who would crave regular lines to work with each week. The Lions are up against teams with fairly fixed lines and that does create a massive advantage that will always prove difficult to overcome. I think I have rambled on for possibly to long on this subject but hopefully you begin to grasp the problems that occur on a very regular basis. One thing is certain the Lions will still turn up for games whatever the odds and whatever the bench strength.
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EMB
Randall Weber
Posts: 4,045
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Post by EMB on Dec 9, 2019 22:21:59 GMT
Thank you , very insightful,
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Post by humbucker on Dec 10, 2019 17:03:39 GMT
No EMB thank you for your interest. A few more to rally the cause and we may have a viable proposition hockey wise, although in saying that we do have a very viable development set up here in Nottingham. As with most clubs, apart from the wealthier ones, Nottingham rely on volunteers as there is absolutely no payroll to call upon at this club. The Lions do also have the major whammy of a professional ice hockey team playing out of the same venue that obviously/naturally draws greater attention than those teams at the real grass roots. I will say one thing and that is you will not find a more committed group of players and club officials here at our local junior ice hockey club, and that's for sure.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 13, 2019 17:00:11 GMT
Games this weekend; NIHL Conference 14.12.19 Sutton Sting v Nottingham Lions Solway Sharks v Blackburn Hawks
NIHL Conference 15.12.19 Nottingham Lions v Billingham Stars
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) Blackburn Hawks v Sutton Sting Solihull Barons v Widnes Wild
The Lions travel to Sheffield to face the Sting on Saturday minus a number of players due to commitments to teams within the junior section of the club. On Sunday against the Stars the missing players are available for this encounter with a face off time of 5.40pm. Yet another chance for an earlier night for the family to watch some ice hockey. I cannot guarantee good seats being available but certainly a cheap night of action at the NIC is guaranteed.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 15, 2019 22:46:10 GMT
Weekend Results: NIHL Conference 14.12.19 Sutton Sting 6 Nottingham Lions 1 Solway Sharks 12 Blackburn Hawks 2
NIHL Conference 15.12.19 Nottingham Lions 2 Billingham Stars 7
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 15.12.19 Blackburn Hawks 2 Sutton Sting 5 Solihull Barons 13 Widnes Wild 2
Saturday the Lions travelled to play Sutton Sting in Sheffield with only 13 skaters with Coach Bradbury recruiting players from the u18s 'B' team and to be honest they performed extremely well against a team with two imports in their ranks. Period Scores: 1-0/3-0/2-1. An opportunity was there to tie the third period with a penalty shot awarded but the Lions failed to get that all important goal. The only goal of the game for the Lions was scored by Cameron Pywell with assists from Harry Hopkins and Jack Matthew Crowston.
Sunday saw the visit of the Billingham Stars to Nottingham. The Lions managed to battle their way to a tied first period but missed out over the next two periods. Period Scores: 1-1/1-3/0-3. The Stars imports waded in with four of the seven goals. Goal Scorers: Harry Hopkins 2+0, Jack Matthew Crowston 0+2, and Cameron Pywell 0+2.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 20, 2019 21:27:37 GMT
Games this weekend: NIHL Conference 21.12.19 Solway Sharks v Billingham Stars
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 21.12.19 Sutton Sting v Widnes Wild
NIHL Conference 22.12.19 Solihull Barons v Sutton Sting Billingham Stars v Whitley Warriors
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 22.12.19 Nottingham Lions v Blackburn Hawks
Hopefully this game might be a much calmer affair than the last time these two met up in Blackburn. A very short benched Lions team travelled north to meet a full Hawks team who should have strolled this game without incident but instead we saw a game dominated by penalties. The Hawks took the game comfortably with no need for the rough and tumble that took place on that night. Be good to see a game of 100% commitment and skill with a measured and justifiable level of physical contact to add to the excitement. Face off timed for 7.25pm. Last game of 2019 so come down with the kids whilst they are on their Christmas hol's for a cheap night of ice hockey.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 22, 2019 23:29:58 GMT
Weekend Results: NIHL Conference 21.12.19 Solway Sharks 8 Billingham Stars 2
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) Sutton Sting 9 Widnes Wild 0
NIHL Conference 22.12.19 Solihull Barons 9 Sutton Sting 3 Billingham Stars 3 Whitley warriors 8
NIHL Cup (Midland Group) 22.12.19 Nottingham Lions 3 Blackburn Hawks 5
The Lions played out a much tighter game tonight against the Hawks with the second period winning the game for the visitors. The Lions really made the opposition fight for every point in a game that could have easily moved in either direction. The new breed of the young Nottingham developed players bagged the goals for the Lions and are certainly strengthening up as their first season at senior level moves forward. Period Scores: 0-1/2-4/1-0. Scorers: Bailey Martin Challans 1+0, Harry Hopkins 1+0, Michael Berehowskyj 1+0, Thomas Dermott 0+2, Thomas Palmer 0+1. Good to see the Lions managing to win the third period against more seasoned opposition and in this game there was an increase in shots on goal. Thankfully the penalty tally was on the low side compared to the time these two last met. Last game of 2019 so a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all and hopefully in 2020 we will see the support for the Lions on the up.
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Post by cooperm4n on Dec 22, 2019 23:40:49 GMT
I understood the last game of the year was 29 December against the Barons...
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Post by humbucker on Dec 23, 2019 9:51:41 GMT
cooperm4n You are absolutely right the Lions are at home to the Barons on the 29.12.19, face off 7.30pm although the Barons have the face off as 7.00pm on their site. From my angle I either got carried away with me anticipating a joyous Christmas or just messed up. I think that the latter is nearer the truth. Merry Christmas cooperm4n and thanks for the correction.
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Post by cooperm4n on Dec 25, 2019 0:56:27 GMT
Merry Christmas to you, too, sir...
Looks like we have the Barons again in the Cup in January...an away double fixture...might be worth a trip down the M42...
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Post by humbucker on Dec 26, 2019 16:05:46 GMT
Absolutely spot on with the info re the Midland Cup semi final game on 19.01.20 v the Solihull Barons. I feel sure the usual warm welcome will be available for our lads down at the Hobs Moat. It's a good job someone keeps an eye on the Lions happenings as I sometimes struggle with a very short attention span so thanks for the heads up cooperm4n. The game will be a one off on away ice as ice time for what should be a Nottingham home leg is unavailable.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 28, 2019 12:24:06 GMT
Games this weekend: NIHL Conference 29.12.19 Whitley Warriors v Billingham Stars Nottingham Lions v Solihull Barons
The Barons arrive in Nottingham with an expectation to continue their dominance over the Lions as the home team have really struggled to put up the barriers against a team that applies constant pressure over the full 60 mins of the game. As part of the learning curve the youngsters have to really maintain the game plan which can be one of damage limitation when faced by such experienced opposition and take whatever chances that become available. I noted from the game against Blackburn Hawks, last week, that the Lions were missing a couple of players who could have reversed the score in that game. I really believe that the 3-5 scoreline flattered the Hawks on a night when a first win was definitely on the cards for the Lions. Facing the Barons may provide opportunities and hopefully, although not expecting to shoot the Barons down I really hope the Lions put up a good showing and put a few dents in Solihull's armour.
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Post by humbucker on Dec 29, 2019 23:22:53 GMT
Tonight's results:
Whitley Warriors 6 Billingham Stars 0 Nottingham Lions 2 Solihull Barons 10
The Barons expectations were fully met tonight as they took this game winning all three periods. Period Scores: 1-3/1-4/0-3. Scorers Lewis George Jones 1+0, Louie Andrew Newell 1+0, Tyler Poole 0+1, Bailey Martin Challans 0+1. Loss of concentration at critical times led to an inevitable scoreline handing the initiative to the Barons who gladly took full advantage. A couple of short handed goals did not help the situation along with a couple of power play goals. These are hard lessons to learn but the young guys being subjected to this level of pressure will take on board the importance of being focused throughout the game and by next season will have learned sufficiently to tighten up their game. The Barons are in third position in the conference behind Whitley Warriors and first placed Solway Sharks.
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Post by humbucker on Jan 3, 2020 16:49:10 GMT
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Games this weekend NIHL Conference 04.01.20 Sutton Sting v Billingham Stars Solway Sharks v Solihull Barons
NIHL Conference 05.01.20 Sutton Sting v Solway Sharks Whitley Warriors v Nottingham Lions
The Lions have the unenviable road trip up to Whitley's Hillheads Rink to meet David Longstaffs second placed team in the conference. Always a formidable task and to date no joy for the Nottingham guys against a strong outfit as the Warriors certainly are. I remember a number of years ago dreading the trips to Durham, Whitley, and Billingham but Whitley always stood out as one of the most intimidating trips on the hockey calendar. They certainly used to breed them both big and tough up in the north east with a firm belief in a 'taking no prisoners' attitude. That's how I remember it to be but, of course, times may have changed and the sight of the pigeons that used to fly across the ice periodically may have bit the dust also? Oh for the good old days, not!!! Just hope the guys dig in and grab a couple of goals and keep the score respectable.
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