Nottingham Lions

[tigger]

It looks they have changed the fixture to Dec 27th 2009

[Nottingham Lions]

Yes I got confirmation late last night that the January game was an error, but didn't get chance to post here.

[tigger]

Being as the Lions have lost some key players ie, lacho,bully,joe and james who will replace them??
Any news on new players as the Lions website is not up to date for the coming season.

[Nottingham Lions]

We are still waiting for some registration forms to be returned, along with release forms.
As soon as the paperwork is completed then we will release the names of the new signings, alongside those that are returning.
All players have to return their forms by training this Thursday, so I hope to be able to release names over the weekend - but it's more likely to be Saturday or Sunday.

[Nottingham Lions]

Nottingham Lions welcome back some well-known faces for the 2009/2010 season.

The Lions, who won the inaugural ENIHL play-off championships at the Coventry Skydome in April are pleased to welcome back Marcus Maynard, Mark Corfield, Chris Colegate, Stewart Bliss, Dean Mills, Joe Wightman, Tom Larcombe, Ben Bliss and net minding duo Alan Levers & Richard Griffiths.

Stepping up to the Lions full-time from the Under-18's will be defenceman Joe Nicholls, and the Nottingham club will be continuing their policy of icing players from the Under-18 side when fixtures allow.

Further players to be announced once the relevant paperwork has been completed.

The Lions open their season with a trip to Blackburn Hawks on 6th September, and welcome Whitley Warriors to the NIC on Sunday 13th September – a game that is sure to be hard-hitting.

[lukef]

End 1: Blackburn Hawks 1 - 1 Nottingham Lions. Goal after 21 seconds for t'Hawks. Lions equalised on 10 through Josh Ward.

[lukef]

End 2: Blaburn Hawks 1-3 Nottingham Lions, thanks to Soar & Colgate (and the home goalie on goal 3).

[lukef]

RESULT:

Blackburn Hawks 2-3 Nottingham Lions

Drama in the final minute, as the Lions had an EN chance saved (by a defender, I guess), and then their own n/m Richard Griffiths withan excellet save with just 10seconds to go.

[panthers4ever]

well done lads

[Nottingham Lions]

That was a tough one. Lions were almost unrecognisable from the Championship-winning team of last season. With hiccups in registrations (3 players were released from their clubs and registered at the same time - but only 1 of those were cleared to play by yesterday) and players unavailable due to other committments we were left with only a couple of recognised defencemen!

Still take nothing away from the Hawks. They were better than last year - yes, new coach Mark Stokes will have a lot to do but I believe he's only been involved for a few weeks.
Their opener after just 21 seconds was a well taken shot after an error when the Lions failed to clear a loose puck. Both teams had good chances but Josh Ward equalised on 10 mins with a well-taken goal.
Lions were on top in the 2nd when Tom Soar got the go-ahead goal and the game winner came when Hawks' goalie Michie made a split-second decision to come way out of his crease to meet the puck and missed. This left Chris Colegate to score into a practically empty net and left poor Michie stranded.. I bet he wished the floor could have opened up and swallowed him! However he did pick himself up and made some excellent saves that no doubt kept the Hawks in the game.

Last period was pretty even, both goalies really kept the scores down, and Lions' Richard Griffiths made some brilliant saves - including 3 quick-fire saves in a row towards the end of the game. He couldn't be faulted for either goal.
A bit of drama in the last 2 mins, with 90 seconds to go Lions' Josh Ward picks up a penalty, then Hawks pull the goalie to go 6 on 4... Lions get control and skate up and one of the Hawks' D-Man saves on the line from one of the Lions players (not sure if it was Stewart or Ben Bliss as I couldn't see from where I was!)
Richard Griffiths then made the most important save of the game - with just 10 seconds left, Hawks were camped round the Lions' net - and the puck looked to have gone in.. The Hawks celebrated the equaliser but the ref had a quick word with Griffiths - who showed him the puck in his glove! Something did definately hit the top of the net but I was pretty sure it was the stick. Much protesting from the Hawks players but the game wound down and the Lions took the points.

Man of the Match went to Will Wheldon - playing his first Lions game. Also on their Lions' debuts were Callum Bowley (U-18), Nick Whyatt (from Nottingham but played Coventry ENL last season) and Dan Taylor (from Telford).

Next weekend sees us play our old friends from t'north - Whitley Warriors. We should be bolstered by new players as registrations are returned!

[Adam]

Just a quick summary please if you could. What players have you lost and what players have you got new? Cheers. Good win last night.

[Nottingham Lions]

Players not returning to the Lions:
James Neil, Joe Graham, Robert Lachowicz - Manchester EPL/Panthers (Although I don't believe Joe Graham is on a 2-way)
Sam Bullas - Swindon EPL/Panthers
Tom Norton - Panthers
Simon Harrison - Telford Titans ENL
Ben & Adam Wood, Ben Foster-Wilson - Sutton Sting ENL.
Scott Glover - Sheffield Spartans.

Think that's it for now.. Can't remember anyone else left off the list...

As for new players at the moment I can only confirm that Dan Taylor has joined the Lions from Telford. We are still waiting for confirmation of release for a couple of other players, plus I believe we may pickup a couple of players once Uni starts in a couple of weeks.

[Nottingham Lions]

Nottingham Lions take on the Whitley Warriors tomorrow night at the NIC.

If you're not heading to Newcastle with the Panthers then why not come and see the new-look Lions?

Last season's Play-off Quarter Final finished with Whitley clearing their bench and drawing masses of penalties on both sides.

Games against the two teams are usually good, close affairs and I don't think tomorrow will be any different. I can't promise another bench clearance though!

Olympic Rink
Face-offs 7:30pm
Adults £5
Students (with NUS card) £4
Kids £3

[Blades]

NOTTINGHAM LIONS 2 WHITLEY WARRIORS 3
The Whitley Warriors go top of the league the Nottingham lions drop to 4th

[Shaggy]

Final score from the Lions away at Telford...

Telford Titans 2 - 8 Nottingham Lions

A strong away performance from our lads, and apparently Telford were a bit on the naughty side... over 100 PIMs, including the netminder Brittle getting a Match penalty for butt-ending!

[Nottingham Lions]

A disciplined performance from the Lions - and it was clear that the Titans were only interested in one thing, it's a shame our Powerplay isn't better - if it was then the score would have been much, much higher as there were long periods of time where the Lions played 5-4.

"Highlights" of the game included Brittle's Match for Butt-ending - something that he'd been doing all night according to a couple of players.. The goalie that came in - Daniel Barlow - played really well considering he thought that he wouldn't get any ice time!
Owen Bennett got 2+2+Game for Leaving the Bench when there was a bit of a scuffle towards the end.. Titans' Jets and Lions' Whyatt went into the corner fairly and both ended up on the floor.. Titans players steamed in and there were a few scuffles before a couple of Titans went for Whyatt...

Telford did show flashes of brilliance - Hornak was outstanding but Jets didn't impress at all. However they need to watch the penalties - they're not going to get far getting Match and Game misconducts every game...!

There is a video here: www.shropshirestar.com/2009/09/21/titans-lose-three-as-tempers-fray/

I haven't seen it yet, but some posters on THF think the editing is done to make the Lions look the goons - but it was not like that at all...!!
Our guys were tripped, slashed, hooked etc all night. Checks were hard, high and often led with an elbow. Most people that watch the Lions will say that we rely on skill and not thuggery. Yes we have had some incidents in the past and have been punished for them. We currently have a player on a 2-game suspension from an incident in last weeks Lions vs. Warriors game.

Lions #11 is Nick Whyatt - former Telford Tiger. I gather there's some bad feeling between him & some of the Tigers/Titans players and that lead to the incident at the end. I thought the ref did the fairest thing possible with that incident - 2+2 for Whyatt for Cross-Checking & Holding. Titans' Weeks got a 10 min misconduct, and Bennett got 2+2+Game for leaving the bench.

Bennett already had a 10 earlier in the game, and Brittle got Match for Butt-Ending.

Titans had 16 minors, 2x10 mins, a Match and a Game Misconduct penalty for a total of 97 mins. Lions had 10 minors.

[carolle]

Certainly been cut to make the lions out as the bad boys!!!

[tigger]

all the goals are on the shropshire star website.

How bad is Telford's defensive marking.

[thepride]

here you go all the goals from the telford game also keep an eye out for telford's goalie, going where did that go!!! www.shropshirestar.com/2009/09/24/titans-bitten-by-lions/

[Shaggy]

Good video footage there from Telford... wish we could have something like that!

Lovely backhander from Robbo for the second goal... nicely done.

[Nottingham Lions]

For those not making the trip to Hull today for Stingrays vs. Panthers then the Lions are at home again tonight vs. Coventry ENL Blaze.

Blaze have Stephen Doyle in the lineup - and for those of us who go back a few years will remember him as a fiery goalie who takes no prisoners. Coventry will be looking to pickup after a 6-2 beating by Telford last weekend, while the Lions look to win on home ice for the first time this season,and build on our 8-1 win in Telford.

Olympic Rink
Face-offs 7:20pm
Adults £5
Students (with NUS card) £4
Kids £3

[Shaggy]

Final score:-

Nottingham Lions 5 - 3 Coventry ENL Blaze

Bit of a testy affair, didn't help that it wasn't controlled one bit by the ref. Lions were 5-1 up, and looked like they were going to walk it... then Coventry actually woke up in the 3rd and decided to make a game of it.

Still... 2 points is 2 points... and a home/away double against Trafford Metros next weekend. Should be interesting...

[Nottingham Lions]

Sunday sees the Lions at home against Trafford Metros - the 2nd leg of a weekend double-header.

Olympic Rink
Face-offs 7:20pm
Adults £5
Students (with NUS card) £4
Kids £3

[Shaggy]

1st leg (away) of the double-header weekend vs Trafford Metros:-

Trafford Metros 3 - 5 Nottingham Lions

Apparently the Lions were far from their best... but still managed to score 5 goals, including one only 30 seconds into the game, and chased the Trafford starting netminder off in just 7 minutes!

Goals by Adam Robinson, Joe Wightman (2) and Josh Ward (2).

[Shaggy]

2nd leg (home) of the double-header weekend vs Trafford Metros:-

Nottingham Lions 7 - 3 Trafford Metros


Well, this game had a bit of everything really...

Chris McEwen opened the scoring for Nottingham, then Trafford equalised... then we made it 2-1 and then they equalised (am I sensing a pattern here? )... we got to 3-2 and it seemed like it was going to stay that way... until the 3rd period when the Lions finally kicked up into another gear (I think they were off their feed or something for the first 2 periods) and started to dominate... Trafford started to lose the plot (4 men in the sin-bin at one point!) and that only made it easier.

Blaine Evans was the ref, and he was taking no prisoners. Tom Parker for the Lions wasn't wearing his visor properly so got a 10 minute penalty for that... expressed his displeasure and it was an early shower for Tom! And right near the end, Trafford's #44 was a naughty little boy and got a 2min Slashing, Match for Fighting, and a 5+Game for (and I quote!) "Resisting A Linesman In The Course Of His Duties"!! Never heard that one before - but if any ref is going to know the obscure ones, it's Evans...

Chris Colegate got MoM for a good all-round performance and a couple of goals - at least one of which was short-handed.
The light did actually go on for an 8th Lions goal, but I gather Evans waved it off for being kicked in. I'm told that was a fair call (didn't see it myself) - oh well...

A bit of a laugh was raised when I had the wotzits frightened out of me as I was peacefully doing the receipts at the Lions desk during the game, and WHAM! the puck comes over and does a Barnes Wallace on the desk right in front of me! ;D

Oh, and Comedy Moment Of The Match... the Lions trooping out to the ice for the start of the 2nd period, and Alan Levers & Nick Whyatt at the head of the queue deciding to have a belching contest as they passed the Lions desk...
"We are the Lions - hear us roar! UUUURRRRRPPPPP!!!!" ;D
(I suppose you had to be there... )

Still and all... a 4-point weekend, can't really ask for more than that, can you?