Nottingham Lions

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Sat 14/09
Hull Jets v Widnes Wild
Billingham Stars v Deeside Dragons

Sun 15/09
Deeside Dragons v Blackburn Hawks
Solihull Barons v Hull Jets
Widnes Wild v Billingham Stars
Whitley Warriors v Nottingham Lions

The second game on the road with a trip to the north east to meet the Warriors. Whitley Warriors are, season on season, one of the teams battling for honours therefore always a difficult game to gain points. The Lions have snatched a win against the Warriors but that was several seasons ago and the nearest our guys came to causing an upset was a 2-1 reversal. The result against the Dragons last Sunday and with a short bench does indicate an improvement in performance and a hope for a stronger showing over the season.

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NIHL 1 Results 14/09

Hull Jets 9 Widnes Wild 2
Billingham Stars 11 Deeside Dragons 1

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NIHL 1 Results 15/09

Deeside Dragons 1 Blackburn Hawks 8
Solihull Barons 1 Hull Jets 6
Widnes Wild 3 Billingham Stars 6
Whitley Warriors 4 Nottingham Lions 1

No stats for the Lions game as yet. The top three from last season, Billingham, Blackburn, and Whitley have certainly got off to a flying start to their season with Hull also staying well in touch with this top grouping.

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Stats from Whitley Warriors v Nottingham Lions 15/09

Managed to catch up with Matt Bradbury Lions Head Coach. The Lions travelled missing a number of key players four of whom are with GB roller hockey team and others just unavailable. The team had a bit of a slow start to the game with the Warriors very much in the ascendancy and this showed in the shots on the Lions net. As the game progressed so the Lions tightened up by reducing the shots on their net and increasing their own tally of shots on the Warriors. Luca Sheldon faced 24 shots in the first period which the Warriors took 2-0. In the second the shots on Luca were reduced to 15 with the Warriors taking the period 1-0 to give Warriors a 3 goal cushion going into the third period. In the third Luca faced a further 15 shots and the Lions conceded a further goal but with just 11 seconds in the game Ales Padalek scored the Lions only goal of the game with assists from Luke Birchnall and Theo Thomas. In past games the Lions have struggled against teams such as the Warriors and although losing their most recent road game the team were certainly not shamed. Final score: 4-1. Matt was very pleased with the team who really were not overawed by their opponents and managed to get under the skins of a number of their players and was particularly pleased with the effort from the youngsters who got stuck in and played their part.
Stats:
Goal scorers: Ales Padalek 1+0, Luke Birchnall 0+1, Theo Thomas 0+1
Period scores: 2-0/1-0/1- 1
SOG: 54-28 (24-7/15-10/15-11)
MOM: Luca Sheldon

[humbucker]

NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Saturday 21/09
Leeds Knights v Hull Jets
Sheffield Scimitars v Whitley Warriors
Blackburn Hawks v Nottingham Lions (Face off: 6.00pm)

Sunday 22/09
Hull Jets v Sheffield Scimitars
Leeds Knights v Blackburn Hawks
Solihull Barons v Billingham Stars
Widnes Wild v Deeside Dragons

The Lions hit the road for the third week this time to meet, once more, one of the tougher teams in the league the Blackburn Hawks. Last season the Hawks did add some silverware to the trophy cabinet and put in some top drawer performances against most of the teams in the NIHL 1. They have started their 24/25 season with a stunning performance at Deeside taking down the Dragons with the score line 1-8. They will be looking for more scalps and with a solid fan base behind them up at Blackburn they will be looking for the Hawks to do a demolition job on the Lions. I am not sure of the Lions bench strength for this game I am only too aware for the past two away games the Lions have been short benched but in saying that the guys put in two solid performances but unfortunately came up short on points. I have no doubts that whoever is available that this team will give all that is asked of them.

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NIHL 1 Results 21/09

Leeds Knights 0 Hull Jets 3
Sheffield Scimitars 3 Whitley Warriors 5
Blackburn Hawks 3 Nottingham Lions 5

The Lions took to the road with a full bench for the first time since this run of three away games commenced and the guys took the points. With the depth available and in front of a very vocal home crowd the Lions took the game to the Hawks but with both teams keeping the shots on goal fairly even and the period ending tied at 1-1. Into the second the Hawks increased the pressure on the Lions defence and made the breakthrough as they outshot their opponents 16-8 taking the second period 2-1 and heading into the third with a 3-2 lead. In the third although being outshot 12-7 the Lions made their shots count and headed into a 3-4 lead and as the clock ran down and with some stoic defence from the Lions the Hawks pulled their netminder. The Lions held their nerve as the Hawks went 6 on 5 for the last 1min23secs and with just 9 secs in the game up popped MOM 16 yr old Alex Rushby to complete his first hat trick in a senior game. Special mention for Isaac Ballinger who got the nod tonight and kicked out 35 of the 38 shots on net tonight. Congrats to the whole team who really put in a shift tonight.

Stats:
Goal scorers: Alex Rushby 3+1, Luke Birchnall 1+1, Ales Padalek 1+0, Harry Rushby 0+1
Period scores: 1-1/2-1/0-3 (1 eng)
SOG: 38-23 (10-8/16-8/12-7)
MOM: Alex Rushby

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NIHL 1 Results 22/09

Hull Jets 7 Sheffield Scimitars 4
Leeds Knights 2 Blackburn Hawks 9
Solihull Barons 8 Billingham Stars 3
Widnes Wild 2 Deeside Dragons 7

Following their shock loss to the Lions last night the Blackburn Hawks got back to winning ways tonight at Leeds.

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Saturday 28/09
Sheffield Scimitars v Nottingham Lions (Face Off 3.20pm)

Sunday 29/09
Billingham Stars v Sheffield Scimitars
Blackburn Hawks v Solihull Barons
Whitley Warriors v Hull Jets
Widnes Wild v Leeds Knights

Sheffield Scimitars have had a slow start to their season having played 4 games without a win but in their last two games against two of the top teams they have found goalscoring has improved pushing Warriors (3-5) and top team the Hull Jets, at Hull, (7-4). The Lions take the short journey up the M1 hoping to achieve their second victory over the Scimitars having beaten them at home in the first game of the season 6-1. The Lions must treat the Scimitars with some respect and not expect an easy win against an obviously improving Sheffield team. This game could prove tougher than expected and a full bench for only the second game this season would be a real bonus.

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NIHL 1 Results
Saturday 28/09

Sheffield Scimitars 1 Nottingham Lions 4

The Scimitars played some frustrating hockey by slowing the game down and relying on the odd break to achieve some goal scoring opportunities but unfortunately for the home team this tactic failed although they did stop the Lions claiming their first shut out of the season. The Lions camp were pleased with their second road trip win. I believe the Lions have three home games over the next couple of weeks including Blackburn Hawks who will be seeking revenge after their opening home game of the season in front of a large home crowd went badly wrong for them as the Lions took that game 3-5.

No game sheet therefore stats are limited unfortunately.
Period Scores: 0-2/0-0/1-2
Scorers: Ales Padalek 2, Wyatt Scott 1, Tyler Somerton 1

Both Wyatt Scott and Tyler Somerton scored their first goals of the season with hopefully more to come.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sunday 29/09

Billingham Stars 8 Sheffield Scimitars 2
Blackburn Hawks 5 Solihull Barons 3
Whitley Warriors 2 Hull Jets 3 O/T
Widnes Wild 2 Leeds Knights 7

[kievthegreat]

Good start for the Lions. Just looked and it took 24 games to win 3 games last year and this year they did it in just 5!

Is it the case that the team is stronger this year or the league is weaker?

Edited because it seems, at least on the stats page I used that the points system changed, so changed to number of wins.

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Saturday 05/10
Hull Jets v Billingham Stars
Leeds Knights v Widnes Wild
Sheffield Scimitars v Deeside Dragons
Nottingham Lions v Blackburn Hawks (This game is on the Arena ice face off 6.30pm)

Sunday 06/10
Billingham Stars v Solihull Barons
Deeside Dragons v Sheffield Scimitars
Whitley Warriors v Widnes Wild
Nottingham Lions v Hull Jets

As Kiev states the Lions have had a good start to their season not only winning three of their first five games with the two losses being on the road games and playing those games with a short bench. The Blackburn on the road win proved to be a real shock for the Hawks camp and Leeds Knights suffered as the Hawks travelled there the next night and beat them 9-2. The Hawks will come to Nottingham tomorrow intending to put matters right and the Lions will have to pull out all of the stops to achieve a result against a team intent on revenge for the 3-5 defeat they suffered the last time these two met. On Sunday top of the shop Hull Jets arrive to hopefully continue their excellent start to the season having played and won all six of their games including the win at Whitley Warriors in their last game.
It is a bit early in the season to be definitive about either the strength of the league or even the strength of the team but a few more games down the road might give us a better idea. I do think that the team that has certainly strengthened having entered the league last season is the Hull Jets with Blackburn Hawks also having added to their lineup this season. I think the top four will be as last season but with Hull very much in the mix.
A tough weekend ahead for the Lions but an opportunity by late Sunday night to give a better idea as to how this team matches up to last year's squad. As always with the Lions lots of new talent on the sidelines and a solid bunch of senior heads in this team to offer support.

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Following up what Kiev was wondering regarding whether or not the teams in the NIHL 1 had strengthened up for this season I did a bit of asking around and have some bits of information regarding some of the teams but nothing definitive and certainly no rumours The Whitley Warriors have retained many of last year’s squad but appear to have not strengthened significantly. Widnes Wild did take Tristan Grimshaw from the Lions but again no significant changes. Billingham Stars always a strong unit but as far as I am aware no major changes although they do not need too much tweaking. Deeside Dragons having had a rather mixed start to the season have brought back into the Dragons camp Matt Croyle from Sheffield to strengthen up the netminding. The Dragons have made a quite major signing picking up US import Jake Witkowski from National League side the Leeds Knights to strengthen the forward lineup. He might prove to be a real winner as in the National League he picked up 30 goals and 87 assists in 45 games definitely an upgrade at NIHL level. Hull Jets have really pushed the boat out by making some strong signings to bolster an already strong squad. They certainly dipped into the Sheffield Scimitars team snatching their top players and picking up their No 1 netminder the very well travelled and experienced Brandon Stones. The Lions picked up a number of promising young players along with those moving up from the Nottingham Junior Development Programme. The Lions also picked up a couple of well seasoned players such as Lee Kemp and Callum Worthington Evans and from Peterborough Phantoms Ales Padalek. Sheffield Scimitars are struggling somewhat having had a good number of their players including their two best netminders move on to other teams. The Scimitars do have a good development set up so will be recruiting from the resources there but as with clubs that rely on development from within and the shortage of readies to buy in experience does affect them as the more experienced players in the team move on. Leeds Knights NIHL1 are new to the league so unfortunately do not have much on them at the moment but they do look to be a forward thinking club and I believe we’ll run so they may certainly become a force to be reckoned with as they develop. Blackburn Hawks do not need to add too much to their squad as they have an already strong experienced squad plus a few from their development programme. The Hawks are well supported and able to move in the market if necessary. Solihull Barons appear to have kept most of last year’s squad with a few additions I am sure but nothing that as hit the headlines as far as I am aware.

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NIHL 1 Results
Saturday 05/10

Hull Jets 3 Billingham Stars 7
Leeds Knights 5 Widnes Wild 2
Sheffield Scimitars 2 Deeside Dragons 8
Nottingham Lions 0 Blackburn Hawks 4

This game was an example of good end to end hockey with the Lions certainly taking the game to the Hawks but the finishing from the home side was missing tonight. Plenty of opportunities as the Lions outshot the Hawks 37-34 but it was not to be as the visitors made their shots tell tonight. The Hawks came to Nottingham seeking revenge and given the history of games between these two there was an expectation of a feisty affair but the game itself proved incredibly clean with the Lions taking two minutes in penalties and the Hawks four minutes.
The Lions take on the Hull Jets on Sunday and this game will prove yet another hard game for the home team particularly as the Jets lost their first game this evening at home to the Billingham Stars. Last season the Lions failed to pick up points against the Jets and although the Jets conceded tonight they will come to Nottingham determined to get something from the weekend as will the Lions so this one should be a good one for the hockey fans.

Period Scores: 0-2/0-0/0-2
SOG: 37-34
MOM: Matty Bell

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NIHL 1 Results
Sunday 06/10

Billingham Stars 8 Solihull Barons 3
Deeside Dragons 9 Sheffield Scimitars 1
Whitley Warriors 9 Widnes Wild 2
Nottingham Lions 4 Hull Jets 9

Hull Jets made amends for their first reversal of the season by getting back to winning ways here in Nottingham. The Jets have certainly made some useful signings and are greatly improved on last season when games between these two were mainly decided by the odd goal. Tonight it was the second period that things turned against the Lions as the intensity so clearly seen in the first appeared to desert the team and the Jets made the most of the opportunities presented to them and with the quality they have they punished the home team. The third again saw the Lions get back to business but by then the game had drifted away from them with the Jets travelling home with the points.
Looking at the results over the weekend is reminded me of the last season as the top five teams appear to be dominant once again.

Goal Scorers: Ales Padalek, James Mather, Regan Kidd, Alex Rushby
SOG: 59-44
Period Scores: 2-2/0-5/2-2
MOM: Tyler Somerton

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Sat 12/10
Hull Jets v Sheffield Scimitars
Solihull Barons v Whitley Warriors

Sun 13/10
Deeside Dragons v Blackburn Hawks
Widnes Wild v Solihull Barons
Nottingham Lions v Leeds Knights (Face off: 7.20pm)

Leeds Knights come to Nottingham having entered the league this season and they have already picked up a couple of solid victories and only lost out to Hull Jets by the odd goal in a five goal game. This club as a whole has developed at quite a pace since the senior Knights entered the National League several seasons ago and this club as set up a strong base for developing what should be a good junior section. Experienced players from outside of the club are certainly showing an interest in Leeds Knights NIHL 1 so an influx of players has already commenced. Having observed how the Hull Jets have strengthened since last season you can certainly see Leeds wanting to emulate what that particular club have done therefore it will be interesting to watch how they recruit over the season. This will be perhaps tougher than one might expect for the Lions as this Leeds team are an unknown quantity but it certainly sets up what should be an interesting challenge.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sat 12/10

Hull Jets 1 Sheffield Scimitars 2
Solihull Barons 6 Whitley Warriors 3

Up to tonight the Sheffield Scimitars have really struggled to get any sort of positive result but away to one of the highest placed clubs in the league they really put that bogey to rest as they got the win at the Hull Jets. This loss is the Hull Jets second of the season and where they went wrong goodness only knows and I don’t want to take anything away from the Scimitars but a win away from home for this Sheffield team was probably the furthest thing anyone would have put money on but it happened , so well done Scimitars.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sun 13/10

Deeside Dragons 5 Blackburn Hawks 3
Widnes Wild 3 Solihull Barons 8
Nottingham Lions 8 Leeds Knights 5

The Lions got back to winning ways tonight with what might be seen as not the most comfortable of victories but the truth is that the Nottingham team actually dominated the game but sometimes allowed the Knights to get that bit too close when the home team should have slammed the door. For two periods the Knights must have thought they were in with a chance as the Lions gave up a two goal lead in each the first two periods to go into the third at four goals apiece and all to play for certainly for the Lions. A change of keeper for the Lions in the third as Luca Sheldon took over from Isaac Ballinger and our guys managed to put this game to bed with a 4-1 final period. The Leeds Knights came to Nottingham as an unknown quantity and fathoming out how they set up for the game was the immediate concern for the home team but once this was figured out the game should have been well and truly settled before the commencement of the third period but that period became the game changer.

Stats
Goal scorers: Ales Padalek 3+1, Regan Kidd 2+1, Toby Fisher 2+0, Alex Rushby 1+6, Tyler Somerton 0+2, Theo Thomas 0+1
Period scores: 2-2/2-2/4-1
SOG: 64-22
MOM: Ales Padalek

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NIHL 1 Results
Sat 19/10

Blackburn Hawks 3 Whitley Warriors 4
Leeds Knights 5 Solihull Barons 6 O/T
Sheffield Scimitars 1 Billingham Stars 5

Leeds Knights certainly made the Barons earn the two points tonight. The one point for the Knights is well deserved with this team improving nicely at the moment.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sun 20/10

Billingham Stars 10 Leeds Knights 1
Solihull Barons 2 Deeside Dragons 7
Widnes Wild 2 Blackburn Hawks 16

Deeside have strengthened their squad and this has shown in their recent results as their winning streak continues making it six straight wins with the result against the Barons tonight. Poor old Widnes suffered at the hands of the Hawks who bounced back from last night’s loss to go on a scoring spree tonight and Leeds after last night’s overtime loss to the Barons took a bit of a beating away to Billingham although winning at their venue is a tough call for any opponent at the best of times.

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Sat 26/10
Hull Jets v Billingham Stars
Sheffield Scimitars v Blackburn Hawks
Whitley Warriors v Deeside Dragons

Sun 27/10
Blackburn Hawks v Leeds Knights
Deeside Dragons v Whitley Warriors
Solihull Barons v Sheffield Scimitars
Widnes Wild v Hull Jets
Billingham Stars v Nottingham Lions ( Face off: 5.30pm)

The Lions are back on the road for their first meeting of this season with the top team in the league at present the Billingham Stars who having played eight games have only dropped points in one away game and remain unbeaten on home ice therefore a really big ask of any team to take points up there. The Lions task is a big one as over a number of seasons our guys have struggled against the Stars and I find it difficult to remember the last time we actually came home with the points, but hopefully this record will be brought to an end because this Lions team has the ability to make life very difficult for any opponent on their night. What cannot be allowed to happen is an occurrence of the situation at home against the Hull Jets when the Lions were caught napping in the second period of that game and conceded five unanswered goals. In that same game the Lions tied the first and third periods. The Stars will punish heavily any team that switches off during the game and there will certainly be no time for coasting in this one as the home team will commit to sixty minutes of pressure. In their last home game the Stars took down the Leeds Knights 10-1 and are, as last season, pushing to be champions once again. Who will stop them, perhaps Deeside Dragons who have definitely been fired up by their recent excellent recruits leading to a six game winning streak? One thing for certain the Lions will have to dig deep in this game, go to Billingham with a winning mindset, and you just never know.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sat 26/10

Hull Jets 1 Billingham Stars 4
Sheffield Scimitars 2 Blackburn Hawks 12
Whitley Warriors 4 Deeside Dragons 6

Both Billingham and Deeside continue their good form with solid on the road wins. Sheffield v Blackburn was a certain win for the Hawks but did not expect them to put twelve goals past the Scimitars.
Heard today that the Lions will be without Ales Padalek for their away game at Billingham tomorrow.

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NIHL 1 Results
Sun 27/10

Blackburn Hawks 4 Leeds Knights 0
Deeside Dragons 7 Whitley Warriors 2
Solihull Barons 7 Sheffield Scimitars 2
Widnes Wild 1 Hull Jets 3
Billingham Stars 9 Nottingham Lions 2

Billingham Stars maintained their form with an emphatic win against the Lions tonight. The Lions kept the score tight for the first going in for the break 0-1 down. In the second and third periods the pressure was increased with Isaac Ballinger in the Lions net seeing more than his share of the action and the Lions defence battling to stave off the home team’s constant attacks. The one thing that can be said is that the Lions did their best to make a game of it and did have chances to make the score appear more respectable but those chances unfortunately went begging. There was an unfortunate end to the night as at the handshake tempers became somewhat frayed leading to a few players getting involved in an altercation.

Period Scores: 1-0/4-1/4-1
Scorers: Theo Thomas 1+0, Matty Bell 1+0
SOG: 57-38
MOM: Theo Thomas who scored his first senior goal this evening

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NIHL 1 Games this weekend

Sat 02/11
Leeds Knights v Whitley Warriors
Sheffield Scimitars v Widnes Wild

Sun 03/11
Billingham Stars v Widnes Wild
Blackburn Hawks v Hull Jets
Whitley Warriors v Solihull Barons
Nottingham Lions v Deeside Dragons ( Face Off: 7.20pm)

Deeside Dragons are definitely the ‘come back kids’ as early in the season against the Lions they struggled to get a 4-3 win at Deeside in front of a very partisan home crowd. The Dragons were then punished at home 1-8 against Blackburn Hawks and utterly taken apart by Billingham Stars 11-1. Then came the come back as some smart moves in the player market as they picked up the players that would turn their season around managing to beat the Blackburn Hawks and from there they have achieved an eight game run of wins both home and away one of their last scalps being the Solihull Barons on the Barons ice 2-7. This team on this form look to be most definitely in with a big shout for honours this season, if form holds?
So the Lions have yet one more mountain to climb in this game particularly after the rather torrid time recently up at the present no1 team the Billingham Stars. At the end of that game there appeared to be several players wanting to exchange punches the outcome, perhaps being that disciplinary action may have occurred for both teams. I have had no information as to the outcome following that game but we may have a depleted side for the Deeside game, we have yet to see? This will anyway whatever the Lions bench strength be a very tough test for the home side. I am away over this weekend but will try to pass on the results as I get them.

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NIHL 1 Results

Sat 02/11
Leeds Knights 0 Whitley Warriors 2
Sheffield Scimitars 2 Widnes Wild 3 (O/T)