Season 26/27: Week 3 Report
Image: SL Sports Photos
BILLINGHAM STARS got their new National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division campaign off and running with a satisfying 7-5 defeat of Hull Jets at the Forum on Sunday evening.
Image: SL Sports Photos
A fast, end-to-end opening session saw chances go begging at either end before Charlie Barker finally broke the deadlock, his first senior goal for the Jets coming in the 15th minute with a well-taken one-time finish. Billingham were back level just over two minutes later, Michael Elder taking advantage of a spill at the near post to tap into the empty net. Three goals in the final three minutes saw Stars edge the period: Lucas Dowdle on the power play moved the home side ahead, swiftly replied by Ethan Daintith before Matty Pickup was released unimpeded to fire past Hull netminder Jacob Mardell.
Image: SL Sports Photos
The second session was a mere 13 seconds old when a rapid counter by the visitors caught Billingham unawares, Daintith going high on the backhand to make the game all-square once again. The hosts had to be patient but they grew into the period and were eventually rewarded in the 35th minute, Rolands Gritāns in the right place to jab home an Elder rebound on the back stick.
Image: SL Sports Photos
Stars came flying out of the blocks in the third stanza, Elder bagging his second just 25 seconds in, followed by Gritāns highlight reel Forsberg and Pickup’s second before the period was five minutes old. The three-goal blast didn’t take all of the wind out of Jets’ sails however, Richie Haggar getting one back in the 46th minute, but the home side put the brakes on the pace of the game thereafter and sought to manage the remaining time. Kieran Beach’s late consolation came with too little left on the clock to mount a serious comeback and so the match ended with a first win for the Stars.
Man-of-the-Match for Billingham was Michael Elder.
Image: SL Sports Photos
Stars Stats:
Rolands Gritāns 2+2; Michael Elder 2+2; Matty Pickup 2+2; Lucas Dowdle 1+0; Will Thornton 0+1; Rowan Mills 0+1; Darren Stattersfield 0+1
SOG: Mark Turnbull 45 (15 / 18 / 12)
Jets Stats:
Ethan Daintith 2+1; Richie Haggar 1+1; Kieran Beach 1+1; Charlie Barker 1+0; Jacob Mardell 0+1; Chris Wilcox 0+1; Kohen Taylor 0+1; Reaghan Taylor 0+1
SOG: Jacob Mardell 50 (16 / 20 / 14)
Image: SL Sports Photos
Weekend Results:
NIHL Moralee Saturday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 4️⃣-9️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️
🐯 Telford Tigers 2 🔟-6️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁 (L/C)
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 2️⃣-5️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾 (L/C)
NIHL Moralee Sunday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 7️⃣-4️⃣ Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
💫 Billingham Stars 7️⃣-5️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️ (L/C)
🦁 Nottingham Lions 2️⃣-3️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅 (L/C)
⚜️ Solihull Barons 5️⃣-6️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾 (after overtime) (L/C)