Season 26/27: Week 6 Report

BILLINGHAM STARS faced preseason silverware favourites Blackburn Hawks for the third time in less than a month in National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division on Sunday evening at the Forum, another short bench battling back from three goals down to just come up short, falling 4-5 in regulation.

A squad once again weakened with Andy Finn, Will Thornton and Tom Wakefield unavailable skated out against a full strength Blackburn side looking to chase down early League leaders Solihull Barons. Stars had the better of the opening exchanges but a loose pass in the attacking zone in the seventh minute saw a swift counter finished over netminder Jacob Hammond’s shoulder by Jacob Lutwyche. Another breakaway in the 14th minute by Liam Charnock was finished high by Lutwyche to give the first period to the visitors and leave Billingham to rue missed opportunities.

The home side found themselves in a three-goal hole two minutes into the second period, Bobby Streetly floating one in from the blue line on the power play. The fightback started in the 25th minute - on a power play of their own, Stars reduced the deficit when James Hellens roofed from just inside the blue line to continue his recent scoring streak. A minute later and it was a one-goal game, captain Michael Elder finding the five-hole. A poor line change let in Luca Maiuri in the 31st minute, but two minutes later the gap was back to one when Hellens put his shot in from the left, Rolands Gritāns on the doorstep to tap the loose rebound home. That seemed to be it for the session but just 11 seconds from the buzzer Hawks extended their lead back to two through Elmeri Hällfors.

An early goal for the hosts was just what was needed and they got it through some individual James Moss magic in the 43rd minute. Chances went begging for both sides, and with the clock winding down Billingham pulled Hammond to try and find an equaliser but it wasn’t to be, Blackburn leaving Teesside with all three points.

Man-of-the-Match for Stars was Jacob Hammond.

Stars Stats:

Rolands Gritāns 1+2; James Moss 1+1; James Hellens 1+1; Michael Elder 1+0; Rowan Mills 0+1

SOG: Jacob Hammond 64 (14 / 24 / 26)

Hawks Stats:

Jacob Lutwyche 2+1; Elmeri Hällfors 1+0; Bobby Streetly 1+0; Luca Maiuri 1+0; Garry Simpson 0+2; Tom Barry 0+1; Owen Dell 0+1; Liam Charnock 0+1; Jack Brammer 0+1

SOG: Dmitri Zimozdra 40 (14 / 19 / 7)

Weekend Results:

NIHL Moralee Saturday:

✈️ Hull Jets 2️⃣-5️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾 (L/C)

🐯 Telford Tigers 2 3️⃣-4️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️ (after penalty shots)

NIHL Moralee Sunday:

💫 Billingham Stars 4️⃣-5️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅

⚜️ Solihull Barons 3️⃣-4️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️ (after penalty shots) (L/C)

⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 7️⃣-5️⃣ Telford Tigers 2 🐯

🦁 Nottingham Lions 6️⃣-5️⃣ Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️ (L/C)

Weekend Results:

Season 26/27: Week 5 Report

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