Season 26/27: Week 7 Report
BILLINGHAM STARS finally overcame a stubborn Nottingham Lions in National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division on Sunday evening, a captain’s goal securing two points and an overtime win 3-4 in the Midlands.
Coming into the game with a good home record and an exceptional 0-3 road win at Hull Jets the previous evening, the Lions were deflated by the late withdrawal of veteran and talisman Aleš Padělek from the lineup. Billingham would also find themselves short once more, Andy Finn, Rowan Mills and Tom Wakefield all missing. A cagey first period ensued, two short benches sizing each other up before Rolands Gritāns broke the deadlock in the eighth minute for the session’s only marker.
Stars looked to be controlling the opening exchanges in the middle stanza, but a defensive error in the 26th minute let in Will Nowik who poached an equaliser. Billingham wrestled back the initiative and moved back in front in the 38th minute in slightly fortuitous fashion, Mikey Elder going for the wraparound and seeing his effort go in off the incoming defenceman’s skate.
Two quick goals at the start of the third period put the home side in front, Theo Thomas allowed two bites of the cherry in the 42nd minute and then Will Szollosy capitalising on a missed high stick three minutes later. Battling hard, the Stars peppered Harvey Kembery in the Lions net and got their reward on the power play in the 51st minute, Callum Wilkinson in the right place to knock home the rebound. Going for the win, Billingham even went so far as to pull Jacob Hammond for an offensive zone face off with three seconds remaining, but 3-3 it finished in regulation.
Into overtime and just 105 seconds into bonus hockey Elder fired home to take the extra point, 3-4 the final score and a character win on the road for the Stars.
Man-of-the-Match for Stars was Michael Elder.
Lions Stats:
Williams Szollosy 1+0; Theo Thomas 1+0; Will Nowik 1+0; Liam Peters 0+1; Luke Birchnall 0+1; Daniels Fadejevs 0+1
SOG: Harvey Kembery 54 (12 / 18 / 22 / 2)
Stars Stats:
Michael Elder 2+0; Rolands Gritāns 1+2; Callum Wilkinson 1+0; James Moss 0+1; Lucas Dowdle 0+1
SOG: Jacob Hammond 43 (13 / 18 / 11 / 1)
Weekend Results:
NIHL Moralee Saturday:
✈️ Hull Jets 0️⃣-3️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁
🐯 Telford Tigers 2 2️⃣-5️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅 (L/C)
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 5️⃣-3️⃣ Deeside Dragons 🐉
NIHL Moralee Sunday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 1️⃣-3️⃣ Telford Tigers 2 🐯 (L/C)
🐉 Deeside Dragons 4️⃣-7️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️
🦁 Nottingham Lions 3️⃣ -4️⃣ Billingham Stars 💫 (after overtime)
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 3️⃣-2️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️