Recapping Week 12 of the NIHL
Saturday 30th November:
The first game of the weekend saw the Swindon Wildcats make a comeback from 2-0 down at home against the Romford Raiders to win 6-3. Chris Jones and Glenn Billing both scoring two big goals to help the Cats to an important two points.
Leeds Knights proved why they are the reigning league champions with a comfortable 5-1 win against the Telford Tigers. Jordan Buesa back in the scoresheet with a goal. Kieran Brown also having himself a three point night. Luka scored the only goal for the Tigers.
Then the craziest game of the weekend between the Berkshire Bees and the Sheffield Steeldogs. Despite Marcel Balaz scoring four goals and having a six point night it would be the Dogs who won the game 8-6. Walker Sommer scoring a hat-trick and also having a six point night while brother Jack and Jacob Brammer linked up to score the game winning goal.
The MK Lightning continued to dominate on home ice with a 4-1 victory against the Solway Sharks. Mack Stewart scoring in his third game in a row while Jordan Cownie added two assists to keep his point streak alive.
The final game on Saturday saw the Bristol Pitbulls defeat the Hull Seahawks on penalty shots after the game couldn’t be decided after 65 minutes tied at 5-5. Bayley Harewood scored the winning penalty shot to hand the Pitbulls the extra point while the Seahawks faced their sixth loss in a row.
Sunday 1st December:
The first game of the Christmas month saw the Solway Sharks get revenge on the MK Lightning beating them in overtime. Defenseman Olivier Arseneau withe overtime winner and his second of the game. Another game proving how big home advantage is this season.
The Romford Raiders responded well on Sunday night with a 6-3 win of their own against the Bristol Pitbulls. Shaun Miller scoring a hat-trick while Andrew Shewfelt added another two goals to his tally. Laishram will be hoping his team can take this confidence into their semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
The Hull Seahawks ended their loss streak with a 6-3 home win against a short benched Berkshire Bees. Two early goals from the Seahawks captain Bobby Chamberlain set the tone for the game. Josh Hodgkinson and Tommy Spraggon both iced for the Seahawks this weekend.
The Peterborough Phantoms shutout the Sheffield Steeldogs 4-0 in their only game of the weekend. Hayden Lavinge saving 42 shots to make a solid shutout performance. Jasper Foster also returned to the lineup for the Phantoms after being out with an injury since the start of the season.
Finally the Swindon Wildcats secured the only four-point weekend with another comeback this time from 3-0 down away against the Telford Tigers. A late goal in the last 35 seconds from player coach Aaron Nell handed the Cats their second four-point weekend of the season and puts them up to fourth place just 1 point behind the Steeldogs with two games in hand.
