Recapping week 17 of the NIHL
Friday 3rd January:
The MK Lightning produced a dramatic comeback against the Romford Raiders in which Jordan Cownie tied the game 4-4 with 15 seconds to go. It would be Sean Norris who secured the extra point for the Lightning in overtime.
Saturday 4th January:
The Swindon Wildcats defeated the Romford Raiders at the Link Centre 4-2. Glenn Billing scoring a hat-trick on the night. The Raiders battled right until the end but Malasinski secured the win for the Cats with the empty net goal.
The Hull Seahawks produced a huge win in Leeds to upset the Knights 2-1. Josh Hodgkinson scoring the game winning goal in the final period to secure a big two points for Matty Davies side. Balmer certainly giving the Seahawks side a boost in defence.
The Sheffield Steeldogs secured two points in Dumfries as they beat the Solway Sharks 4-3 with Walker Sommer adding another two goals taking his tally to 35 on the season. Liam Stenton scored his 12th goal of the season but wasn’t enough to force a comeback for the Sharks.
The Bristol Pitbulls hit doubled figures against the Peterborough Phantoms as they beat them 10-3. Rhys Smetham scoring a hat-trick whilst Tanner Butler added another four points to his tally. A big home win for the Pitbulls which keeps them alive in the play off race.
The MK Lightning completed a four-point weekend as they shut out the Berkshire Bees 5-0 with five different players on the scoresheet. Norris getting another goal and the Lightning limiting the Bees to just 14 shots on the night.
Sunday 5th January:
The Solway Sharks got their revenge on the Sheffield Steeldogs as they beat them 3-2 in the return game. Callum Boyd scoring the game winning goal. Sommer scored another for the Dogs but the Sharks held on with Jordan Marr saving 53/55 shots.
The Swindon Wildcats got another four-point weekend with a 5-2 victory in Romford against the Raiders who rounded off a tough three game weekend. Nell with two goals and Bricknell adding another three points, taking his tally to 65 on the season.
Much less goals on Sunday between the Peterborough Phantoms and Bristol Pitbulls with the Phantoms taking the 2-1 overtime win. Luke Ferrara scoring the winning goal. However it’s a three point weekend for the Pitbulls who are right behind the Sharks, fighting for that 8th play off spot.
The Hull Seahawks also secured a four-point weekend as they fought off the Telford Tigers in a 7-4 victory. Emil Svec with a hat-trick on the night. The Tigers did try force a comeback after going 5-0 down. They managed to get it back to 5-3 however the Seahawks controlled the final period to round out the two points.
The Berkshire Bees then produced the shock of the weekend as they beat the Leeds Knights 4-2 in Slough. Adam Rosbottom with a four-point night and the empty net goal to get their first win in five games. Max Wright saving 45/47 shots on the night.
Photo credit: Tony Sargent
