The YKK Widnes Wild fell 2-6 to Blackburn Hawks upon their return to Planet Ice Widnes for the 2025/26 hockey season.
1st Period: 0-1
Blackburn Hawks started the game with a strong run of attacks, and were able to take the lead through #88 Adam Barnes, his opening goal coming at 6:15, assisted by #91 Andy McKinney and #92 Tom Barry.
The first penalty of the game came at 7:42, Blackburn’s #11 Luke Watson sat for two minutes after a tripping call.
He was followed soon after by his teammate #81 Charlie Thompson at 8:09, who received two minutes for hooking.
The Blackburn Hawks were successful in their penalty kill as they spent a short period of time at a two-man disadvantage to the Widnes Wild, who failed to capitalise on their numbers and remained trailing the visitors following the expiration of the two penalties.
The Wild had their first shot of the game at 10:58 when #47 Leo Cooper picked up the puck just over the blue line and sent a shot flying towards #32 Harrison Walker in the Hawks net, who claims the puck easily.
At 12:32 the Wild received their first penalty call of the game. #7 Alex Parry heading to the box for two minutes following a check to the head.
Their second followed not long after at 15:21, #47 Leo Cooper sitting for two minutes after holding a high stick to Hawks #92 Tom Barry.
It was the Wild who had the final two real opportunities of the first period; one at 18:54, when #8 Flynn Massie found space alone and managed to send a decent shot towards the Hawks goal, and one at 19:45 when #17 Andrew Hopkins was able to carry the puck down the ice but couldn’t find the final pass to get the team’s equaliser.
2nd Period: 2-3
It was a dream start to the second period for Widnes Wild as they got their equaliser at 20:27 through #8 Flynn Massie, who capitalises off his rebounded shot and levels the game for the home team. Assisted by #4 Nathan Bennett.
Blackburn Hawks regained their lead at 24:08 when #28 James Riddoch slotted the puck into the bottom corner of the Wild net, assisted by #81 Charlie Thompson and #20 Jacob Lutwyche.
The Hawks continued with their attacks, #48 Cade King having his on-target shot deflected away from the Wild goal before the puck could reach the back of the net.
Despite the pressure from Blackburn, it was the Widnes Wild who would score the next goal, levelling the scores once again at 34:50. #44 Dani Haid firing his shot into the top corner of the Hawks goal for the hosts second, assisted by #17 Andrew Hopkins and #85 Oliver Howells.
Both teams continued to find opportunities to send themselves ahead, and it was Blackburn Hawks who would once again find themselves leading the goal tally, when #28 James Riddock sent a rocket flying into the Wild’s net, assisted by #81 Charlie Thompson and #20 Jacob Lutwyche at 39:04.
3rd Period: 2-6
Heading into the period trailing to their visitors, the Widnes Wild had a couple of good opportunities to replicate their second period start; both #8 Flynn Massie and #12 Luke Alston having on-target shots that forced saves out of #32 Harrison Walker in the Hawks net.
The Wild were set on a powerplay at 46:30 when #92 Tom Barry received a two-minute penalty for slashing.
However, it was Blackburn who would get the next goal during this time. A shorthanded goal from #81 Charlie Thompson, who was able to pick up the puck in front of the Wild goal and slip it into the side netting for the Hawk’s fourth, assisted by #20 Jacob Lutwyche at 47:21.
Both teams received two-minute coincidental penalties at 48:28; Wild’s #18 Johnathan Williamson for boarding, and Hawks’ #18 Liam Hine for cross-checking.
The visitors earned themselves a three-goal advantage not long after at 49:48, when the puck slipped past Wild’s netminder #35 Luca Tessadri and reached Blackburn’s #12 Jakub Hajek at the back post, who simply redirected it into the open back post, assisted by #11 Luke Watson.
The Widnes Wild began to struggle to maintain possession following this goal, and wayward passes were gifting the Hawks opportunities. At 51:41 #35 Luca Tessadri made an excellent stop to deny Blackburn Hawks a sixth goal, whilst the visitors continued to make strong attacking plays.
Wild went down to four men at 54:26 when #8 Flynn Massie was sat for two minutes for delaying the game.
Blackburn Hawks used their powerplay advantage to score their sixth and final goal at 54:45. #28 James Riddoch completing his hattrick and finding his shot at the near post hitting the back of the Wild net, assisted by #12 Luke Watson and #92 Tom Barry.
The final action of the game came at 57:08, when Blackburn Hawks #92 Tom Barry was sent to the penalty box for two minutes after a tripping call.
Match MVPS were awarded to Wild’s captain #17 Andrew Hopkins after his assist on the home team’s second goal, and overall strong performance and Hawks’ #12 Jakub Hajek for his one goal and one assist for the visitors.
Officials: Nickless, Cunningham, MacKinnon
STATS-
Widnes Wild: Nathan Bennet 0+1, Flynn Massie 1+0, Andrew Hopkins 0+1, Dani Haid 1+0, Oliver Howells 0+1
Luca Tessadri: (11, 18, 17) 46 Shots.
Blackburn Hawks: Luke Watson 0+1, Jakub Hajek 1+1, Jacob Lutwyche 0+3, James Riddock 3+0, Charlie Thompson 1+2, Adam Barnes 1+0, Andy McKinney 0+1, Tom Barry 0+2
Harrison Walker: (8, 9, 4) 21 Shots.
Article written by Carys Wallace
Images by Sandra Koetter