Saturday 11th November
The YKK Widnes Wild faced the Solihull Barons for the 1st time on home ice this season, ending in a narrow 3-4 defeat on Armistice day. Widnes iced with a squad of 18+2, including the Scottish 2-ways, the return of #35 Luca Tessadri between the pipes, plus Wild academy player Luke Alston who made his home senior debut. The Barons also travelled with a team of 18+2, featuring former Wild player Dani Haid.
Widnes came out firing in the 1st period and had plenty of ambition to put an early goal past Laverick. They were handed an early opportunity after Finnish import #20 Filip Byfält sat 2 minutes for holding at 3:12. Widnes put multiple shots on Laverick, but his team did enough to kill the penalty. Wild player-coach #63 Joey Coulter then received a slashing call at 9:31, but Solihull failed to capitalise on their chance.
Both sides came close to goal in the opening period, however the defensive units performed well denying opportunities. Widnes were given a late chance at 17:38 after Solihull’s #18 Jacob Race was sent to the box for tripping. It took the Wild 34 seconds to capitalise with a shot by #16 Mikey Gilbert from the goal line to ring it around the posts. The late goal gave Widnes a 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period.
Widnes found themselves on a penalty kill early in the 2nd period. #17 Innes Gallacher was given a penalty on 20:00 followed by #18 Johnathon Williamson at 21:05, both for interference landing Wild 3on5. Solihull Barons capitalised just 25 seconds later with #24 Philip Mulcahy, assisted by #6 Richard Crowe and #23 Daniel Mulcahy to level the score. Widnes regained their lead through #32 Kyle Carruth at 27:01, assisted by #11 Will Harper and #16 Mikey Gilbert. The physicality of the game increased throughout the 2nd, leading to several PKs for both sides but the Wild maintained their single goal lead after 40 minutes.
The Wild came out eager to extend their lead in the final 20, and achieved this with a shot straight from a face-off by #20 Bez Hughes, assited by #21 Torran Anderson at 42:04. However, shortly after Widnes ended up on the PK as Gilbert headed to the box for tripping, but they kept a grasp on their 2 goal lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
Another opportunity was given to Solihull when Coulter was sent for holding at 48:17. The Barons made no mistake and #91 Ottosson fired one past Luca at 50:02, reducing the deficit. Solihull grabbed another in the same minute by Crowe, assisted by Ottosson and Phil Mulcahy to level the score. Momentum shifted towards the Barons and a snipe from the blue line by Daniel Mulcahy at 54:22 put his side ahead for the 1st time. Widnes fired numerous shots at Laverick in the final 5 minutes, and pulled Tessadri with 30 seconds remaining. However their efforts weren’t rewarded and the score finished 3-4 in favour to the Barons.
MVPs were presented by the Cadets and awarded to Owen Rae for his efforts in defence for the Wild, and Richard Crowe for the Barons.
Officials: Arnold, Kolarz, Ormes
STATS-
Widnes Wild: Mikey Gilbert 1+1, Kyle Carruth 1+0, Bez Hughes 1+0, Torran Anderson 0+1, Will Harper 0+1
Solihull Barons: Richard Crowe 1+2, Dan Mulcahy 1+1, Phil Mulcahy 1+1, Niklas Ottosson 1+1, Charlie Webb 0+1
Sunday 12th November
The YKK Widnes Wild travelled to Ice Sheffield on Sunday afternoon, grabbing a penalty shoot out win, following their narrow defeat to the Solihull Barons the previous evening. Widnes retained the same squad of 18+2 for the trip down South, but opted to switch netminders to #32 Harrison Walker. Sheffield had also lost their match the previous night to league leaders Billingham Stars, so both teams were determined to claim 2 critical points.
Widnes quickly started to shoot on #29 Stones in an attempt to catch him out early but he kept the forwards at bay. Despite the Wild’s attacking pressure, it was the Scimitars who capitalised first at 4:30 with #9 Cam Pywell, assisted by #11 Sam Keeling and #5 Tyler Nixon. Sheffield then doubled their lead with a tap in at 8:34, again by Pywell, assisted by #23 Sam Rodgers and #24 Euan Williams. The 1st penalty of the game was given to Wild’s Owen Rae for high sticks at 10:01, putting Widnes on the PK.
However, #21 Torran Anderson made his 1on1 breakaway count short-handed, reducing the deficit to a single goal at 10:48, assisted by #39 Conner McNulty. The Scimitars then found themselves on a 5on3 PP after Joey Coulter and Torran Anderson were sent to the box at 14:24 and 15:16 respectively. Just 4 seconds later, #22 Gabriel Fisher put one past Walker, assisted by #12 Myles Keogh and #23 Sam Rodgers to regain their 2 goal lead heading into the 2nd period.
The Scimitars returned for the 2nd period, playing a more defensive game, keen to keep a hold of the lead they created in the opening 20 minutes. However, the Wild battled hard, resulting in #10 Nathan Britton firing one past Stones at 30:15, assisted by #63 Joey Coulter. Widnes were then back on the PK after Kyle Carruth received a cross-checking penalty at 30:50, but the defence held strong. Both netminders kept control of the remainder of the 2nd period to retain the score at 3-2 in favour to the Scimitars after 40 minutes.
The Wild were determined to claw the game back early in the 3rd period and made several attempts on Stones. Tensions began to rise, seeing Alex Mitchell and Will Szollosy head to the box for co-incidental roughing and high-sticking calls at 41:37. This was then followed by a cross-checking call on Wild’s Will Harper at 45:56 and a further 2 co-incidentals on Innes Gallacher and Euan Williams.
Throughout the numerous penalty kills the score still remained the same until 5 minutes remained in the game. Conner McNulty fired the puck on the backhand into the top corner at 54:54, assisted by Torran Anderson to tie the game. Sheffield had a late chance after Harper received a holding call at 57:15, but the buzzer sounded with the score still level at 3-3.
Wild opted to start with Gilbert, Carruth and Harper in the 5 minutes of 3on3 overtime. However, Sheffield then went 4on3 for 2 minutes after Kyle Carruth was called for slashing at 60:51. Widnes successfully killed the penalty and prevented the Scimitars scoring for the remainder of OT, although Sheffield did the same, forcing the game to penalty shots.
Both regulation time goal scorers Torran Anderson and Conner McNulty also fired the puck past Stones in overtime, which combined with a huge performance from Harrison Walker in net, saw Widnes take home an all-important 2 points.
MVPs were awarded to Conner McNulty for the Wild for a prominent offensive performance and Sam Rodgers for the Scimitars who also scored his penalty shot.
Officials: Chidley, Ward, Ryder
STATS-
Widnes Wild: Torran Anderson 2+1 Conner McNulty 2+1, Nathan Britton 1+0, Joey Coulter 0+1
Sheffield Scimitars: Cam Pywell 2+0, Gabriel Fisher 1+0, Sam Rodgers 0+2, Sam Keeling +1, Tyler Nixon 0+1, Euan Williams 0+1, Myles Keogh 0+1
Article written by Fleur Tobin