The YKK Widnes Wild returned to league action, facing the Hull Jets for the final time this season, following a narrow 5-7 defeat the previous evening to the Blackburn Hawks. Widnes were determined to claim 2 points over the 5th place Jets, but came out the wrong side of a tight 3-4 scoreline after 60 minutes.
Widnes lined up with a squad of 13+2, missing Owen Rae, Bailey Thomson due to adverse weather conditions. Ken Armstrong and Will Harper were also unavailable to ice for Sunday’s game.
However, #32 Harrison Walker joined the Wild squad, replacing #35 Luca Tessadri between the pipes. Meanwhile, Hull travelled across the M62 with 15+2 players, opting for #41 Zack Brown to start in net.
The 1st period started slow for both sides with neither being able to gain an early advantage. The 1st penalty of the game was handed to #12 Kyle Carruth at 8:58 for cross-checking, leaving Widnes short-handed but a strong defence kept the Jets at bay.
The favour was then returned to Widnes at 10:53 as #19 Rich Haggar sat 2min for tripping. Wild soon capitalised through #39 Matty Barlow who sent the puck top-corner following a set-up from Kyle Carruth and Damarni James at 12:49 on the power-play.
Widnes carried forward their momentum and further punished the Jets, doubling their lead. In fine form, Barlow fed the puck to Joey Coulter who fired on the 2on1 breakaway at 14:07.
Hull however managed to overturn the run of play and reduced the deficit to a single goal with a tap-in from #27 Ethan Daintith after a cross-ice pass by #24 Adam Jasecko at 17:54. Wild instantly regained possession and clenched onto their lead heading into the 2nd period.
Both sides were handed penalties in the opening few minutes of the 2nd period, but both couldn’t convert their chances. Widnes fired several shots on #41 Brown early but he prevented an extension of the lead for the Wild.
A breakthrough came from Hull almost 20 minutes after the last goal at 35:09 to tie the game. This time, it was #24 Adam Jasecko who lit the lamp on the breakaway, assisted by #71 Kieran Robinson and #27 Ethan Daintith. Just a minute later, #40 Kieran Beach put the Jets ahead for the 1st time, assisted by linemates Morris and Haggar at 36:11.
A delaying-the-game call handed to Hull’s #27 Daintith at 36:28 gave Widnes an opportunity to equalise late in the 2nd period. However, the Jets killed the penalty without conceding and took a 1 goal lead into the final frame.
Wild returned for the final period and quickly applied the pressure. Bez Hughes levelled the game for Widnes with a hard shot into the bottom corner after a feed from Carruth and Edwards behind net at 41:26. A penalty for each side followed the goal, but once again neither team could find a way past the netminders.
The go-ahead goal for Hull came from former wild player #18 Ryan Kemp who tapped the puck past Walker after a cross-crease pass from Daintith at 49:39. Widnes continued to shoot at Brown, but he stood tall to retain the lead for the Jets.
A late chance came for the Wild at 54:29 when Daintith again sat in the box for tripping but the Hull defence held on, despite being a player down. Andrew Hopkins then received a roughing penalty after colliding with #71 Robinson centre ice, which put Widnes on the back foot. The forwards rifled the shots at Brown in the closing minutes, but nothing could get past him, ending the game with ab narrow 3-4 defeat.
MVPs were awarded to defenceman #18 Johnathon Williamson for Widnes after a strong performance on the blue line and forward #14 Scott Morris for the Hull Jets.
Officials: Pering, Fielden, Kolarz
STATS –
Widnes Wild: Matty Barlow 1+1, Joey Coulter 1+0, Bez Hughes 1+0, Kyle Carruth 0+2, Damarni James 0+1, Mikey Gilbert 0+1, Rhys Edwards 0+1
Hull Jets: Ethan Daintith 1+2, Adam Jasecko 1+1, Kieran Beach 1+0, Ryan Kemp 1+0, Kieran Robinson 0+1, Scott Morris 0+1, Rich Haggar 0+1
The YKK Widnes Wild are next in action on Saturday 3rd February when they take on local derby rivals Deeside Dragons at the Deeside leisure centre. It’ll be all to play for in a cup game, following last weekend’s 2-5 win over the Dragons.
Article written by Fleur Tobin