The YKK Widnes Wild finally opened their 23/24 season this Sunday, with an epic 4-3 OT comeback against the Nottingham Lions. The Wild were coming into the game highly motivated, following their double win over Telford Tigers 2 in the pre-season. Widnes put up a strong team of 17+2, giving #35 Luca Tessadri the start in goal after his quality display last week at Telford. 

Widnes dominated the puck from the first face-off, creating many opportunities early in the game. However, Nottingham came out with a physical presence, making the Wild adapt their gameplay quickly. Both net-minders took control of the relatively short 1st period, due to minimal stoppages and no penalties, with Lions’ #33 Sheldon preventing all 13 shots, and Luca Tessadri stopping his 9 shots to keep the score at 0-0. 

Both teams came out for the 2nd period eager to take the lead, which resulted in #28 Kieran Gibbs receiving a hooking penalty at 22:43, putting Widnes on the first power-play of the night. The Wild generated multiple chances, but were unable to break through Sheldon. Unfortunately for the Wild, a short-handed breakaway for #23 Zach Yokoyama from #25 Owen Davis, gave Nottingham the opening goal of the game at 24:34. 

The tension continued to build throughout the 2nd, which led to a huddle in #35 Tessadri’s crease, seeing #39 Matty Barlow send #67 Rushby to the floor. Both players were given co-incidental roughing penalties, plus a cross-check for Rushby, leaving the Lions on the penalty kill. Another huddle formed at #35 Luca’s crease in the final minute of the game, with #84 Jackson and #63 Coulter both taking down 2 Nottingham players after a slash on Tessadri. The Lions capitalized on their man advantage through #23 Yokoyama once more at 39:54, to give Nottingham a clear lead heading into the final 20. 

Widnes applied pressure onto the Lions from the opening face-off, determined to claw back a goal early in the period. #10 Nathan Britton finally put one past #33 Sheldon at 46:32 on the PP following a tripping call on #11 Crowston, to reduce the deficit. The tension of the game spilled over once more at 49:39 after #5 Rhys Edwards was checked from behind, leading him to drop the gloves. Edwards was given a 5minute major + game misconduct for fighting, which saw him ejected from the remainder of the game, whilst #25 Davis was sent to the box for 2 minutes for elbows. 

The Wild levelled the game to 2-2 at 50:55 through #18 Johnathan Williamson from #39 Barlow, but Nottingham soon claimed back the lead at 53:04 via #41 James Mather. Widnes were determined to keep themselves in the game and were handed an opportunity at 54:08 when #14 Toby Fisher was called for hooking. Matty Barlow grabbed the chance and a goal at 55:59 through #16 Mikey Gilbert and #17 Andrew Hopkins. Both teams quickly tried to find the back of the net, but all chances were unsuccessful, which ended the game at 3-3 after 60 minutes. 

Heading into overtime, the Wild fans upped their noise in an attempt to carry the team over the finish line in the first game of the season. Both goalies stood strong, stopping every shot coming their way early in OT. Nottingham’s #96 Tristan Grimshaw was handed a high-sticks penalty at 63:12, putting Widnes on a 4on3 man advantage. Young Scottish prospect #21 Kyle Carruth secured the victory for Widnes, with a top-corner snipe off a pass from Barlow at 64:12, to finish the game 4-3. 

MVPs were presented by representatives of Halton Haven Hospice and awarded to Nottingham’s #23 Zach Yokoyama and defenseman #11 Will Harper for the Wild. 

Officials: Anderson, Goodfellow, Woodward

Your YKK Widnes Wild have an upcoming double-game weekend, travelling to Whitley Bay for a 7pm face-off on Saturday 23rd September, then face Blackburn Hawks back at home at 5:30pm. 

Article written by Fleur Tobin.