Warriors 1 at Kingston Tournament 2024
On the weekend of Saturday 1st June and Sunday 2nd June 2024 our Warriors 1 team competed in the 16th annual Kingston Cobras tournament at Hull Arena for the third successive year.
The team made their tournament debut at the same event in 2022, making it to the semi-final stage, followed by their 2023 outing where the team narrowly missed out on progressing to the semis.
The 2024 tournament consisted of 10 teams, split into two groups.
The other competing teams were:
Kingston Cobras, Cleveland Comets, Whitley Bay Islanders, Tri-Base Lightning, Don Valley Vikings, Dumfries Demons, Peterborough Dynamo, Paisley Blackhawks and tournament favourites Samurai.
Games consisted of two x 17 minute periods with a running clock and in accordance with Jonker’s rules.
Teams were awarded 2 points for a win and an extra point for a period win. Therefore, the maximum number of points per game was 4.
For the eventual finalists, the game would consist of 3 x 15 minute periods.
Uniforms
The Warriors were ready to sport their new ‘alternative’ uniform.
A maroon retro style look.
Team news
The team were without some important players for the tournament : Wes Nixon, Simon Morrow, Niku Ghaemi, Dzintars Jonuss and Ash Pryce. But, they were still able to ice 3 lines.
Roster:
Lewis Pickering (NM)
Joe Quinn (NM)
Chris Giles (C)
Sam Cromack (A)
Andy Giles (A)
Chris Blaschko
Adam Gibbons
Ellen Gallimore
Tyler Heming
Tom Mallon
Ollie Gannon
Chris Preston
Sam Forrester
Niks Kamaldins
Jordan Batty
Dylan Noonan
Mitch White
Will Gibbons
Netminders
Netminders Lewis Pickering and Joe Quinn. Both ready to share the ice over the course of the weekend.
DAY 1
Game 1
The Warriors opening game was at 8:50am against big-hitters, Samurai.
The Samurai had already played a game earlier that morning, whereas the Warriors were going in cold. The team were aware of how strong the Samurai are and would need to bring their best game to have a chance.
The Warriors competed well from the first puck-drop and despite conceding two goals, managed to get on the board and stay in the game by the end of the first period. D man Ollie Gannon scoring the Warriors goal, assisted by Andy Giles.
2-1 Samurai.
Whilst the team were losing, they went into the interval in good spirits. They were still in a close game and competing well. At this stage the game could have gone either way.
Unfortunately, in the second period the Samurai started to exert their dominance and extended their lead with two further goals, bringing it to 4-1. This is how the game ended.
This had been a stern test for the Warriors, especially considering the fact it was their opening game. There was a lot more hockey to play and the team took the positives out of the game.
FINAL SCORE
Warriors 1 Samurai 4
Points:
Ollie Gannon 1+0
Andy Giles 0+1
Player of the game:
Joe Quinn (NM)
Joe Quinn
Player of game 1
DAY 1
Game 2
The next game was against the Whitley Bay Islanders. Another team tipped to win this tournament! It could be argued that it was a blessing for the Warriors to play the two big teams so early in the tournament, whilst their legs were fairly fresh.
The team started brightly. Right from the first puck-drop the Warriors went on the offensive and it appeared to surprise the Islanders. The team took an early lead when Mitch White opened his account, converting from a Gannon assist.
1-0 Warriors.
Unfortunately, the Warriors weren’t able to convert any further goals and the Islanders got back into the game. The opposition grew in confidence and scored 6 unanswered goals to take the victory comfortably.
Post-game, the Warriors remained positive. Having played two teams that were likely to make a big impact on the tournament, they felt they had competed well and were confident that the victories would come.
Final score:
Warriors 1 Islanders 6
Points:
Mitch White 1+0
Ollie Gannon 0+1
Player of the game:
Tom Mallon
Tom Mallon
Player of game 2
DAY 1
Game 3
The Warriors third and final game of day one was against Don Valley Vikings. Having played against DVV in the previous season’s Northern Recreational Hockey Cup (NRHC) they were familiar to the Warriors. But, the Warriors lost both those games and have never registered a win against them. This was to be another stern test!
The Warriors started on the front foot, taking the game to the Vikings. The team raced into an early lead when Mitch White converted from line mates Andy Giles and Dylan Noonan.
1-0 Warriors.
The team kept their foot on the gas and extended their lead to 2-0 when Niks Kamaldins scored from a Jordan Batty assist. But the two-goal cushion was short lived as the Viking struck back to make it a one goal game again.
2-1 Warriors.
The team needed some extra daylight and pushed for the insurance goal. This eventually came when Noonan scored, with assists coming from Giles and White.
3-1 Warriors.
The first period ended with the Warriors in a healthy position at 3-1, but they knew the Vikings would come out determinedly in the second half, so there was still a lot of work to put in.
The second period was an all out battle. The Vikings pushed hard whilst the Warriors focused on containing their attacks. Unfortunately, the Vikings broke through and scored their second, reducing the deficit to one.
3-2 Warriors.
It was now a tense and nervy game as the Warriors looked to see the game out. Thankfully the team stood strong, with Lewis Pickering stopping everything thrown at him, meaning the team took their first W of the tournament. A great way to end day one!
Final score:
Warriors 3 Vikings 2
Points:
Mitch White 1+1
Dylan Noonan 1+1
Andy Giles 0+2
Niks Kamaldins 1+0
Jordan Batty 0+1
Player of the game:
Lewis Pickering (NM)
DAY 1 COMPLETE
The team ended day one with a win and two defeats leaving them still in contention for a semi-final spot, but they needed to beat their next opponents to stand a realistic chance.
But for now, it was time to relax, eat, drink and be merry!
Food and drinks at the Marina
The team were in high spirits after a good day of hockey!
Lads lads lads
After a good feed, a few of the boys headed out into Hull to sample some of the local night-life!
DAY 2
Game 4
The morning after the night before! It was an early start for the team as they faced the hosts, Kingston Cobras at 9am. Cobras are always a strong team and this would be a tough game, but it was also one that the team felt they had a good chance of winning.
In team news, the Warriors would play the second day without two of their D. Unfortunately, Ellen Gallimore and Chris Blashko had to withdraw from the tournament.
But thankfully, the previous nights merriment didn’t seem to affect the Warriors as they started the game strong and determined. Within the first 10 minutes of the game the team were 2-0 up. The first goal came from Mitch White, assisted by Andy Giles. The second was buried by Niks Kamaldins, with the assists coming from Sam Forrester and Jordan Batty.
With the two-goal cushion, the team focused on trying to protect the lead. But the Cobras continued to apply pressure and eventually got their reward - reducing the deficit to one, making it 2-1 Warriors as the teams went into the break.
The second period was a tense affair as both teams knew the next goal was crucial. The Warriors would have liked the insurance goal but didn’t want to risk over-committing and conceding an equaliser. Fortunately, the team held strong for all of the second period and the game ended 2-1 Warriors.
It was now confirmed that the Warriors would be in the semi-final, despite still having one more group game to play!
Final score:
Warriors 2 Cobras 1
Points:
Mitch White 1+0
Niks Kamaldins 1+0
Jordan Batty 0+1
Ollie Gannon 0+1
Andy Giles 0+1
Sam Forrester 0+1
Player of the game:
Joe Quinn (NM)
Joe Quinn
Player of game 4
The team now had a six hour wait before their final group game against Paisley Blackhawks, so they took a stroll down to Hull Marina for some brunch and some entertainment - which ended up being darts.
It was all a bit much for our Manager, Lisa Speed who resourcefully used a pool table in a local bar for an afternoon snooze.
The team started to get prepared for their final group game whilst also watching some of the other games.
.
DAY 2
Game 5
The final group game. As the Warriors were now confirmed as having made the semi-finals, this game was something of a dead rubber.
Whilst the Warriors were keen to win the game, they were also mindful of their energy levels ahead of the semi-final.
Unfortunately, this seemed to affect the team during the game. The Blackhawks dominated the game from start to finish. The Warriors never felt like they could get their game going. Warriors’ Sam Cromack scored on a rebound but this was a mere consolation as the Scottish team won emphatically.
Final score:
Warriors 1 Blackhawks 10
Goals:
Sam Cromack 1+0
DAY 2
Game 6
SEMI-FINAL
After a demoralising defeat to the Blackhawks, the Warriors had to pick themselves back up and try to believe that they could beat one of the tournament favourites - Samurai.
Given that the team lost 4-1 to Samurai in their opening game on day one and had just suffered a huge loss in the previous game, this looked like it would be a formality for the Samurai and all neutrals would have expected nothing less than a Samurai victory.
But, the underdogs started this game well, and it was clear they were not going to just lie down and accept defeat. The Warriors defended stoically despite coming under immense pressure in the defensive zone. The Warriors had to be bailed out by some exceptional saves from netminder Joe Quinn. Whilst the team focused on defence, they were always looking for that one opportunity to snatch a lead. And, against the odds, talisman Mitch White pounced to put the Warriors 1-0 ahead! Assists coming from Noonan and Gannon.
The team were able to see out the remainder of the first period and grab a breather and some instructions from coach Sam Forrester. It was now down to whether the team had both the legs and the determination to see this one out.
The second period was almost one-way traffic, with the Samurai’s attacks coming in waves. The Warriors got bodies behind the puck and were defending with pure desperation at times in order to keep the opposition out. But they did. It was a joy to see the clock tick down to zero and realise the team had beaten the Samurai 1-0 in the semi-final.
An amazing effort from the team and an insane performance from Joe Quinn in the Warriors net.
Final score:
Warriors 1 Samurai 0
Points:
Mitch White 1+0
Dylan Noonan 0+1
Ollie Gannon 0+1
Player of the game:
(NM) Joe Quinn
DAY 2
Game 7
THE FINAL
The Warriors opponents in the final would be the formidable Whitley Bay Islanders. A team who had already beaten the Warriors 6-1 in Game 2. This was a big ask. Especially as the player’s legs were tired and their bodies were aching.
But, the euphoria of reaching the final against the odds had given the team a new sense of optimism and a feeling that anything was possible.
The final was also longer than all previous games. It would now be 3 x 15 minute periods.
The team needed to give it everything they had, with one last heroic push. And they did. To a man, the team worked their socks off against the Islanders but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Having played 249 minutes of hockey over two days, it finally caught up with them as the Islanders cruised to a 9-0 victory, meaning they would be crowned the champions.
Despite the loss, this was an amazing overall effort from the Warriors! Before the tournament, the team probably didn’t expect to be competing in the final. They exceeded expectations. The team were also without some important players, so had to dig deep in a lot of games to pick up victories.
The team should feel very proud of themselves for what they achieved.
Final score:
Warriors 0 Islanders 9
Player of the game:
Tyler Heming
Tyler Heming
Player of the game in the final
Trophy presentation:
Team pictures
Players with the trophy:
Tom Mallon
#12
Ollie Gannon
#4
Dylan Noonan
#96
Tournament points scorers
Mitch White 4+1
Ollie Gannon 1+3
Andy Giles 0+4
Dylan Noonan 1+2
Niks Kamaldins 2+0
Jordan Battty 0+2
Sam Cromack 1+0
Sam Forrester 0+1
Tyler Heming
Warriors’ Player of the Tournament
What a weekend!
Aside from the hockey, it was also a fun social weekend for the team, being able to hang-out with team-mates, having some laughs and a few beers etc.
Thanks to Mike Forbes and the Kingston Cobras for hosting this tournament again and extending the invite to us.
See you next year!?
