Warriors 1 breach the Knights’ fortress
On Sunday 13th April 2025 our first team travelled to Hull Arena to face the Knights for the first time, in their 4th game in the IHSC Cup.
After a tough home loss to a strong Grimsby Trawlers side in their previous IHSC Cup game, the Warriors looked to bounce back against Hull Knights in what was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
With a cup record of one win, one shoot-out loss, and one loss, the Warriors were eager to pick up crucial points.
Despite missing some key players, they managed to ice three full lines. Lewis Pickering started in goal, with Joe Quinn scheduled to take over midway through the game.
Lewis Pickering
Starting netminder
Dressed players:
Lewis Pickering (NM), Joe Quinn (NM), Chris Giles (C), Mitch White, Andy Giles (A), Tyler Heming, Callum Greenhalgh, Matthew Gatenby, Ellen Gallimore, Niks Kamaldins, Niku Ghaemi, Jordan Batty, Adam Gibbons, Chris Blaschko, Will Gibbons, Simon Morrow and Dzintars Jonuss.
1st period
From the start, both teams appeared evenly matched, setting the stage for a tense and exciting contest. While the game began with both sides trying to establish a rhythm, it was the Knights who settled first, applying early pressure and forcing Warriors netminder Lewis Pickering into several key saves. The pressure eventually paid off at 06:35 when the Knights opened the scoring to make it 1-0.
Despite being limited to counter-attacks, the Warriors began to grow into the game. At 09:34, Jordan Batty set up Dzintars Jonuss, who drove over the blue line and fired a low shot that rebounded off the goalie—Niku Ghaemi was there to bury it, bringing the score to 1-1.
However, the momentum was halted as the Warriors took back-to-back minor penalties at 10:35 and 10:51, leaving them defending a 5-on-3. The Knights capitalised with a power-play goal at 11:12, regaining the lead at 2-1.
Despite the setback, the Warriors felt confident heading into the first interval. At even strength, they believed they had the edge—it was just a matter of tightening up defensively for the remainder of the game.
Knights 2 Warriors 1
2nd period
Heading into the second period, the Warriors remained composed - confident that the momentum could swing their way. The next goal was crucial—and it was the Warriors who struck. At 21:33, Dzintars Jonuss fired an unstoppable wrist shot from the high slot, levelling the score at 2-2.
Joe Quinn
Takes over the net at the half-way mark
Building on that momentum, the Warriors took the lead at 31:26. Simon Morrow kept the puck alive in the offensive zone and passed to Chris Giles on the right wing, who found Mitch White in the slot. White deked the goalie and lifted the puck into the top corner to make it 3-2.
Now ahead, the Warriors grew in confidence, while the Knights began to show signs of frustration. The hosts picked up slashing and interference penalties, giving the Warriors power-play chances—though they couldn’t convert, the penalties disrupted the Knights' rhythm.
With time winding down in the period, the Warriors got their much-needed insurance goal at 39:05. Niks Kamaldins scored with assists from Will Gibbons and Tyler Heming, capping off a dominant period.
Niks Kamaldins
Scored the Warriors 4th goal
The Warriors had scored three unanswered goals to lead 4-2 heading into the final period.
Knights 2 Warriors 4
3rd period
With a 2-4 lead and only one period left to play, the focus was now on protecting the lead, being defensively-minded and not taking any unnecessary risks. The team knew that the Knights would throw everything they had at them in the final period, and they needed to be ready.
The final period couldn’t have started better for the Warriors. Just minutes in, Andy Giles gained possession in the offensive corner and quickly spotted his brother Chris charging into the slot. With perfect timing, Andy fired a sharp pass right onto Chris’s stick, and Chris made no mistake—firing it low to the goalie’s right to extend the Warriors’ lead.
The early goal in the final period, making it 5-2, was a major setback for the Knights, pushing the game further out of reach and fueling their frustration. They spent much of the period shorthanded, racking up 24 penalty minutes—including a 10-minute gross misconduct—which worked in the Warriors’ favour, allowing them to conserve energy and maintain control.
At 48:30, the Warriors took full advantage of the powerplay as defenceman Matthew Gatenby found the back of the net from an Andy Giles assist, stretching the lead to 6-2 and all but sealing the outcome.
In the final 10 minutes, a series of minor penalties from both sides led to several 4-on-4 stretches. The last goal came at 55:07 in a 5-on-5 situation. Andy Giles, working from behind the net, connected with his brother Chris, who was under pressure but managed to redirect the puck across to Mitch White. White blasted a wrister into the top of the net for his second of the night, capping off a dominant 7-2 win for the Warriors.
Final score :
Knights 2 Warriors 7
Points scorers:
Chris Giles 1+2
Andy Giles 0+3
Mitch White 2+0
Dzintars Jonuss 1+1
Niku Ghaemi 1+0
Matthew Gatenby 1+0
Niks Kamaldins 1+0
Jordan Batty 0+1
Simon Morrow 0+1
Tyler Heming 0+1
Will Gibbons 0+1
This was a hugely satisfying victory for the Warriors. Securing valuable points with an away win is always rewarding—but doing so after coming from behind and shutting out the Knights over the final two periods made it even sweeter. A strong, resilient performance that showed the team’s character and determination.
Niks Kamaldins
Player of the game
Dzintars Jonuss
Captain’s player of the game
When it came to post-game awards, it was an all-Latvian affair! Niks Kamaldins was named Player of the Game by the Knights, while the Captain’s Helmet was awarded to Dzintars Jonuss for his standout performance.
Honourable mentions go to both netminders, Lewis Pickering and Joe Quinn, who were outstanding between the pipes and kept us in the game early on.
Our first team’s next game is the reverse fixture against the Knights. Details below:
IHSC Cup
Saturday 26th April 2025
Warriors v Hull Knights
@ Planet Ice, Leeds
Face-off : 21:30
Free entry
Watch this space for future Warriors 1 fixtures : Fixtures and Results.
