Warriors 1 epic comeback win against Blazers
On Saturday night, our 1st team travelled down to Sheffield to take on the Blazers in the 3rd meeting between the teams this year. The Warriors won both those games but were without some key players so they knew this would be another tough encounter.
Things did not start well for the Warriors as they shipped 2 early goals, both dispatched by Blazers Andreas Kehl. Taking over 10 minutes to register their first shot on goal, the Warriors struggled to find their rhythm.
The Warriors problems were exacerbated when goalie Lewis Pickering had to depart with an injury after only 6 minutes. During a goal mouth scramble, a player fell and planted their full body weight fell onto his leg. This was a huge blow to the team.
But, up-stepped back-up goalie, Stephen Elliott. Stephen is the Warriors development goalie who has only been netminder for 5 months and played in 2 previous development games. This was a baptism of fire for the inexperienced goalie and the team knew they had to rally to keep the game within reach.
Unfortunately, the next goal went the way of the Blazers, with the ever dangerous Andreas Kehl bagging an early hat-trick.
Still determined, the Warriors fought hard and were rewarded with 2 goals from Adrian Garcia. Assists coming from Ash Pryce, Lewis Astill and Sam Forrester.
The Warriors took another blow to their chances - during an altercation around the net, Adrian Garcia sustained a bloody lip from a blow and reacted with a punch. Some suspect officiating meant that Garcia was unjustly ejected from the game, whilst Blazers player, Andreas Kehl only picked up a 2+2 penalty. After much remonstrating from the Warriors bench, the officials knew that the away team were unhappy with the call.
With one of the Warriors main offensive threats out of the game, the team faced yet more adversity.
During the remainder of the period, the Blazers registered 2 more goals, with one reply from the Warriors - Niks Kamaldins scoring from a Tom Mallon and Wes Nixon assist.
This meant the score was 5-3 Blazers going into the first interval. The Warriors were still in touch.
The Warriors had picked up some soft penalties in that first period. Some of which were due to dubious officiating whereas the others could have been avoided. The team were on the penalty kill too much and it was hurting their chances of getting back into the game.
Back-up goalie Stephen Elliott had pulled off some great saves during that first period and was growing into the game.
After a rousing pep talk from Coach, Alex Jones, the Warriors had the belief that they could still win this game, despite things going against them. With 40 minutes still to play and only a 2 goal deficit, it was game on.
The 2nd period was where the tide started to swing in the favour of the Warriors. This was through hard graft and steely determination. The team battled hard - chasing down lost causes, with the forwards tirelessly back-checking to help out the defence
Both teams were trading goals throughout the 2nd period as they cancelled out the other’s previous goal. It was end to end play.
But, the Blazers were still unable to create a 3 goal gap as the Warriors continued to stay in the game.
The Blazers registered 4 goals in the period - 3 of which came from their star player, Andreas Kehl, who was a constant thorn in the Warriors side - taking his tally for the game to 7 goals.
Warriors goalie, Stephen Elliot, stood very little chance against some of those bullet shots - whilst also pulling out some double saves that kept the team in the game.
The Warriors netted 5 goals during this period. Andy Giles got the first of the period with an unassisted shot to the left corner.
The next 2 Warriors goals came from Wes Nixon and Adam Gibbons and both were assisted by Raivis Voitans.
This was Adam Gibbons first goal for the Warriors and his goal tied the game at 6-6. The first time the Warriors had evened up the game. A big goal, which instilled more belief in the team.
The Warriors 4th goal of the period came from Andy Giles after some superb play from Ash Pryce. Pryce collected the puck near to the dot on the right side of the goal, shrugging off the defender to protect the puck, and headed behind the goal, looking for the opening. Andy Giles had ghosted into the slot and took the pass from Pryce to slot past the goalie. Great forward play.
The 5th Warriors goal came from Raivis Voitans, with assists from Niks Kamaldins and Andy Giles.
With the Warriors having won the period 4-5, they went into the final period only one goal behind - with the score line:
Blazers 9 Warriors 8.
The team knew the game was there for the taking. The deficit had been reduced and the momentum was with them. One last push could see them victorious.
At the start of the period, D Tom Mallon found himself in an advanced position to the left of the net, fizzing a shot across the ice and into the bottom corner, as the goalie seemed to be expecting the tip.
Assists coming from Dan Zylinski and Will Gibbons. This tied up the game at 9-9 for a second time.
Unfortunately, the Blazers responded with yet another goal from Andreas Kehl, taking his final goal tally for the game to 8. This took the score to 10-9 In favour of the Blazers.
As the puck was dumped down the ice, the Blazers goalie came out to deal with it. But with Warriors’ Raivis Voitans speeding towards him, he was caught out and Voitans robbed the puck from him, quickly taking the puck around the back of the net for a wrap-around goal. Warriors were back on level terms again at 10-10. But could they kick on and go ahead for the first time in the game?
What followed was an unassisted goal from Wes Nixon and a deserved goal for Dan Zylinski - assisted by Jacob King and Raivis Voitans. The Warriors were 10-12 ahead with only a few minutes to go. It had been a 3 goal blitz in only a few minutes, shocking the Blazers.
Needing to close the game down, offence became the best form of defence for the Warriors. As the Blazers pushed to get back into the game, the Warriors capitalised with their 13th goal, effectively killing the game.
Ash Pryce, who had been the provider of 3 assists earlier in the game, scored the goal, taking the assist from Raivis Voitans.
As a result, the Warriors ran out 10-13 winners. What a game! They stayed in the game despite all of the early adversity, showed great character to fight back to level terms, and then pushed hard for the win.
A night for us to be proud of the team and the club as a whole. Thanks to the travelling support. We were pleased to see Warriors 3 players Rich Guttridge and Stella Giwisser in the stands supporting.
Man of the Match for the Warriors was Dan Zylinski who worked tirelessly all game.
Captain Chris Giles’ player of the game went to Stephen Elliott. Our development goalie who got thrown in at the deep end after only 6 minutes and played a great game. Well done Stephen!
Here’s a few words from the man himself :
“Last night I got the chance to play for the first team and it was such an experience getting to play the match with them and come away with the W!
Still absolutely buzzing!”
Here’s a few words about the game from our Head Coach, Alex Jones:
“What a game last night for Warriors 1.
We lost our goalie after 10 minutes and our 3rd Team goalie stepped in. We then lost one of our centres to a ridiculous call.
5-3 down after the first period, we found ourselves with 6 forwards and 5 D and managed to rally a 13-10 victory.
I’m not a big fan of high scoring games but the strength my team showed in the face of severe adversity was one of my proudest coaching moments.
A great night and the train keeps rolling”.
Warriors 1 Manager, Lisa Speed, also had a few words to say about the victory:
“Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about this lot. I’ve no voice left after the W last night, it was the most incredible game I’ve seen them play so far.”
Player stats:
Raivis Voitans 2+4
Andy Giles 2+1
Wes Nixon 2+1
Adrian Garcia 2+0
Ash Pryce 1+3
Niks Kamaldins 1+2
Dan Zylinski 1+1
Tom Mallon 1+1
Adam Gibbons 1+0
Will Gibbons 0+1
Lewis Astill 0+1
Jacob King 0+1
Sam Forrester 0+1
Finally, big thanks to our travelling photographer, Mark Hempel, who took all of the photos seen in this game report.
You can check out Mark’s work here: http://markhempelphotography.myportfolio.com
