Warriors 1 in epic battle with Vikings B
On Saturday 8th March 2025 our first team welcomed Don Valley Vikings B to Planet Ice for their second game in the IHSC Cup.
After a dominant 9-2 victory over the Sheffield Ice Tigers in their IHSC Cup opener, the Warriors looked to continue their winning momentum on home ice. This time, they faced another Sheffield side, Don Valley Vikings ‘B’—a team they approached with respect, knowing the strength of the DVV club.
The game also marked the debut of two players, defenceman Callum Greenhalgh and forward Harvey Galloway, who donned the Warriors' red jersey for the first time..
Dressed players:
Lewis Pickering (NM), Chris Giles (C), Chris Blashko, Dylan Noonan, Mitch White, Andy Giles (A), Tyler Heming, Callum Greenhalgh, Niks Kamaldins, Sam Cromack (A), Jordan Batty, Tom Mallon, Adam Gibbons, Niku Ghaemi, Will Gibbons, Chris Scampton, Simon Morrow, Harvey Galloway and Ivis Homuts.
1st period
From the opening exchanges, it was clear this was likely to be a close contest between two evenly-matched teams.
With two hawk-eyed officials, it wasn’t long before the first minor penalty was dished out and the Warriors were on their first powerplay of the game.
With their first line on the ice, the Warriors were able to capitalise on the extra-man advantage. With Tyler Heming patrolling the blue line, he hit the puck towards the Vikings goal, and after some ricochets, it landed at the feet of Andy Giles, who instinctively shot and scored. Great start for the Warriors, with 3:44 on the clock.
But, within a few seconds of the restart, goal-scorer Andy Giles took a dubious 2 minute penalty for a ‘hook’.
Now we would see what the top DVV players could do with more room and freedom on the ice. Their response was almost instant as they equalised with a powerplay goal on 4:10.
Just over a minute later, at 5:25, the Vikings took the lead. If they didn’t know already, the Warriors knew this was going to be a tough night!
The Warriors needed to recover quickly from the shock of conceding twice in quick succession. Fortunately, they were able to stop the visitors from extending their lead and were creating good chances themselves.
With 12:33 on the clock, our number 99, Ivis Homuts scored an equaliser to make it 2-2. The assists came from Niku Ghaemi and Niks Kamaldins. Homuts’ goal was met with huge cheers and banging of drums from his own personal fan club who were in attendance.
It was a huge relief for the team to get back on level terms going into the first interval.
Warriors 2 Vikings 2
2nd period
It was a dream start to the second period. The Warriors first line combined within 46 seconds of the restart as Dylan Noonan slotted home from Mitch White and Andy Giles assists.
The Warriors were back in the lead at 3-2 - but it didn’t last long as this strong Vikings team were in determined mood. The visitors equalised on 26 minutes to make it 3-3.
The momentum had shifted in Vikings’ favour and they were able to stop the Warriors from exiting their zone, forcing icing after icing.
But it was a breakaway goal from inside their own D zone that broke the deadlock. The Warriors had a slap-shot from the point which hit a Vikings pad and landed at the stick of a Vikings forward who got behind the Warriors D and skated up the ice unchallenged to score.
With 27:58 on the clock, the Warriors were now behind at 3-4.
But the Warriors never gave up and were able to mount a healthy amount of promising offences into the Vikings zone. It was a frustrating period of the game as the Warriors just couldn’t get back on level terms.
But, eventually it came. With less than one minute left in the period, the first line combined again to bring it to 4-4.
With 39:05 on the clock, it was White who buried it, with the assists coming from Giles and Noonan.
The period closed at 4-4 after another exhilarating and nail-biting 2-2 period!.
Warriors 4 Vikings 4
3rd period
It was all down to the final 20 minutes now.
After all the effort of getting back on level terms, the Warriors let it slip straight away by not clearing the puck out of the zone. With 41:21 on the clock, they were trailing again at 4-5.
This meant the team had to try and pick themselves up, again.
But unfortunately it got worse. With 47:48 on the clock, the Vikings extended their lead to 4-6 and gave the Warriors a big mountain to climb. With just over 12 minutes of the game remaining, they needed to score twice without conceding, just to tie the game!
It was a hammer blow for the Warriors but they kept on fighting and on 50:43 they got a lifeline. Sam Cromack raced into the visitors zone and unleashed a powerful wrist shot which found the top left corner! 5-6 and game on!
The next goal was crucial. Could the Warriors equalise or would the Vikings effectively kill the game? It was such a close game it was impossible to predict the outcome.
Defending stoically, the Warriors knew they just needed one good chance to get back level. And it was their talisman Mitch White who stepped up with the equaliser on 52:56, assisted by Chris Scampton. The Warriors bench erupted! And also took a collective sigh of relief! It had been such a tough battle up to this point.
With over seven minutes to go, there was still time for a winner. And both sides were going for it. But ultimately, neither side could get past netminders Pickering or King and it went to a 3-shot penalty shoot-out.
Final score :
Warriors 6 Vikings 6
Penalty shots
Shooters for the Warriors were:
Andy Giles
Mitch White
Sam Cromack
None of the six shooters across both teams were able to score, so it went to sudden death.
The next shooter for the Warriors was Ivis Homuts. Unfortunately he couldn’t score, but as the Vikings player also missed, there was another round.
This time, Niks Kamaldins took a shot but couldn’t convert, whilst the Vikings player did score - meaning the visitors took the win and the extra point.
Points scorers:
Mitch White 2+1
Andy Giles 1+2
Dylan Noonan 1+1
Ivis Homuts 1+0
Sam Cromack 1+0
Chris Scampton 0+1
Niku Ghaemi 0+1
Simon Morrow 0+1
Tyler Heming 0+1
Whilst the Warriors lost the overall contest, they did pick up one point for tie-ing game in regulation, so all that hard work did still pay off.
Being 4-6 down early in the final period, the team showed great character and determination to pull two goals back whilst also keeping the opposition out at the other end.
Niks Kamaldins
Player of the game
Ivis Homuts
Captain’s player of the game
Player of the Game, as selected by the Vikings, went to Niks Kamaldins - and the Coach’s Helmet went to Ivis Homuts for his excellent 1+0 performance. So it was an all-Latvian affair. Well done fellas! And thanks to DVV for a great game of hockey.
An honourable mention should go to Lewis Pickering for his heroics in goal, and also to Harvey Galloway and Calum Greenhalgh who made their debuts for the Warriors. Well done guys.
With a shootout loss and a regulation time win under their belts, the Warriors now have 3 points from their opening two games in the IHSC Cup.
But their next game is against the newly formed Grimsby Trawlers. This will be a huge challenge for the Warriors as the Trawlers have picked up some statement victories against Vikings and Cleveland Comets - and the Warriors will also be short-benched for this one.
Details below:
IHSC Cup
Saturday 22nd March 2025
Warriors 1 v Grimsby Trawlers
@ Planet Ice, Leeds
Face-off : 21:45
Free entry
Watch this space for future Warriors 1 fixtures : Fixtures and Results.
Thanks to Richard Sells Photography of Otley Camera Club for taking some great pictures of the game.
