Warriors 1 at Kingston Tournament
Our Warriors 1 guys travelled to Hull to compete in their first tournament.
The well established Kingston Tournament included some strong recreational teams, whereas the Warriors were the new kids on the block. This made for an interesting weekend of hockey.
DAY 1
Their opening game was against the Cleveland Comets. A team that has beaten Warriors 1 both home and away in recent months.
Despite that, the guys felt determined and confident that they could get the W.
Our guys got off to a strong start as Mitch White netted the opening goal with an assist from Wes Nixon.
The game continued at frantic pace with both teams trading shots on goal. Both goalies making great saves to keep the scoring low.
Warriors’ Will Gibbons bagged the Warriors their second goal of the game with another assist coming from Wes Nixon.
Things were looking good for the Warriors, but, the Comets never gave up and continued to create chances. Before long they were back in the game at 2-1 and it was all to play for. Unfortunately for Warriors, the Comets pressure paid off as they scored an equaliser.
Both teams pushed hard for the win but it remained a stalemate as both teams shared the spoils with a point each. The team were off and running with a point on the board. Something to build on.
Player of the match went to Jacob King who was superb in defence.
Next up was Durham Dragons. A team that we understand have won this tournament in the recent past. The Warriors expected this would be a tough encounter and they weren’t wrong.
The Dragons were 2-0 inside the first 10 minutes and the Warriors couldn’t seem to get their passing game going. The guys seemed anxious on the puck whereas the Dragons looked confident and composed.
Despite the Warriors battling hard, the Dragons netted a 3rd goal and the game ended 3-0.
Player of the match went to our goalie, Lewis Pickering, who kept us in the game with some outstanding blocks.
The Warriors final game for the day was against Dumfries. Having tied a game and lost a game, it was crucial that the team ended day 1 with a win under their belts. We’d seen that all other teams were registering at least one win and we needed those 3 points to stay in the mix.
This was a different Warriors to the previous game against Durham. The team were aggressive and offensive from the start. They had rediscovered their passing game and the chances were starting to come.
The Warriors took an early lead, but there had to be plenty of defending to keep the score at 1-0. Goalie Ben Briggs had to be called upon on numerous occasions to block Dumfries shots and he was great at relieving pressure on the Warriors goal by freezing the puck.
With both teams trading chances at either end of the ice, this could have gone either way. But, as he does for us on many occasions, Raivis Voitans was the difference. Rav popped up with a hat-trick in the final 7-8 minutes of the game to secure a decisive and impressive first win for the Warriors.
The shut out for goalie Ben Briggs earnt him the player of the game award. Truly deserved. Another great goalie performance on day 1.
At the end of day 1, the Warriors had a win, a loss and a draw to their name, resulting in a 4 point haul. No team had won every game on day 1 so this kept the Warriors within reach of finishing in the top 4 positions.
But how would day two go? The Warriors had some very strong teams left to play. Don Valley Vikings, Blackburn Falcons and Kingston Cobras would be the opposition. All three teams had registered some impressive victories on day 1, so things were not about to get easier. Especially as a night drinking in Hull was on the cards!
DAY 2
First up on day 2 was the hosts, Kingston Cobras. One of the favourites to win the tournament.
This was a tough game as expected and unfortunately the Warriors couldn’t grab an equaliser as the Cobras won with a slender 2-1 victory. Considering the strength of the Cobras and the number of missing players for the Warriors, this was a highly respectable outcome. The Warriors goal came from Wes Nixon, who was also the player of the game.
Unfortunately, after a coming together next to the boards between Warriors’ Andy Giles and a Kingston player, it was deemed by the officials that our Alternate Captain had kicked the opposition player.
Harsh call. Andy Giles appealed this on the basis that after the initial check, he tried to pull the other guy back which made his leg spring upward into a kicking motion.
Unfortunately, no luck with appeal and he was ejected from the game with an additional 2 game penalty. This meant Giles wouldn’t compete in the remainder of the tournament unless the Warriors progress to the semi-finals.
In order for the Warriors to reach the semi- finals, they now had to take 4 points from their remaining games against Don Valley and Blackburn.
Next up was Blackburn Falcons.
Coach Alex Jones was also dressed and ready to play.
And play they did. Former Blackburn player, Wes Nixon bagged a couple against his former team, winning him the player of the game award, again! Coach Jones put away 2 goals and D man Jacob King weighed in with a goal too to give the Warriors a convincing 5-1 victory and a fighting chance of reaching the semi-finals.
A draw against the Don Valley Vikings in their final round robin game would be enough for the Warriors to clinch a place in the semi-finals. It was all to play for at this stage.
Having watched Don Valley Vikings play on day one and seen their results, it was clear they could play - and that this would a big test for the Warriors.
Needing ‘only’ a draw to make the semi’s was no foregone conclusion.
But, the team did it!!! The guys held the Vikings to 2-2 draw and now progress to the semi finals, having finished in 4th place overall.
We had taken the lead twice before being pegged back to level terms. Goals coming from Raivis Voitans and Mitch White. The latter taking the player of the game (POTG) award.
What an achievement for the Warriors 1 team in their tournament debut! - and with many players missing.
Hats off to each player.
A semi-final with 1st placed Durham Dragons awaited the Warriors. The Dragons had already beaten the Warriors 3-0 on day one, so this was easily going to be the biggest test of the weekend.
Having been banned from competing in the final round robin games, Andy Giles was now available to play this game.
Unfortunately, in their 4th game of the day (and 7th game of the weekend) the short benched Warriors couldn’t match up to the strength of the Dragons, going down by 6-1.
The Warriors goal coming from Coach Alex Jones. With Ellen Gallimore picking up the player of the game award.
A valiant effort from the team. Being in the top 4 teams at a tournament full of well established and high quality teams is something Warriors IHC can be very proud of.
Especially when considering that the Dragons eventually won the tournament, beating Don Valley Vikings in the final.
Having gone into this tournament as underdogs and newbies, the Warriors mixed it with some of the best recreational teams in the UK. This is despite having several key players missing. Great work rate and attitude from all the team over the whole weekend. Well done guys. Onto the next!
