Warriors 3 in epic comeback win against Ice Wolves
On Saturday 17th August 2024 our development team travelled to Bradford to take on the Ice Wolves in a challenge game.
In team news, quite a few Warriors players were unavailable for the game - Andis Jansons, Ash Davies, Lisa Speed, Richard Knight, Fran Humphries, Michael Laidler, Dean Cadman, Simon Bainbridge, Lee Worsnup, Paul Eaglestone, Kieran High, Dimitri Shalashilin, Wayne Higgins, Matty Meadows, Zach Huntley and Tomasz Molenda.
But despite that, the team were able to ice three lines.
Dressed players:
Rory Butcher (NM), Brendan Hullah, Connor Brocklebank, Craig Baker, Freddy Monk, Gary Clough, Heather McCarten, Ivans Lebedjoks, Jared Weldon, Jonjo Marshall, Josh Moss, Matt Dudley (C), Phil Bradley, Simon Davis, Sam Walker and Stella Giwisser.
1st period
The opening frame was a stalemate, with neither team able to open the scoring or assert dominance on the game. Warriors’ Connor Brocklebank picked up a 2 minute minor penalty for tripping on 14 minutes, but thankfully the penalty kill stood firm.
Ice Wolves 0 Warriors 0
2nd period
With the game goal-less, it was all to play for in the second period. The majority of the period was a stalemate with both teams probing for the opener. Unfortunately, the Ice Wolves made the breakthrough after 35 minutes to make it 1-0 and they held on till the buzzer.
Ice Wolves 1 Warriors 0
3rd period
With only one goal separating the teams, the final period was sure to be tense and frantic. The temperature began to increase between the teams and after only 36 seconds of the restart the referee sent both an Ice Wolves player and Warriors’ Craig Baker to the penalty box. The former took a double minor penalty for tripping and roughing penalty whilst Baker served 2 minutes for roughing.
Within 20 seconds of the restart, the Warriors were on level terms. Captain Matt Dudley scored an unassisted goal. Game on!
The game continued to be contested fiercely, bringing with it more roughing penalties for both an Ice Wolves player and Warriors’ Brocklebank on 47 minutes.
Entering the final 10 minutes of the game, things were tense and both teams knew that the next goal would most likely be the winner.
The last thing the Warriors needed was any more penalties. But that’s what happened. They incurred a 2 minute penalty for having too many men on the ice. With the clock showing 58:48, the Warriors needed to defend the penalty for the remaining 72 seconds to take the draw.
But miraculously, 12 seconds after the restart, the Warriors raced up the ice and slotted home their second goal to make it 2-1. Dudley bagged his second of the game, unassisted, leaving the Warriors with one minute to kill the penalty and take the win.
Thankfully the Warriors hung on and bagged their first win of the season in their final challenge game of the season!
Final score :
Ice Wolves 1 Warriors 2
Points scorers:
Matt Dudley 2+0
What a game. What a twist at the end!
That’s a hard one to take for the Ice Wolves but well done to the Warriors for fighting until the very end.
Matt Dudley
Warriors’ player of the game
Rory Butcher
Captain’s player of the game
Player of the Game, as selected by the Ice Wolves, went to Matt Dudley who scored both Warriors goal - and the Captain’s Helmet went to Rory Butcher for a great game in goal.
