Falcons prey on Warriors
On Saturday 11th February, our Warriors 1 team welcomed the Blackburn Falcons to Planet Ice, Leeds for their 3rd NRHC game of the season.
Back in their familiar grey home uniform, the Warriors faced the Blackburn Falcons for the first time in the NRHC - and also the first time in a 60 minute game. The Warriors had met the Falcons on two previous occasions, but in weekend tournaments. Those encounters were enough to make the team aware of how strong the Falcons are and how tough this game would be.
In team news; the Warriors were unable to select defencemen Ollie Gannon, Paddy Horner, Ellen Gallimore, James Way and Jordan Batty, along with forwards Adrian Garcia, Tom Gabbitas and Niku Ghaemi, plus player-coach Alex Jones. In the absence of coach Jones, Ollie Gannon stepped-in to be bench coach.
Of the three netminders available for selection, Lewis Pickering was given back-up duties with Vadims Nazareno getting the nod for his Warriors 1 debut.
With the Warriors icing three former Blackburn players - Sam Forrester, Wes Nixon and Ash Pryce, the team had some insight into the Falcons style and strengths.
Vadims Nazarenko
Made his Warriors 1 debut
1st period
The Falcons started the game aggressively and the Warriors were able to withstand and match this aggression. This resulted in quite a fiery period with lots of hits and physical duels.
Both teams fought hard and there were multiple excellent scoring opportunities for both teams in the period. It could have easily been 4-4 if it wasn’t for the heroics of Falcons netminder William Outram and Warriors Vadims Nazarenko respectively.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the sixth minute. After a turnover inside the Warriors zone, the Falcons took advantage and beat Nazarenko. 0-1 Falcons.
This was an end-to-end period, with the Falcons putting 17 shots on goal and the Warriors having 13 of their own - and both teams took 6 minutes in penalties during the period.
Despite the many powerplay advantages, the period ended with no further goals.
At the end of the first period, the score was:
Warriors 0 Falcons 1
After a discussion with bench coach, Ollie Gannon, the team came out for the second period in a determined and focused mood.
Ollie Gannon
Bench Coach for the game
The period picked up where the first period left off, with both teams creating good scoring chances, but failing to put them away.
The Warriors avoided taking any penalties during the second period and were at full strength for the full twenty minutes. The Falcons, however, took 4 minutes in minor penalties.
It looked like the period would end in a stalemate as it remained goalless whilst the clock ticked closer to the 40 minute mark.
But, with 39 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, Sam Forrester found himself with the puck in the offensive zone - at an acute angle to the left of the goal. He shot the puck, aiming it at netminder Outram’s pad, hoping the puck would rebound into the net.
Outram had this effort covered, but Forrester followed up on his own rebound to score the equalising goal, assisted by Wes Nixon, with just 40 seconds remaining in the period.
Sam Forrester
Tied the game at 1-1 with a second period goal.
This period ended with the score at 1-1.
Warriors 1 Falcons 1
3rd period
While the ice was being cut, the Warriors had the chance to regroup in the changing room. There was a sense of relief to be back on level terms, but it took a lot out of the team to get there and with twenty minutes still to play, the game could go either way.
The hope was that the Falcons would tire in the final period, but the team could not rely on this.
After the restart, the Warriors struggled to regain the same focus and organisation that they had shown in the second period. This resulted in a Falcons goal after only 30 seconds of the period.
This was an early blow for the Warriors, but with only one goal between the teams and most of the period remaining, the Warriors knew they’d have the time and opportunities to rectify this.
Unfortunately, the Warriors struggled to make a meaningful impact in that first ten minutes of the period, conceding two further goals.
The Warriors were now three goals behind at 1-4, with only 12 minutes left on the clock. In only 8 minutes the tide had turned and the Warriors called a timeout in order to regroup. It was clear that a monumental effort was now needed to get back on level terms.
Time out
Gave the team a chance to regroup
Heading back out for the puck drop, the team felt that one early goal could swing the momentum back in their favour. Six minutes after the timeout, at 53 minutes, 24 seconds, the Warriors responded with a goal from Andy Giles. Sam Cromack won the face-off in the Falcons zone and the puck slid into the path of Giles, who instinctively hit the shot low and hard, catching Outram by surprise at his near post.
Andy Giles
Scored the Warriors second goal
It was now 2-4 Falcons, with just over six minutes left to play. Warriors dug in for the last push. But with the clock running down fast, time was against them. Despite pulling Nazarenko to add a sixth skater, there were no further goals, meaning the period score was 1-3 Falcons and a final score of :
Warriors 2 Falcons 4
Sam Cromack
Assisted Giles’ goal
Wes Nixon
Assisted Forrester’s goal
Unfortunately, the Falcons took the 2 points back to Lancashire, with the Warriors left to rue the seven minute lapse in concentration which determined the outcome of the game.
On the upside, the Warriors were a match for the Falcons and on another day, the result could have gone the other way.
Points scorers:
Sam Forrester 1+0
Andy Giles 1+0
Sam Cromack 0+1
Wes Nixon 0+1
Vadims Nazarenko
Warriors’ player of the game
Will Gibbons
Captain’s player of the game
Player of the game for the Warriors was goalie and Warriors 1 debutant, Vadims Nazarenko, who pulled off some great saves to keep the Warriors in the game.
The Captain’s player of the game went to the hardest worker on the ice, Will Gibbons Well done.
Another tough night for the Warriors. Lots can be taken from this defeat in terms of how the team can improve going forward.
Fortunately, the Warriors don’t have to wait too long to get back in action, as they start a run of away games with a trip to Billingham Ice Forum on the 12th March 2023.
The Warriors beat the Cleveland Comets 11-5 at home on 10th December 2022, but this was a very hard game and the Comets will benefit from home advantage and the possibility of a bigger bench for the away fixture.
Game details below:
Comets v Warriors
Sunday 12th March 2023
Face-off : 17:30
@ Billingham Ice Forum
Free entry
