Warriors 1 strike down Comets
On Saturday, 25th November, Warriors 1 took on the Cleveland Comets at Planet Ice, Leeds. This was a pre-season challenge game as the team prepares for their campaign in the "Blood, Sweat & Tears" Cup in 2024.
Cleveland Comets are well known to the Warriors, having played against them in the Northern Recreational Hockey Cup last season. The Comets are one of the stronger recreational teams in the north, and this was going to be a tough test.
The Warriors were without several key players – Lewis Pickering (netminder), captain Chris Giles (D), Ollie Gannon (D), Ellen Gallimore (D), Simon Morrow (F), and Ethan Jones (F/D). There were also four Warriors 1 debutants - Nathan Clegg (D) and Tyler Heming (D), who both moved up from Warriors 2 during the off-season, netminder Matt Gatenby, and Dzintars Jonuss (F).
1st period
The Comets opened the scoring after just five minutes, however the Warriors responded within a minute – Wes Nixon equalising with a nice goal from a very sharp angle, assisted by debutant Dzintars Jonuss. The rest of the first period was an even, tight affair with no more goals until a late surge from the Comets, scoring two goals in quick succession in the final two minutes before the break.
2nd period
The second period began with both teams exchanging chances, with Warriors’ netminder Ben Briggs making a couple of excellent saves to keep the Comets out.
Then came a flurry of goals from the Warriors that saw them tie the score and then take the lead in the space of two minutes. Ash Pryce made it 2-3 with a solo effort, and then Dylan Noonan tied it at 3-3 with a nice shot off the rush (assists Mitch White and Andy Giles).
Sam Cromack then put Warriors one ahead at 4-3 with a great solo rush and a low shot into the corner. Taking a slim lead into the final frame, the Warriors knew they’d have a battle on their hands to keep the Comets at bay.
3rd period
The Comets struck first, tying the score at 4-4 within four minutes of the restart, but the Warriors were able to respond quickly - Mitch White scoring with a great shot into the top corner, with an assist from Noonan.
The Comets scored again to level things at 5-5, however they were beginning to lose their discipline, and the Warriors had a number of power play opportunities which they weren’t able to take advantage of, despite some excellent puck possession.
The Comets’ indiscipline finally came to bite them as one of their players took a major penalty for an elbow to the head on Andy Giles. The hit left Giles with a cut on his nose, and the offending Comets player also received a game misconduct.
The Warriors saw their chance to take advantage of the five-minute major penalty, and they took it – scoring two goals, both by debutant defensemen. Tyler Heming struck first with an assist from Nathan Clegg. Clegg then sealed the win with the Warriors’s seventh goal, assisted by White.
A great win for the Warriors over a tough opponent, and a result that hopefully bodes well for the upcoming season.
Points scorers:
Mitch White 1+2
Nathan Clegg 1+1
Dylan Noonan 1+1
Sam Cromack 1+0
Tyler Heming 1+0
Wes Nixon 1+0
Ash Pryce 1+0
Andy Giles 0+1
Dzintars Jonuss 0+1
Ash Pryce
Warriors’ player of the game
Nathan Clegg
Captain’s player of the game
The Player of the Game for the Warriors, as selected by the Comets, went to Ash Pryce for a stellar performance filling in on the backend. And the Warriors’ helmet went to Nathan Clegg for an excellent debut outing.
