MATCH DETAILS:
Saturday 12th May 2018 – Ice Hockey Summer Classic Cup
Wyre Seagulls (Blackburn) 6 - Riverside Raiders (Widnes) 4
Period Scores: 2-0, 2-2, 2-2
Penalties In Minutes: Seagulls 14 - Raiders 10
Match Official: Jake Apsley
The Wyre Seagulls and Riverside Raiders played out an entertaining and close fought game in the Ice Hockey Summer Classic at Blackburn Arena on Saturday night, resulting in a 6-4 victory for the home side.
The Seagulls took the lead after 12 minutes with a short-handed goal from Adam Fleet and Mark Jenkins doubled the advantage 4 minutes later. The Raiders levelled the score with two quick goals early in the second period – with strikes from Michael Filek and Laurence le Vey – but Fleet edged the home side back in front less than a minute later. A goal from Wyre’s Kieron Hardman at the midway point of the game made the score 4-2 and that was the last goal of the second period.
Adam Fleet scored his hat-trick goal 3 minutes into the third period to put the Seagulls 5-2 up but two more quick goals – from Jack Walker and Jordan Birtwistle - dragged the Raiders back into contention at 5-4 with some 12 minutes left to play.
There were chances for both teams during a tense closing phase but the Seagulls made sure of the win with a goal from team captain Dan Coxon with just 2 minutes left on the clock.
The win lifts the Wyre Seagulls up to second place in the group table – level on points with leaders Flintshire Phantoms, with 6 points, but with an inferior goal difference - and those two teams meet this Sunday 20th May at Blackburn Arena in a fascinating "battle of the top two".
The Riverside Raiders are next in action on Sunday 27th May when they entertain the Sheffield Ice Tigers in a 4.30pm face off at Planet Ice Widnes.
Report by Paul Breeze
Team Line Ups and Player Stats
Riverside Raiders: Anthony Hughes (0+1), Ben Donkin (2PIM), Daniel Watts, Eemeli Vuorihovi (0+1, 2PIM), Elizabeth Wright (0+1), Howard Hughes, Jack Walker (1+0, 2PIM), James Kelly, James Behan, Jordan Birtwistle (1+0), Laurence le Vay (1+0), Luke Williams, Michael Filek (1+0), Michael Rogers (NM, 60 mins - 6 goals), Peter O’Mahoney (2PIM), Rastislav Geroc , Stephen Harvey
Wyre Seagulls: Adam Fleet (3+0), Alex Blackshaw (NM, 60 mins - 4 goals), Benjamin Cleary, Christian Wareing (2PIM), Chris Brumby, Conor Duthie, Craig Pennington, Dan Coxon (1+0), David May, Jonathan Brumby (0+1, 6PIM), Jordan Bradshaw, Kieron Hardman (1+2), Kurtis Hall (2PIM), Mark Kay (2PIM), Mark Jenkins (1+0), Matt Duncan (2PIM)
