Dave Priestley (#70) found the back of the net in the 10 -10 draw at Blackburn (Photo by Lydia Turner / lydiaturnerphotography.co.uk )
Saturday 4th May 2024 – Challenge Match: Blackburn Renegades 10 – Halton Huskies 10
The Halton Huskies played out a thrilling 10-10 draw in their Challenge Match against the Blackburn Renegades away in East Lancashire on Saturday.
This was, overall, an excellent advertisement for recreational ice hockey with plenty of end to action, lots of goals and it was an especially spirited performance by the Huskies who found themselves up against a number of former league players in the Renegades team.
The first period alone saw seven goals – more than are often scored in total in a higher division game these days – and strikes from Jake Berry, Jack Davies and Matt Kohler ensured that the Huskies remained well in contention with their hosts with the score at 4-3 at the first break.
Blackburn visibly upped their game in the second period and scored 4 unanswered goals to open up a 7-3 lead but then an extended powerplay on a fighting penalty gave the Huskies a 5 on 3 player advantage and they were able to pull back deficit with goals from Berry, Kohler and Reid Ryan to leave the score standing at a finely balanced 7-6 with one period left to play.
The Renegades scored early in the third period to briefly double their advantage but this was short lived as a dazzling spell from Halton saw them draw level - with hat-trick goals from both Kohler and Berry. They then took the lead themselves with a strike from Dave Priestley and edged further ahead with a fourth goal of the night from Berry to lead 8-10.
Blackburn were not finished, however, and fought back again to tie the game at 10-10. Unfortunately, by this time, the game had over-run its allocated amount of ice time and had to be cut short with 4.40 remaining on the clock.
Talking afterwards, Huskies manager Ste Hay said: “It was a standard game against a team from Blackburn - fiery and exciting throughout. I am looking forward to the return game on home ice.”
The Huskies are next in action on Saturday 25th May when they play the return game against the Renegades at Planet Ice Widnes, 4.15pm face off.
