Josh Jones was the MVP for the Ducks (Photo by Paul Breeze)
Saturday 8th March 2025 – NIHL
Laidler Division: Deeside Ducks 2 – Telford Tigers 7
The Deeside Ducks put in a creditable performance against league champions in waiting Telford Tigers, ending up with a 2-7 defeat at Deeside Leisure Centre on Saturday.
The Ducks actually had the puck in the net first with a Dan Fadejevs strike after 4½ minutes but the goal was disallowed by the referee due to an infringement and the score remained at a finely balanced 0-0 at the first period break.
Telford eventually opened the scoring three minutes into the second period and went 0-2 up 35 seconds later. Josh Jones broke the Ducks’ duck on 28 minutes but another Telford goal 90 seconds later restored the two-goal advantage, and two more unanswered goals saw the Tigers leading 1-5 at the second interval.
Former Dragons’ favourite Paul Davies put Telford further ahead on 42 minutes but Stewart Cutting scored a superb goal for the Ducks on 52 minutes to keep the game interesting. A last minute Tigers goal with just 12 seconds left on the clock rounded off the scoring and gave Telford a 2-7 victory.
The final result meant that Telford clinched the Laidler Division title and the league trophy and medals were awarded by England Ice Hockey officials on the ice after the game.
This was the Ducks’ final home game in their roller-coaster debut season. They have two away games left and are back in action away to Sutton Sting this Saturday.
*****
The MVP awards were presented by Ducks match volunteer Andy Brown and went to #73 Josh Jones for Deeside and #26 Paul Davies for Telford.
Andy was ably assisted by EIH Director Martin Peters and NIHL General Manager Haydn Hunter, who had come to Deeside to present the Laidler Division trophy and medals to the Tigers for winning the league title.
