The other Moralee game of the weekend saw Sheffield Spartans
draw 4-4 with Sutton Sting in the iceSheffield derby which means that there is
now a pack of 3 teams all level on 10 points battling it out for second place
at this stage of the season while the Hawks sit comfortably in the driving seat
with a 7 point advantage.
Hawks entertained the Telford Tigers EPL side on Sunday in
the ECCN and managed to keep the score down to a narrow 2-5 defeat that saw Hawks
netminder Stuart Ashton save a penalty shot for the second game in a row. That result saw the Tigers move clear at the
top of the group table, 2 points ahead of Manchester Phoenix EPL who have
played a game more. 
In full keeping with the spirit of this crossover cup
competition, Tigers iced several members of their NIHL 2 side on Sunday
including 4 under-18s. Promising young
netminding talent Denis Bell - who represents GB at under 18 level - came on
for the last 7 minutes once Sam Gospel’s net had been breached for the first
time and he will definitely be one to watch at the highest level for the
future.
Unfortunately, his EPL team debut was marred by conceding a goal just as the buzzer was sounding at 60.00 which left him with a 50% Save% record for the game!
Also for the Tigers, GB international and many time champion
Jonathan Weaver made what may well have been his first ever appearance on
Blackburn ice in a senior career spanning over 20 years and was joined by Rick
Plant who actually played 2 games for the Hawks in the British League back in
1995/6. Unfortunately, his EPL team debut was marred by conceding a goal just as the buzzer was sounding at 60.00 which left him with a 50% Save% record for the game!
Photos:
Top: Telford Tigers’ GB International Jonathan Weaver at Blackburn on
Sunday night. Photo by John Milton – www.eventog.uk
Bottom: Tigers’ netminder Denis Bell playing his first game for the EPL
team. Photo by Ella Thornton – Hawk Photography
