Halton Huskies v Sheffield Ice Tigers (Photo by Geoff White - www.gw-images.com) |
Sunday 25th February 2018 – Challenge Match
Halton Huskies 9 – Sheffield Ice Tigers 7
Period Scores: 2-3, 2-2, 5-2
Penalties In Minutes: Huskies 6 – Ice Tigers 4
Match Officials: Christopher Povall & Sam Campbell
The term "thriller" tends to get a bit over used – especially by me on this website, if the truth be told - but it is entirely accurate when you come to sum up this fascinating game on Sunday night between the Halton Huskies and the Sheffield Ice Tigers. The two teams were very evenly matched, the lead changed hands several times throughout the game and the result was in doubt until the very last seconds!
The visitors started the game the stronger and opened the scoring after just 3 minutes. It took the Huskies until the 12th minute to open their account with great goal by Daniel Trust and then a strike by Anthony Hughes some 4 minutes later edged them into the lead.
Two goals from the Ice Tigers within just 17 seconds of each other propelled them back into the lead again –with the score standing at 2-3 at the first break.
Sheffield scored again 25 seconds into the second period and extended their lead even further with a goal on almost exactly 30 minutes to lead 2-5 with half of the game gone.
The Huskies rallied, however, and goals from Hughes and Trust again levelled the scoring for the period and left the game at a tantalisingly poised 4-5 heading into the last 20 minutes.
The Halton team came out all fired up for the third period and Michael Parkin scored the equalising goal after 42 minutes (5-5). A delayed penalty goal from Nathan Hewitt put the Huskies ahead some three minutes later (6-5), only for the Ice Tigers to equalise again in the 52nd minute (6-6) – which then set off an incredible sequence that saw 4 goals scored in less than 2 minutes.
Hewitt scored again for Halton 40 seconds later to edge the home side in front again (7-6) but then the Ice Tigers equalised once more 30 seconds later to tie the game at 7-7.
Just 48 seconds after the Sheffield equaliser, James Kelly put the Huskies back in the lead again (8-7) and a hat-trick goal from Anthony Hughes rounded off the scoring with just 90 seconds left of the match (9-7).
The Halton Huskies are next at home on Sunday 18th Match when they play the Coventry Spitfires in a challenge game at Planet ice Widnes. Face off is at 8.30pm and admission is free!
Full Line Ups & Player Stats:
Halton Huskies: Anna Barnett, Anthony Hughes (3+0 2PIM), Connor Cooper (2PIM), Craig Martin-Watt, Daniel Trust (2+0), David Simonds, James Kelly (1+0), James Behan (0+1), James Williams, Jeff Chapman-Watson (0+3), Kevin Ashcombe , Michael Parkin (1+1), Nathan Hewitt (2+2), Paul Barratt, Richard Evans (0+1 2PIM), Thomas Jenkins, Joel Clark - nm
Sheffield Ice Tigers:
Adrian Todd, Charles Dowell, Dale Vella (0 + 1), Daniel Glue (0 + 3 2PIM), David Sobodtka (2 + 2), James Drinkall (1 + 0 2PIM), James Hague (2 + 1), Jamie Hastelow, Josef Tomlinson, Kristats Savickis (0 + 1), Rory Ross-Docherty (1 + 0), Rosanna Sneyd, Ruslands Gailitis, Scott Antcliffe, Scott Dutton - nm, Thomas Wright (1 + 0), Thomas Haines.