Monday, 26 September 2022

Widnes Wild New Livestream Service For 2022/23 NIHL Season


Having been unable to go to big games for a while – for health and logistical reasons that I won’t bore you with – I was very pleased to learn that Widnes Wild have decided to offer a livestreaming service for their home matches this season.

It is being operated by BASN who produce the “Drop The Puck” series and the first game was screened this weekend when the Wild took on Whitley Warriors in the NIHL Moralee Division, which - if you don’t happen to know - is the third tier of British domestic hockey.

Now, I would much rather have been at the game in person – doing all the things I normally do - but, as that wasn’t practical, being able to sit and watch from the comfort of my own home (with considerably fewer layers of clothing on…) was a fairly decent substitute.

Having been brought up in the days before everything was IT-based and digital, I tend to be wary of modern technology and still possess things like VHS videos, audio cassettes and 78rpm records. Having said that, I found this livestream very easy to sign up for and also to access on the day of the game. I found the picture clear and easy to watch and the commentary audio was very entertaining and, more importantly - I got to see a game that I wouldn’t otherwise have seen. 

There is a cost involved in this, however, and the price of a viewing ticket for a Wild game to be streamed this season is £15.00.  There have been some discussions about how that figure compares with online streams of, say, Elite League games or NIHL National Division games which are of a higher level of competition – but all clubs and leagues have different economic considerations and, just because it MIGHT be cheaper to watch somebody else’s game in a supposedly “better league”, that’s not really any great attraction for me to want to do so.

A single adult ticket to a Wild home game costs £12.00. On top of that you have the cost of petrol to get there, drinks and snacks while you are there and so on. Paying £15.00 for an online livestream would, therefore, probably save you money – although not be anywhere near as much fun – but it is, at least, an option. Especially for away fans who might be unable to make the long journey down from Whitley Bay or Billingham on a Sunday evening. 

And all profits from the livestream go to the Wild club funds.   

So there you are – those are my thoughts on the Widnes Wild livestreaming service for the new NIHL season – take them or leave them as you wish. Go along to the game if you can as you will enjoy the atmosphere and the match night experience - but watching online is certainly better than missing out all together! 

Find out more at www.widneswild.co.uk 

Paul Breeze - Ice Hockey Review Editor  

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

British Para Ice Hockey Play Offs 2022 - Results & Match Stats


British Para Ice Hockey Play Offs 2022 (at Planet Ice Widnes) 

The British Para Ice Hockey end of season play offs were held at Planet Ice Widnes over the weekend – returning after a two year absence caused by the Covid Pandemic  

The top four teams in the league – which was played over the summer months – met in two semi finals on the Saturday and then in a 3rd place game and play off final on the Sunday.

The semi-finals ran pretty much to league form with league champions Cardiff Huskies beating Sheffield development side the “Steelstings”  5-1 and Sheffield’s first team - the Steelkings – despatching the Widnes-based Mayhem team 9-0.

The Mayhem secured third place overall with a 10-0 win over the Steelstings in the bronze medal game and Cardiff made it a league and play off “double” by beating the Steelkings 6-1 in a highly entertaining final.


Saturday 10th September 2022, Semi Final 1 – 5.30pm 

Cardiff Huskies 5 - Sheffield Steelstings 1 

Period Scores:  2-0, 1-1, 2-0 

Penalties In Minutes:  Huskies 2 – Steelstings  0

Huskies: Tyler Christopher (2+2), Kieron Miles (NM 60mins), Shannon Couch (1+0), Caitlyn Emmerson, Leanne Emmerson (2PIM), Josh Campbell (1+0), Emma Douglas, Jon Le Galloudec (0+1), Chris Smart (1+0)   

Steelstings:  Rachel Rawson, Daniel Clarke, Bill Hardy, Jack Grocock, Gary Whiteley, Matt Davis (NM 27.30 mins), Connor Grocock, David Scivill, Katie Reid, Russ Clarke, Zoe Davies, Sean Grocock (NM 27.30 mins), Andrew Atkinson (1+0), Damien Barker, Emily McLean 

Referee:  Neil Herring 

Timekeeper & Scorer: Colin Ellis


Saturday 10th September 2022, Semi Final 2 – 7.30pm 

Mayhem 0 - Sheffield Steelkings 9 

Period Scores:  0-2, 0-4, 0-3

Penalties In Minutes:  Mayhem 0 - Steelkings 0

Mayhem:  Amy Griffiths, Naomi Jenks, Karl Nicholson, Felicity Gregory, Tony Naylor, Dean Lahan, Anthony Booth, Tony Kimm, Darren Pomfret, Megan McEvoy, Mark Colquitt, Russell Willey, Peggy Assinck

Steelkings:  Matthew Franklin (1+0), Gary Farmer (4+1), Rebecca Moore (1+0),  Rachel Paget (0+1), Bryan Backworm, Andy Mead (1+0), Mike Rhodes, Wayne Plummer, John Oakley, Jake Oakley (2+1), Barry Grayson

Match Officials:  Neil Herring & Alice Horsfield

Timekeeper & Scorer: Colin Ellis 


Sunday 11th September 2022, 3rd Place Game  – 4.15pm 

Mayhem 10 - Sheffield Steelstings 0 

Period Scores:  2-0, 7-0, 1-0 

Penalties In Minutes:  Mayhem 25 – Steelstings 2

Mayhem:  Amy Griffiths, Naomi Jenks (2+10, Karl Nicholson (4+5), Felicity Gregory (0+1), Tony Naylor, Dean Lahan (2+2), Anthony Booth (1+1), Tony Kimm (1+1), Darren Pomfret, Megan McEvoy, Mark Colquitt, Russell Willey (0+1 25PIM) , Peggy Assinck

Steelstings:  Rachel Rawson, Daniel Clarke, Bill Hardy, Jack Grocock, Gary Whiteley, Matt Davis (NM 60mins), Connor Grocock, David Scivill, Katie Reid, Russ Clarke (2PIM), Zoe Davies, Sean Grocock, Andrew Atkinson, Damien Barker, Emily McLean

Match Officials:  Neil Herring & Steve French 

Timekeeper & Scorer: Colin Ellis


Sunday 11th September 2022, Play Off Final – 6.15pm 

Cardiff Huskies 6 - Sheffield Steelkings 1 

Period Scores:  1-0, 1-1, 4-0 

Penalties In Minutes:  Huskies 0 – Steelkings 2

Huskies: Tyler Christopher (2+1), Kieron Miles (NM 60mins), Shannon Couch (0+1), Caitlyn Emmerson, Leanne Emmerson, Paul Furber (1+0),  Josh Campbell (1+0), Emma Douglas, Jon Le Galloudec, Chris Smart, Nathan Stephens (2+2)   

Steelkings:  Matthew Franklin, Gary Farmer, Rebecca Moore, Rachel Paget, Andy Mead, Mike Rhodes, Wayne Plummer, John Oakley, Jack Oakley (1+0), Barry Grayson (2PIM)

Match Officials:  Neil Herring & Steve French 

Timekeeper & Scorer: Colin Ellis


Report compiled by Paul Breeze