David Hrubovsky scored 4 goals for the Huskies against Blackburn (Photo by David Tattum)
Saturday 25th May – Challenge Match: Halton Huskies 10 – Blackburn Renegades 10
The Halton Huskies played out a thrilling 10-10 draw against the Blackburn Renegades in their challenge match at Planet Ice Widnes on Saturday.
The Huskies opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a goal from Valerica Florea but Blackburn equalised within 30 seconds.
Stewart Jamieson edged the home side back in front two minutes later but the Renegades stubbornly levelled once again and then took the lead with 90 seconds left to play in the period. A goal from Dave Priestley drew the Huskies back level on 19 minutes and the score remained 3-3 at the first period break.
The second period was just as close and keenly contested. A goal from Stephen Hay on 23 minutes put Halton back in front but Blackburn equalised again three minutes later. Two strikes – from David Hrubrovsky and Jack Davies - put some daylight between the two teams for the first time at 6-4 on 30 minutes but the Renegades pulled a goal back once again. A second goal from Hrubrovsky on 35 minutes was countered by another Blackburn strike and the score stood at a very finely poised 7-6 after two periods.
Blackburn scored first in the third period to level the scores once again but Nathan Hewitt edged the Huskies ahead again on 46 minutes. Then three straight goals for the visitors gave them a sudden lead heading into the closing stages of the game and the Huskies had a lot of work to do in the last couple of minutes.
They managed to claw their way back into the game with two goals from Hrubrovsky – his third and fourth of the night – to level the score with just 61 seconds left on the clock, and the game finished at 10-10 – exactly the same score as in the previous meeting between the two teams in East Lancashire three weeks earlier.
The Halton Huskies are next in action on Saturday 8th June when they take on the Manchester Swarm at Planet Ice Widnes, 4.15pm face off.