Tag Archives: Gareth O’Flaherty

Lions Maul Metros

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Trafford Metros 2 Nottingham Lions 5

Four goals from Joe Wightman and one from Gareth O’Flaherty helped the Lions to a deserved 5-2 victory over the Trafford Metros at Altrincham Ice Dome on Saturday evening.

In one of their best performances of the season, Nottingham dominated the game with some controlled passing and decisive finishing, whilst Trafford spurned the majority of chances that did fall their way.

Wightman grabbed his first after six minutes, combining well with Nick Whyatt to fire past Metros goalie Dave Clancy.

Trafford found Lions netminder Richard Griffiths in fine form from the off, as he tipped a Jamie Rogerson shot onto the post six minutes later, but he couldn’t prevent Max Drakeley equalising with seven remaining in the first period.

four goal hero - Joe Wightman

Wightman put Nottingham back in front within three minutes of the start of the second period before Michael Rose got a good few more punches in than his opponent John Murray after the pair dropped their gloves on the half-hour mark.

A prolonged Lions attack on Clancy’s goal then followed, Gareth O’Flaherty finally slotting home with twenty seconds left to give Nottingham a two goal cushion going into the third.

Wightman completed his hat-trick after three minutes of the restart before getting his fourth of the night ten minutes later.

Metros’ Sean Day scored what was only ever going to be a consolation goal with six minutes remaining before referee Dave Emmerson was kept busy, dishing out a plethora of penalties after a line brawl in the dying seconds of the game.

Post-game interviews with Man of the Match Joe Wightman and Head Coach Matt Bradbury are available to watch on LionsTV – the Lions’ online TV channel.

Nottingham now have two more games left to pick-up more points in the hope of avoiding the uncertainty of a relegation play-off against the runners-up in Division 2. Both games are at home against the Blackburn Hawks and the first is this Sunday (11th March) with a 7.15pm face-off at the National Ice Centre.

Game Stats:

Joe Wightman 4+1, Gareth O’Flaherty 1+0, Jack Clarkson 0+3, Nick Whyatt 0+2.

Period Scores: 1st 1-1, 2nd 0-2, 3rd 1-2.

Shots: 1st 12-6, 2nd 11-13, 3rd 12-11. Total 35-30.

Penalty Mins: 1st 0-0, 2nd 4-6, 3rd 40-12. Total 44-18.

Lions MOTM: Joe Wightman.

Lions In The Mix As Trent Triumph

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No less that seven Nottingham Lions players were involved as Nottingham Trent University beat the University Of Nottingham 7-5 in a thrilling game, in front of a 7000 sell-out crowd at the Capital FM Arena last night.

Lion, Ben Wood opened the scoring for Trent with five minutes on the clock.

Trent went two goals up after ten minutes, then three unanswered Nottingham goals put them in the driving seat before a Trent equaliser late in the second period tied things up at 4-4 and set-up a tense final twenty minutes.

Gareth O'Flaherty celebrates after scoring Trent's game-winner.

Lions’ latest signing Jack Clarkson got Nottingham back in front with a great finish through a mass of bodies with fifteen minutes to go, before Trent took a stranglehold on the game scoring four-in-a-row, two of those, including the game winner were scored by Lions centre Gareth O’Flaherty.

Nottingham pulled a goal back with less than a minute remaining but it was too little-too late as Trent came away with the trophy and the bragging rights.

There was some consolation for Clarkson as he was named Nottingham’s Man of the Match and Gareth O’Flaherty was unlucky not to be named as Trent’s selection, just being pipped to the post by Will Weldon.

All the Lions involved thoughts’ now turn back to ENL matters with a home tie at the NIC with Sheffield Spartans this Sunday (7.15pm Face-Off).

Don’t forget we have special reduced student prices for our remaining three home games this season.

Full game stats can be viewed here : http://www.buiha.org.uk/gameStats.php?gid=2008

Lions Involved:

NTU Players: Ben Wood, Max Bennett & Gareth O’Flaherty.

NU Players: Jack Baveystock, Christy Johnson-Brown, Richard Griffiths & Jack Clarkson.

NU Coaching Staff: Simon Hopkins & Nicky Balchin.

Lions Prepare For Uni-Varsity Challenge

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Seven members of the Nottingham Lions squad will be taking part in the annual Ice Hockey Varsity Challenge match in front of a 7000 strong-crowd at the Capital FM Arena this coming Monday (20th February).

The match between Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham is organised by the Lions’ Assistant Coach Simon Hopkins who is also the Head Coach of the Nottingham Universities Ice Hockey Club, better known as the Nottingham Mavericks.

Lions Assistant Coach and Mavericks Head Coach - Simon Hopkins.

The Mavericks, who normally comprise of players from both universities, split into two teams and compete in the game as part of a series of Varsity events including American Football, Rugby, Netball and Football. The University gaining the most wins from all the events takes home the Varsity Trophy.

Representing for Nottingham Trent will be Gareth O’Flaherty, Max Bennett and Ben Wood – they will be taking on their Lions counterparts Jack Clarkson, Jack Baveystock, Christy Johnson-Brown and netminder Richard Griffiths who will be icing for Nottingham Uni.

Nottingham Trent Players - (Top L-R) Ben Wood, Max Bennett & Gareth O'Flaherty.

University of Nottingham Players - (Top L-R) Richard Griffiths, Jack Baveystock, Christy Johnson-Brown & Jack Clarkson.

This year’s game, which is still the biggest Varsity Ice Hockey match outside of North America, is in aid of Cerebral Palsy Sport. Last year’s event raised £10,000 for the Parent’s Association for Seriously Ill Children (PASIC).

Tickets are £5 and are available from the Student Union Reception: Portland Building in University Park Campus of the University of Nottingham. The game is certain to sell out so get your tickets as soon as possible.

Students – Keep an eye on the Lions website or our Facebook and Twitter accounts over the next 24 hours for some exciting news regarding the Lions.