Tag Archives: Hull Stingrays

Lions Humble Hull To Go Back On Top

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Nottingham Lions 8 – Hull Stingrays 0

The Nottingham Lions reclaimed the top spot in the NIHL Division Two North on Sunday evening with a commanding win over Hull Stingrays at the National Ice Centre.

After beating the Stingrays 6-0 in an away clash last week, the Lions headed into the game brimming with confidence. Hull sought to quash this psychological advantage with an aggressive start to the game.

Simon Hunt returned to claim a goal and two assists.

Nottingham could not be bullied out of executing their game plan though and stuck ruthlessly to their task. They were rewarded in the eleventh minute with unlikely scorer Reece Glossop poking the puck beyond Hull netminder Jack Dalby’s reach into the net.

The Lions remained persistent in their counter attacks and Michael Rose made it 2-0 eight minutes later with a well taken shot on the breakout. Nottingham were then happy to ride out their lead to the break and ended the first period with a two goal lead.

The Stingrays refused to accept the game was beyond their grasp and started the second period with the same vigour they showed in the opening ten minutes of the first. However, the Lions kept their cool and veteran Simon Hunt showed his class, hammering home the third goal with authority after just two minutes.

The Lions then effectively put the game beyond the Stingray’s reach with goals in the 26th and 37th minutes by man of the match Dan Hazeldine and Ben Wood respectively.

The Lions started the third period with a healthy five goal advantage and continued their habit of scoring early on. Joe Wightman made it 6-0 within four minutes of the restart.

With the game seemingly beyond them, Hull looked again to impose themselves on Nottingham, checking hard and sending a few Lions players scrambling to the ice.

However, the Lions even had an answer to Hull’s attempts to physically dominate them in the latter stages of the game. Hunt racked up all 16 of his penalty minutes in the final period for some tough challenges, making it clear that Nottingham would not be backed into a corner.

The rest of the Lions showed their fighting spirit in the form of even more goals. Another veteran, Stuart Parker put one in after 53 minutes and American import Luke Branin completed the rout three minutes before the final buzzer, much to the chagrin of the travelling supporters.

While the Lions supporters were delighted at such a comprehensive victory, the night ended less than pleasantly for Nottingham netminder Alan Levers who took an unfortunate puck to the groin from Hull’s Brett Chapman’s slapshot which was taken after the whistle had been blown. As a result, Sam Gospel had to make a cameo appearance to see out the remainder of the game for the Lions.

Mikey Rose and Brett Chapman ‘dropping the gloves’ in the final period.

Chapman was involved again moments later when play restarted. He and Rose gave the fans what they wanted when they threw down their gloves for an on-ice brawl that saw them both sent to the penalty box.

With two resounding wins over Hull in as many games, Nottingham seem to have well and truly put their defeat to the Stingrays in November last year behind them.

Solihull Barons’ earlier victory over Deeside Dragons on Sunday meant the Lions overtook Deeside and Sheffield, finishing the week at the top of the table. They now go into next Saturday’s away clash at Blackburn (face off 17:45) knowing their league title prospects are much brighter.

LionsTV post-game interviews with both sets of players and coaches will be available to view here from Monday evening.

Match Stats:
Luke Thomas 0+1, Daniel Hazeldine 1+1, Ben Wood 1+2, Stuart Parker 1+1, Gareth O’Flaherty 0+2, Michael Rose 1+2, Simon Hunt 1+2, Joe Wightman 1+1, Luke Branin 1+0, Reece Glossop 1+0.
Period Scores: 1st 2-0, 2nd 3-0, 3rd 3-0.
Penalty Minutes: 1st 0-4, 2nd 4-2, 3rd 20-24. Overall 24-30.
Shots: 1st 17-6, 2nd 23-14, 3rd 8-7. Overall 48-27.
Lions MOTM (Sponsored by The Castle Inn): Dan Hazeldine.

Lions Take The Sting Out Of Hull

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Hull NIHL Stingrays 0 Nottingham Lions 6

Nottingham Lions kept up the pace with their NIHL Division Two North title rivals after a comprehensive 6-0 win over the Stingrays at Hull Arena on Sunday evening.

The game started in quite a fast pace with both netminders being tested early on and both sides hitting the post. The deadlock was broken just after six minutes courtesy of Gareth O’Flaherty, giving the Lions the perfect start and putting his scoring tally into double figures for the season with assists from Jose Leon and Michael Rose.

Gareth O’Flaherty grabbed two of the Lions’ six goals.

The first penalty of the game went to the Lions with Dan Hazeldine sitting a two-minute minor penalty for hooking at 6.55. However, Nottingham killed the penalty without any real problem.

At 12.17 Christy Johnson-Brown skated through a crowd of Hull players before smashing to puck past netminder Warren Gilfoyle, completing a wonder solo effort to double to visitors’ lead.

As the clock ticked down towards the end of the first period, the Lions hadn’t finished scoring, Hazeldine found himself with a great opportunity and slotted the puck home, punishing the hosts for some nightmare defensive passing in their own zone.

After the restart Stuart Parker netted yet another goal at 22.24 assisted by Joe Wightman, enhancing Parker’s impressive tally to three goals in four games since joining the Matt Bradbury’s side.

In between two penalties from Hull’s Brett Chapman, for slashing and interference respectively, O’Flaherty scored his second of the evening making it five for the traveling side with some quick, slick passing between the forward line before the trusty alternate captain guided it past the Hull goalie.

The third period saw the Stingrays ice their back-up netminder Jack Dalby after Gilfoyle saved nineteen of the twenty-four shots at him.

At 47.17 Hull’s Jordan Fisher and Nottingham’s Ben Wood both sat a two-minute minor penalty for roughing after an altercation in front of the Lions’ goal. This resulted in both sides only having four outfield men on the ice. During the penalty Craig Wallis fired a shot at goal, which somehow made its way through Dalby’s legs and into the back of the net giving the defensive player a rare goal, claiming only his second of the season.

In the remaining ten minutes both sides seemed to play out the game. Although, Gospel still had to be on top form to secure his shutout, saving a total of thirty-three shots in his first game back since recovering from his recent concussion.

Sam Gospel returned with a 33 shot shut-out.

The Lions now sit just one point behind leaders Sheffield and Deeside, with three games in hand over both teams and they will be looking to add another two points to their tally as the Hull Stingrays visit the National Ice Centre this Sunday (24th February) 7.15pm face off.

LionsTV post-game interviews with the Stingrays’ Scott Robson and Brett Chapman and the Lions’ Luke Branin and Matt Bradbury can be viewed by clicking here.

Match Stats:

Craig Wallis 1+0, Daniel Hazeldine 1+0, Christy Johnson-Brown 1+0, Stuart Parker 1+2, Gareth O’Flaherty 2+0, Michael Rose 0+2, Jose Leon 0+1, Joe Wightman 0+1.

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

Penalty Minutes: 1st 2-4, 2nd 4-0, 3rd 2-2. Overall 8-6.

Shots: 1st 12-11, 2nd 12-16, 3rd 11-6. Overall 35-33.

Lions MOTM: Sam Gospel.

Hull (A) Preview

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The Lions head to Humberside this Sunday as they prepare to face the Hull Stingrays, currently the only team to inflict a road defeat on Matt Bradbury’s men this season.

Joe Wightman in action during November’s 5-3 defeat in Hull.

The Stingrays ran out 5-3 winners at Hull Arena back in November after a disappointing show from the Lions. Nottingham found themselves three goals down with 36 minutes on the clock but goals from Joe Wightman, Ollie Betteridge and Luke Branin quickly got the Lions back on level terms. However, a resilient Hull side rallied and Chris Hogarth put the home side back in front before James Maughan finished the game with an empty-netter.

The two sides first met in September in the Lions’ first home game of the season with Nottingham claiming a resounding 8-0 victory in a game which saw veteran Simon Hunt claim a brace and the Man of the Match award on his Lions debut.

Nottingham’s bench looks likely to be unchanged from the one which slipped to a narrow defeat at home to the Deeside Dragons last weekend, whilst Hull will be looking to build on last Sunday’s emphatic 12-3 home win over a short-benched Fylde Flyers side.

After their last visit, the Lions know they will have to be at their best to come away with the points on Sunday and keeping up the pace with their three main promotion rivals is now vital as the race for top spot in NIHL Division Two North heats up.

Face off is at 5.45pm and don’t forget of you can’t make the journey to roar on the boys, the official Lions Twitter feed will keep you up to date with all the action as it happens.

Lions Humbled On Humberside

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Hull NIHL Stingrays 5 Nottingham Lions 3

An out of sorts Nottingham Lions suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Hull NIHL Stingrays on Saturday evening.

Unbeaten in their first eight games, the Lions looked odds-on to continue their impressive run at Hull Arena but a solid, workman-like performance from the home side saw them deservedly take the two points.

“Lions 1st goal” – Joe Wightman.

A lackluster first period from both sides saw just six shots on goal apiece and just as it looked like it would remain goalless, up popped James Maughan to hit home with 50 seconds left.

The game continued in a similar vein until two quick goals from Jack Dalby and Chris Hogarth looked to have put the Stingrays well and truly in the driving seat with four minutes to go in the second period.

However, Matt Bradbury’s men have already proved more than once this season, that they are not a team to just roll over and accept defeat and fired home two quick strikes of their own before the buzzer sounded. Joe Wightman and Ollie Betteridge getting their 12th and 15th goals of the season respectively.

A cagey and tense final period followed with Nottingham made to work hard to find an equaliser, which finally arrived courtesy of American, Luke Branin with seven minutes to go.

Luke Branin is congratulated by his teammates after grabbing the Lions’ equaliser.

To their credit Hull’s heads didn’t drop and they were back in front two minutes later.

The home side took full advantage of the extra man as Ben Wood was sent to the box for high sticking and Hogarth was on hand to restore the Stingrays lead with his second of the night, leaving the Lions reeling with just three minutes to go.

Nottingham pulled their goalie Sam Gospel in attempt to claw a goal back in the dying seconds but Maughan pounced on a loose puck from a face off in his own zone and sent it spinning into the Lions’ empty net to put the game’s outcome beyond all doubt.

The Lions will be hoping to get back to winning ways quickly with an improved performance against Fylde Flyers at the National Ice Centre next Sunday (2nd December). 7.15pm face off.

LionsTV post-game interviews with players and coaches from both sides are now available to view via LionsTV our official online TV channel.

Game Stats:

Elliot Perrin 0+1, Luke Thomas 0+1, Ben Wood 0+1, Michael Rose 0+1, Ollie Betteridge 1+0, Luke Branin 1+0, Joe Wightman 1+0, Gareth O’Flaherty 0+1.

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

Shots: 1st 6-6, 2nd 12-11, 3rd 9-12. Total 27-29.

Penalty Minutes: 1st 0-2, 2nd 0-4, 3rd 6-4. Total 6-10.

Lions MOTM: Gareth O’Flaherty.

Hunty Bags A Brace As Lions Hit Eight Past Hull

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The Nottingham Lions hit eight goals without reply as they swept past a beleaguered Hull Stingrays side at the National Ice Centre on Sunday evening.

All eyes were on Nottingham Panthers legend, 39 year-old Simon Hunt who made his return to senior hockey with the Lions after a gap of twelve years. ‘Hunty’ didn’t disappoint the bumper crowd who turned-up for Nottingham’s first home game of the season, bagging himself two goals.

Simon Hunt unleashes one of his “trademark piledrivers”.

American import Luke Branin and Panthers two-way deal player Josh Ward also marked their debuts with goals and Michael Rose notched up two strikes against his former club.

Hull took to the ice short-benched with only fifteen skaters including two netminders and did not do themselves any favours by conceding four goals in the first eight minutes. Christy Johnson-Brown hitting the first after three minutes followed, two minutes later by Simon Hunt who unleashed one of his trademark piledrivers from the blueline to double the Lions’ lead on the powerplay.

Callum Worthington-Evans then popped up with a third with seven minutes on the clock before Josh Ward slotted home a fourth sixty seconds later.

The Stingrays hurriedly called a time-out which seemed to have the desired effect as they became increasingly harder to beak down as the period wore on but still producing little in the way of any attacking threat to Sam Gospel’s goal.

Into the second, Hull seemed focused on damage limitation as they proved a tough nut to crack. Luke Branin grabbing the only goal of the period three minutes in.

Lions’ Reece Glossop and Stingrays’ James Maughan were both given a 2+2 for roughing on the half-hour after a short fight which saw both players fall to the ice and minutes later Nottingham’s Joe Steeples was ejected from the game after charging Hull’s captain Jamie Cobley.

Josh Ward bagged himself a goal on his Lions return.

The Lions’ slowly ground down Hull’s steely resolve in the third period with three more goals but not before Sam Gospel had to stop Jordan Fisher’s penalty shot with ten minutes remaining.

Simon Hunt hit home his second of the night two minutes later before Michael Rose finished off a flowing move on the powerplay with six minutes to go.

Rose then completed the scoring in the dying seconds of the game tipping the puck past a despondent Warren Gilfoyle.

Overall, an excellent win with numerous excellent performances throughout the team. However, tougher challenges lie ahead for the Lions, starting with a trip to Lancashire to take on Blackburn Eagles next Saturday (22nd September) 17.45 face off.

LionsTV interviews with Lions’ and Stingrays’ players and coaches will be online via our online TV channel tomorrow (Monday) evening.

Game Stats:

Christy Johnson-Brown 1+0, Luke Branin 1+3, Simon Hunt 2+0, Josh Ward 1+1, Callum Worthington-Evans 1+0, Ollie Betteridge 0+2, Gareth O’Flaherty 0+1, Elliot Perrin 0+2, Ben Wood 0+3, Michael Rose 2+0.

Period Scores: 1st 4-0, 2nd 1-0, 3rd 3-0.

Penalty Mins: 1st 2-4, 2nd 29-6, 3rd 6-6. Total: 37-16.

Shots on Goal: 1st 15-6, 2nd 13-9, 3rd 14-4. Total: 42-19 (15 on Sam Gospel 4 on Tom Hovell).

Lions Man of the Match (Sponsored by The Castle): Simon Hunt.