Tag Archives: Joe Wightman

Q & A With Joe Wightman

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In the build up to this Sunday’s top of the table clash with Deeside Dragons, James Morton caught up with the Lions’ top points-scorer – Joe Wightman. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: How was it scoring a hat trick in the first period last time out against Solihull? And how much did it mean to you, being in such an important match?
A: I was very pleased with how the Solihull game went. We knew it was a big game for us, so to score the hat in the first period and put us on the front foot made my week. The first goal went in on my first shot of the game and that gave me so much confidence that the other two felt like it was all out of a textbook.

Q: With you already scoring over twenty goals this season, and nearing forty assists, surely this season has gone better than expected for you?
A: After last year, just finishing outside the top point scorers, I had set myself a target of at least 50 points this season. I’m on 38 right now so there’s still some way to go but as long as I keep the belief and confidence in my game then I don’t see it being a problem. Obviously I couldn’t have don’t so well without a cracking group of players to link up with, I’ve been really lucky with the guys on my line.

Q: As the season draws further to the close, is promotion as the forefront of everyone’s mind, or is it still one game at a time mentality?
A: It’s really all about one game at a time, maybe even just one period at a time. I do dare to dream that we will be league champions… but all we need to think about right now is Sunday’s game against Deeside – we really can’t take anything for granted. It’s great we’re sitting on top of the league with three games in hand.

Q: With Ollie Betteridge leaving, your line still continues to cause sides problems, has Parker improved the side, do you think?
A: Betts’ was a great player and a big loss for the team. We needed to replace him and Parker was a great signing by Bradbury, I really enjoy playing with both Stu and Luke (Branin) and right now we’re tearing it up, which I’m sure will continue.

Q: Has the week break come at the right time for you? Or would you have liked to carry on playing games?
A: For me it’s always good to take the weeks rest, possibly not for some of the younger guys though. Consecutive weeks game are good for keeping the boys sharp and focused but we’ve been working so well together in training that I’m positive about this weekends top of the table clash.

Q: With Sam Gospel being unavailable, how easy has Alan Levers settled back into the dressing room?
A: Alan has been a long-standing player for the Lions and we hope that he will always feel comfortable dropping into the setup. I think the way he’s played in recent games proves he has. But that doesn’t take away from how good Sam has been for us he’s one of the best goalies in this league and I hope he recovers from his concussion sharpish.

Q: With the majority of the squad being twenty-one and under, how bright a future do you think this side has?
A: Nottingham have always had a great junior development program and we’ve always heavily relied on the youngsters. In fact, today I was listening to the Winter Olympic qualifiers and it was one of our former players, Robert Lachowicz, who scored the goal of the game against France. It’s players like him and others still in our team that can push us up through the leagues with possibly an eye on the EPL in the future.

You can catch Joe and the boys in action at the National Ice Centre this Sunday (7.15pm face off) Ticket details are available here.

Classy Lions Hammer Visitors Solihull

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Nottingham Lions 8 Solihull Barons 3

The Nottingham Lions remain three points clear at the top of NIHL Division Two after a staggering victory over local rivals Solihull Barons at the National Ice Centre on Sunday night.

Joe Wightman – “First period hat-trick”.

In a thrilling end-to-end game the Lions looked to be skating rings around their Midlands rivals with both sets of players getting battered and bruised along the way.

This crunch-clash had been hyped-up via Social Media all week with both sides desperately needing the two points. Solihull to close the gap on Nottingham, and the Lions to pull that bit further away from Deeside Dragons in second place.

The contest started in traditional fashion with hits coming in thick and fast and within the first three minutes Solihull’s Perry Doyle was in the sin bin for a two minute charging minor, leading to Lions breaking the deadlock at 3.05 through the usual suspect of Joe Wightman, who smashed the puck home after a scramble around the goal.

Just short of nine minutes later Wightman yet again found himself capitalising on the power play, lashing home after a great pass from Luke Branin. The American’s vision gave Wightman a great one-on-one chance against the Solihull netminder Sam Hewitt, unleashing a drilled shot into the roof of the net.

At 13.22 the master Wightman was at it again, securing an early hat trick with his twenty-third goal of the season.

Solihull pulled one back on 15.27 with a powerplay goal from David Rogers at a crucial time in the game for the visitors, bringing belief that they could get something from the game.

The second period started in the same way as the first with the Lions bagging two goals in the first five minutes, the first coming from Gareth O’Flaherty at 23.49, then at 24.55 Stuart Parker made it five for the hosts, marking his home debut with a goal.

Stuart Parker hits a home-debut goal.

The game then got a lot more physical with Solihull racking up an amazing eighteen penalty minutes as the Barons hit harder against the boards and constantly troubled Lions netminder Alan Levers’ crease. However, the Lions never rose to any of the scuffles that broke out and continued to play their own game.

At 36.20 Jose Leon got in on the act, firing home a powerplay goal for the hosts as they scored their sixth of the night, giving Lions a five goal cushion going into the final period, but a huge twenty minutes was still to come.

Just under three minutes into the final period Solihull got a goal back through Doyle, reducing their arrears to just four.

At 54.24 the visitors struck again through the Barons top goal scorer Richard Slater, making it a three-goal game and keeping the bumper crowd at the NIC wondering if there was a miracle about to happen for the West Midlands side.

However, any thoughts of a Barons comeback were well a truly quashed on 57.22 when Luke Branin, after providing five assists, hit home to put the game to bed and secure a big two points for the hosts.

The final nail was hammered into the Solihull coffin at 59.22 through O’Flaherty, who launched a fortunate rebound into the back of the net after following up Christy Johnson-Brown’s original shot, which forced a great save from Sam Hewitt.

Nottingham coach, Matt Bradbury, hailed this perfomance as a great win for his young, learning side, who just seem to improve every game. Although on the other end Solihull’s Doyle couldn’t express enough that there was no excuse for the result and their performance.

“Is it a bird – is it a plane?” – Luke Branin gets some ‘airtime’.

LionsTV interviews with players and coaches from both teams will be available to view here from Monday evening.

Nottingham are next in action on the 10th February as Deeside Dragons come to town in yet another must-win game for both sides as the race for top spot heats-up further. Face off is at 7.15pm.

Game Stats:

Jose Leon 1+0, Luke Branin 1+5, Joe Wightman 3+1, Stuart Parker 1+3, Gareth O’Flaherty 2+1, Luke Thomas 0+2, Christy Johnson-Brown 0+3.
Period scores: 1st – 3-1, 2nd 3-0, 3rd 2-2.
Shots: 1st 11-16, 2nd 11-13, 3rd 11-24. Total 33-53.
Penalty Minutes: 1st 6-8, 2nd 4-18, 3rd 4-16. Total 14-42.
Lions MOTM (Sponsored by The Castle Inn): Joe Wightman.

Lions Stay On Top Over Festive Break

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Nottingham Lions 4 Sheffield Senators 1

The Nottingham Lions had the chance to pull out a four-point lead at the top of the table, and did exactly that, winning 4-1 over local rivals Sheffield Senators at the National Ice Centre on Sunday evening, in a game which didn’t always reflect the result.

The Lions block out the path to Sam Gospel’s goal.

This fixture was always going to be closely contested, with neither side wanting to let go of the two points in this top of the table clash.

First blood went to the Lions courtesy of Michael Rose on the powerplay after Steve Weeks went into the sin bin for slashing. This stayed the way of things for the remainder of the period.

Sheffield leveled the scoring when the Senators’ Russian import Anton Egorov got the better of Sam Gospel and this suggested the evening wasn’t going to be so easy after all for Nottingham.

Joe Wightman’s great point scoring season continued as he found himself one on one with the Senators’ netminder, unleashing an unstoppable shot past Mark Hartley to give the Lions the lead for the second time in the game with a short-handed goal.

Wightman then scored his second of the game less than five minutes later with the Lions’ second powerplay goal of the evening. Once again proving how affective the attacking line has been for Nottingham so far this season.

The third period was just as close as the previous two, with Sheffield fighting to find a way back into the game.

Both sides had players spend a total of six minutes each in the penalty box, proving just how physical the game was as both sets of players put everything on the line in the final twenty minutes.

However, as Sheffield pushed and pushed, a mid-ice turnover then saw Christy Johnson-Brown score the Lions’ fourth of the game, quashing the Senators’ hopes of a comeback.

Christy Johnson-Brown firing home past Mark Hartley.

Even after a few needless penalties late on, this stayed the way of things all the way to the final buzzer, giving the home side the perfect Christmas present, sending them comfortably clear at the top of Division 2 North going into their four week break.

Nottingham head coach Matt Bradbury isn’t letting up though, making it known in his post-game comments that the Lions will still be training every week over the festive period, making sure the pedal doesn’t leave the accelerator come the second half of the season.

Goal highlights and post-game interviews with players and coaches from both teams are now available to view on LionsTV by clicking here.

The Lions are next in action away at Sheffield on the 12th January in the final meeting between the two sides this season, meaning they’ll have to be on guard against any complacency or revenge from a Senators side who will be keen to avoid a 4-0 season whitewash.

Game Stats:

Callum Worthington-Evans 0+1, Luke Thomas 0+1, Michael Rose 1+0, Ollie Betteridge 0+1, Luke Branin 0+3, Joe Wightman 2+1, Christy Johnson-Brown 1+0, Cameron Good 0+1.

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

Period Shots – 1st 11-7, 2nd 12-12, 3rd 16-14. Total – 39-33.

Penalty Minutes – 1st 2-4, 2nd 2-4, 3rd 6-6. Total – 10-14.

Lions MOTM (Sponsored by The Castle) – Joe Wightman.

Lions Bag A Dozen As Flyers Fold

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Nottingham Lions 12 Fylde Flyers 0

Nottingham Lions go back to the top of the league after smashing twelve past Fylde Flyers.

This game felt more like a friendly than a league match as two teams from different ends of the league met at the National Ice Centre. With Nottingham Lions scoring no fewer than twelve goals past their Lancashire opponents.

“Handful for the Flyers” – Simon Hunt.

It took just under two minutes for the Lions to open the scoring when Michael Rose scored from close range, although Ollie Betteridge was claiming the goal to be his, making the most of the powerplay. As Anthony Melbourne was sat in the sin bin for two minute minor for holding only twenty-nine seconds earlier.

Man of the Match Joe Wightman then doubled the lead at 6.29. Not long after Fylde mustered their first shot on goal just moments earlier.

Simon Hunt scored the third of the evening, putting the puck into the back of the net at 12.31 from Betteridge. After Fylde failed to score on the powerplay, Wightman added further misery to the visitors by netting the forth at 17.32. Twenty seconds later, Lions thought they had scored a fifth of the evening, however was controversially not given as no one saw it cross the line.

The second period carried on in the same vein. When Reece Glossop chipped the puck over Sam Heyes and into the top corner of the goal, within the opening minute of the period. Ruining any inspiring team talk in the away dressing room.

Assistant captain Ben Wood added his name to the score sheet at 27.03. As Fylde hearts started to sink, and preparing for what could turn into a very long night, and long trip back over the Pennines.

The hosts gifted the visitors a chance to get back into the game, or at least get onto the score sheet when Elliot Perrin and skipper Luke Thomas both went into the sin bin within seconds of each other, for roughing and tripping minors respectively. However Fylde failed to capitalise, firing not a single shot at Sam Gospel.

As the clock ticked down Wightman scored both his hat-trick goal, and forth goal of the evening. With both goals scored within nineteen seconds of one another. He could have even had fifth before the buzzer, but was denied by the netminder.

Surely the game plan for Fylde now was to go and win the third period and salvage something from the match. Unfortunately this was not to be because less than a minute and a half into the final period Michael Rose put away his second on the evening. It didn’t take Nottingham Lions long after to bring up the double figure score line as Christy Johnson-Brown put himself amongst the goal scorers with a fine strike, just before the midway point of the period.

Concentration started to slip on the home bench after the tenth goal. Allowing Fylde to play their best bits of hockey in the game. Also meaning they had to call upon Gospel in the Lions net, who up until this had a very quiet game between the pipes. In fact in the fifty-second minute the goalie was required to make a brilliant save after a sloppy pass had gifted the visitors a great one on one chance. Then covering the puck at the second attempt to stop the attack.

Sam Gospel denies Flyers’ Bobby Caunce on his way to a shut-out.

That seemed to spur on the Lions, with Luke Branin added two goals, again in quick succession. This finished off not only the scoring but also Fylde Flyers. Making their journey home a very sore one indeed.

Nottingham Lions now move onto next Sunday’s road trip to West Midlands side Solihull Barons, who should expect to put up a sterner test in their first meeting of the season.

LionsTV post-game interviews with players and coaches from both teams are available to view by clicking here.

Game Stats:

Craig Wallis 0+1, Elliot Perrin 0+2, Luke Thomas 0+2, Jack Baveystock 0+3, Ben Wood 1+1, Michael Rose 2+0, Simon Hunt 1+1, Ollie Betteridge 0+3, Jose Leon 0+2, Luke Branin 2+1, Joe Wightman 4+2, Christy Johnson-Brown 1+0, Gareth O’Flaherty 0+3, Reece Glossop 1+0.

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

Shots – 1st 17-8, 2nd 23-9, 3rd 29-10. Total 69-27.

Penalty Minutes – 1st 2-2, 2nd 4-2, 3rd 0-4. Total 6-8.

Lions MOTM – Sponsored by The Castle: Joe Wightman.

Spirited Fight-Back Gives Lions Victory

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Nottingham Lions 7 Sheffield Senators 5

Nottingham Lions twice came from behind to earn a hard-fought victory over Sheffield Senators on Sunday evening. Joe Wightman grabbed four goals and Man of the Match Ollie Betteridge got a hat trick in an enthralling and physical contest where the points changed hands four times.

The match was like three different 20-minute games rolled into one with a tightly contested affair in the first period (2-1), followed by Sheffield dominance in the second (1-4) before the Lions really kicked into gear to outclass their opponents in the final period (4-0).

It was the Lions who applied the early pressure, with the puck barely leaving the Senators’ half in the opening minutes. But Sheffield settled down and managed to maintain some possession, with Sam Gospel called into action to save from Jonathan Kirk’s long-range shot. It was they who took the initiative in the seventh minute, with captain Steven Weeks playing the puck into Andrew Chapman whose deft flick evaded Gospel to give the visitors the lead.

The Lions went out in search of a reply, with Wightman forcing a good save from Mark Hartley after some neat play on the counter-attack, and they were rewarded for their efforts at the end of the first period when Betteridge took his first of the evening from close range after some nice work from teammates Ben Wood and Luke Branin.

“Hat-trick” – Ollie Betteridge.

And within 30 seconds the Lions had the lead after Joe Wightman opened his account, with Betteridge again involved; who looked a real handful for Sheffield’s backline.

With Sam Gospel denying Callum Rawson late in the opening period, the score remained 2-1 to the Lions going into the first break. The mood among the supporters was upbeat after the late flourish from Nottingham, and there was a feeling of optimism that they would really push on in the second period.

Again they started brightly with Hartley being kept busy in front of the Sheffield net, denying Ben Wood with a double save, and later keeping out Simon Hunt and Gareth O’Flaherty.

Despite this early pressure there was to be no breakthrough and the visitors made it 2-2 through Russian import Anton Egorov after 25 minutes, and they were ahead a couple of minutes later when Rawson added to their tally, after effective counter-attacking play.

The match looked like it was in danger of getting away from the Lions, with the Senators playing with bags of confidence. They were celebrating again at the midway point of the game as Simon Manning played the puck out from the back and Rawson ran the length of the rink before coolly finishing to complete a spectacular double.

Rawson and his team were proving to be deadly on the break and down the other end Simon Hunt was unfortunate to see his speculative effort cannon off of the outside of the post.

However, worse was yet to come for the home side, with Sheffield adding a fifth goal two minutes later with an audacious long range effort from Jamie Pyewell on 35 minutes.

Much to the joy of the spectators the Lions threw themselves a lifeline going into the second interval when Wood played Betteridge through who expertly took his second of the night.

Tempers then began to boil over with some heavy challenges coming in from both sides and Simon Hunt reminding Martyn Gray he should think twice before crossing him.

There were encouraging signs for the Nottingham fans as the players from both teams exchanged words as they left the ice for a second time, indicating that Sheffield were by no means in a comfortable position.

They were clearly unsettled and Nottingham flew out of the blocks in the final part of the game and were rewarded for their early pressure with a goal inside the first minute, the perfect start for the team. Ollie Betteridge completing his hat trick with a neat finish after some impressive build-up play from his fellow front men O’Flaherty and Wightman.

Betteridge was looking dangerous every time he had the puck and was having a great game, continuing his fantastic start to the season. He turned provider four minutes later when he and O’Flaherty combined well to allow the chance for Wightman to double his tally and tie the game at 5-5, a chance he took instinctively and effectively.

The Lions were like a different team in the final period, and the Betteridge, Wightman and O’Flaherty line were simply too hot for the Senators to handle. This was clear when Wightman added another only 11 seconds later to put the Lions back in front.

The game was disrupted with a long delay in the 48th minute when Luke Branin was judged to have used an elbow, much to the disgust of the home fans. Bizarrely, Branin was given a five-minute penalty, but then sent off once he had gone to the penalty box for game misconduct in a confusing sequence of events.

The Lions were unfazed, and continued to dominate and the game was put beyond doubt ten minutes from time as Michael Rose gave possession to Betteridge who showed great individual skill before setting up Wightman for his fourth and Nottingham’s seventh. Job done.

“Toe to toe” – Michael Rose and Oli Knell exchange blows.

Of course there was still time for some off-the-puck action with Michael Rose and Oliver Knell exchanging blows before shaking hands moment later, but predictably they then receiving their marching orders from the referee. Thomas Humphries also left the action prematurely with an apparent arm injury.

That was to be the end of the tale in an exhibition of incredibly entertaining hockey from two sides that pushed each other all the way and provided both sets of supporters with plenty to be optimistic about; including the mouth-watering return fixture between the sides on Saturday night at Ice Sheffield, where the Lions will be looking to continue their fine start to the season.

LionsTV interviews with players and coaches from both teams will follow later this evening……

Game Stats

Ben Wood, 0+2; Michael Rose, 0+1; Oliver Betteridge, 3+4; Luke Branin, 0+1; Joe Wightman, 4+1; Gareth O’Flaherty, 0+3.

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

Penalty Mins: 1st: 8-6, 2nd: 6-8, 3rd: 63-31. Total: 77-45.

Lions’ MOTM (sponsored by The Castle): Ollie Betteridge.