Tag Archives: NIHL

Season Review – November

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Before the month could end the Lions’ impressive unbeaten run, stretching back to the start of the season, had come to an abrupt halt after a surprise 5-3 defeat in Hull but prior to that, two victories over Sheffield and Blackburn helped to maintain Matt Bradbury’s side’s position at the top of the table in Division Two North.

November also saw Nottingham embark on their first ever Movember fundraising campaign as players and staff took on the challenge to grow a moustache over the course of the month, all in the aid of charity.

Cherry Deville gives the Lions a Movember boost.

Having already dispatched of Sheffield at the National Ice Centre the previous month, Nottingham were up to their old tricks, as once again they came from behind to triumph over the Senators, this time by a 6-1 scoreline with youngster Ollie Betteridge netting another hat-trick against the Lions’ local rivals.

Nottingham were also buoyed by the news that a second import player had joined the pride in the form of Canadian forward Jose Leon. Peruvian-born Leon joined up with the Lions having played in Switzerland for last two seasons with Geneve-Servette Under-20s and Under-17s and had recently moved to Lace City to study at Nottingham Trent University.

Lions’ Matt Bradbury with Jose Leon.

Jose was quick to make his Lions debut against the Blackburn Eagles at the NIC just a few days later and managed to get himself on the scoresheet in a 13-0 thrashing of the Lancashire-based side. Braces were also shared between Betteridge, Joe Wightman and Christy Johnson-Brown.

A brief respite from on-ice matters followed as the squad attended the grand re-opening of their sponsor Ice Locker’s new-look store; located in the foyer of the National Ice Centre. The boys were on hand to pose for photos and promote the opening of the biggest ice sports shop in the country.

The Lions and Store Manager Phil Jones outside the all-new Ice Locker store.

The loss on Humberside followed, but it would be intriguing to see how the Lions would react to their first defeat as they prepared for some big games against Solihull and Sheffield heading into December and the festive break.

The month did end on a positive note however, as the Lions players and staff who took part in the month-long Movember challenge helped Blue Bell Hill Trust to raise a magnificent £1293 over the 30 day period.

Vacancy: Media Officer

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The Nottingham Lions are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to take on the role of Media Officer.

The position requires skills in Journalism, Video, Photography, Social Media and basic Web Design along with the ability to conduct him/herself in a professional manner in all aspects of their work and an understanding of confidentiality within a sports team environment.

The role provides an opportunity for thousands of people to see your work both locally and nationally via newspapers and websites, alongside the team’s own media outlets.

This role is voluntary but expenses will be paid where appropriate.

Please send your CV accompanied by a covering letter which details your experience to the following e-mail address:

nottinghamlions@hotmail.co.uk

Closing Date: Tuesday 7th May 2013.

We are the senior team of the Nottingham Junior Ice Hockey Club and our commitment is to develop young players from within the Nottingham junior system and give them a platform to move on to the professional game.

Over the years we have had numerous successes both as a team and in producing and nurturing the city’s future hockey stars. Most recently with the Lions being crowned 2012/13 NIHL Division Two North league champions.

The team is entirely coached and run by committed volunteers, whilst all of our players are amateurs, paying to play – either for the love of the sport or aiming towards a contract with professional club.

Season Review – October

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October was a relativity quiet month for the Lions, with a big three-week break in their fixture schedule before they traveled to North Wales to take on the Deeside Dragons on the 21st.

Matt Bradbury’s men used this downtime as a good opportunity to work on tactics and fitness levels in training.

Alongside this, the unusually large break was also used to good effect, as the Lions entertained some of their sponsors and partners at a special Media Night at Frankie & Benny’s in the city centre.

Players and off-ice officials gathered at the Upper Parliament Street branch of the popular restaurant for a special evening involving staff and students from Central College Nottingham alongside special guests Capital FM’s ‘Capital Breakfast’ show presenters Dino and Pete.

Lions player Cameron Good and Head Coach Matt Bradbury greet the team from Central College Nottingham at Frankie & Benny’s.

The gathering was designed to give students from Central College Nottingham an opportunity to interview a selection of the Lions players and staff as part of their work for their Sports Media courses. Captain Luke Thomas, American import Luke Branin and Head Coach Matt Bradbury were among lucky few who were chosen for some post-food chat amidst friendly, bustling environment of the New York Italian Restaurant and Bar.

The special evening also gave the players and the off-ice team a chance to get together and socialise outside of their normal hockey routines as well as the opportunity to mingle with some of their other sponsors and partners from the likes of Ice Locker, Blue Bell Hill Trust and Frankie & Benny’s.

The Lions’ first big away test at Deeside Ice Arena soon came around and saw Nottingham come away with a very creditable 3-3 tie. After finding themselves 3-1 down with fifteen minutes to go, late goals from Ben Wood and Ollie Betteridge ensured the points were shared.

“Blood on the ice” – Lions’ Michael Rose inflicts some damage on Dragons’ Michael Jones.

Seven days later, the Lions once again came from behind to get a result, as they clawed back a three-goal deficit, thanks to four goals from Joe Wightman and a hat-trick from Ollie Betteridge, to overcome the high-flying Sheffield Senators 7-5 at the National Ice Centre.

These two scorelines not only helped the Lions’ own self-belief that promotion was very much a realistic aim but also sent a strong message out to the rest of the league that even when behind, Nottingham could not be written off.

Lions Bash Barons To End Season In Style

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Nottingham Lions 6 Solihull Barons 2.

The Nottingham Lions showed just why they are already the NIHL Division Two champions with a convincing victory over second-placed, Midlands rivals Solihull Barons at the Capital FM Arena on Sunday evening.

Lions’ Ben Wood takes on the Baron’s Richard Crowe.

The Lions were keen to set the record straight after last weekend’s uncharacteristic 8-0 defeat in Solihull and did just that, with a commanding display in front of their biggest crowd of the season.

The Barons came into the game knowing they had to win to secure second place in the table and a two-legged promotion/relegation play off with their Division One-based local rivals Coventry Blaze.

However, the visitors got off to the worst possible start conceding twice in the opening two minutes. Gareth O’Flaherty pounced on a defensive error to put Nottingham ahead after just forty-six seconds, followed by Michael Rose who then doubled the Lions’ lead.

Solihull dominated the game physically; ex-Panthers and Steelers hardman Perry Doyle was given a 2+10 penalty for a check to the head on Matt Greaves, who subsequently had to leave the ice injured. He was later joined on the treatment table by his team-mate Jospeh Steeples, who headed for the locker room early with a suspected concussion.

To their credit, Matt Bradbury’s men refused to be bullied out of the game and let their hockey do the talking, scoring another two without reply. American Luke Branin fired home on eleven minutes before promising, young forward Dan Hazeldine coolly added a fourth three minutes later.

Richard Slater did restore some hope for the Barons before the end of the period, reducing their deficit to three.

The second period saw a resilient Lions side comfortably soak-up a number of Solihull attacks, whilst continuing to look dangerous on the break.

However, Nottingham couldn’t find a way past Barons’ goalie Sam Hewitt during the period, Ryan Rathbone came the closest, hitting the metalwork from close range.

Sam Gospel making one of his eighteen saves.

The game’s half-way point saw a change of personnel in the Lions’ goal as Alan Levers made way for Sam Gospel and once again, both goalies showed why they have been so hard to beat all season, stopping sixteen and eighteen shots respectively.

Neil Adams finally made the breakthrough for Solihull on thirty-seven minutes to ensure the final twenty minutes could still result in a victory for either side.

Three minutes into the third period, the Barons’ Michael Rodger was sent to the box for tripping and it didn’t take long for Nottingham to capitalise with the extra man as Joe Wightman cemented his position as the Lions’ top-scorer with his twenty-sixth goal of the season on the power play.

Assistant Captain Ben Wood then put to bed any chance of a late Solihull comeback, scoring Nottingham’s sixth of the night, making sure that what has been a fantastic season for the Lions ended with another two points on the board.

The final buzzer was met with another round of jubilant scenes as the Lions players and coaches were presented with their winners medals and captain Luke Thomas then raised the championship trophy to many cheers and applause from their supporters.

The boys celebrate with the championship trophy.

The Barons must now hope that the Hull Stingrays can beat third-placed Deeside Dragons next weekend to keep their hopes of promotion alive, whilst the Lions now look forward to playing Division One hockey once again, next September.

LionsTV interviews with Lions’ Matt Bradbury and Luke Thomas as well as Solihull Barons’ Chris Allen will available to view here from Monday evening.

Game Stats:

Ben Wood 1+1, Michael Rose 1+1, Daniel Hazeldine 1+0, Ryan Rathbone 0+1, Luke Branin 1+1, Joe Wightman 1+1, Christy Johnson-Brown 0+1, Gareth O’Flaherty 1+1.

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

Shots: 1st 12-12, 2nd 16-8, 3rd 16-14. Total 44-34.

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

Lions MOTM (sponsored by The Castle Inn): Joe Wightman.