The Hawks roll into the festive period coming off the back of a good run of games. This weekend saw Blackburn travel down to the Midlands for a battle against the Solihull Barons. The cup rivals had met once previously this season, with Blackburn defending the Hawks Nest, emerging 5-3 victors. There was a new face on the coach ride down to Solihull, as Sunday’s game marked the debut of Bailey Thomas for the Hawks. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his GB-capped father, the young defenceman joins the Hawks just days after his 16th birthday, with Hawks coach Ollie Lomax highlighting how management ‘had this date circled for a long time for when he could join our roster’.
Thomas’ impact was almost immediate when play commenced at Planet Ice Solihull. Just 4 minutes into the game and the young defenceman joined up with Jacob Lutwyche to assist Andy McKinney’s opening goal. Blackburn’s familiarly ferocious start continued as 5 minutes later, McKinney and Lutwyche would swap positions, with the veteran forward setting-up Lutwyche’s 15th of the year. The Barons fans watched in shock as the game looked to be slipping away from Solihull within the opening period. This feeling was compounded as Ethan Mayoh ripped a rocket past Laverick. 10 minutes in and the Hawks were 3-goals up. The Barons needed a response if they stood any chance of regaining control. Almost immediately after Blackburn’s third, Jacob Race would answer the call as he converted for the home team. With this explosive opening parlay, the latter half of the period saw both teams settle into their positions. After Blackburn successfully killed a powerplay incurred by a Josh Crawley tripping call, the opening period concluded.
Speaking after the game, Assistant Coach Ollie Lomax noted how well his team have been at opening games, stating that ‘they way we are starting games at the moment, we are gaining momentum and we just need to keep hold of that into the rest of the game’. This second period down in Solihull would test Lomax’s theory on momentum. Looking invigorated by the previous period, the Blackburn Hawks came out flying for the middle period and soon capitalised on this explosive start. Just two minutes in, and the Hawks were again on the scoresheet. This time it was Matty Cross, whose sound defensive performances from the preceding weeks have finally been rewarded with a goal. At 4-1 down, the Barons needed everyone to come together in search of a goal. So when defenceman William Reed picked up a two-minute tripping penalty, fears ran through the team that Blackburn would punish them on the powerplay. In reality, it was the opposite that occurred. Whilst short-handed, the Barons caught a napping Blackburn on the break, with Phil Mulcahy combining with Niklas Ottosson for a surprising second goal for Solihull. Seemingly angered at conceding such a sloppy goal, the Hawks piled forward in hopes of restoring their 3-goal cushion. Just past the halfway mark, it would be Jacob Lutwyche to get this goal with a lovely, lofted finish.
There was still more drama to come in the remaining 7 minutes of the period. The main flashpoint of the game came when Hawks forward James Royds made knee contact with a Solihull player. Controversy arose after the referee decided to penalise Royds with a 2-minute kneeing penalty. Whilst Solihull fans bemoaned that the officials should’ve penalised Royds more severely, the Barons punished him on the ice as Niklas Ottosson bagged from the resultant powerplay. The perturbed Barons fans would eventually get there way after the game, with Royds being issued a 4-game ban from the Department of Player Safety (subject to an appeal from the Hawks). This calamitous moment would bring hope to the Barons, however Royds’ night was not over. A feisty period was coming to a somewhat subdued end. Coaches from both benches could be seen devising their team-talks for the final break, however a strike at the death from a returning-to-form Adam Barnes would change these plans. The Hawks would go into the final period 6-3 up.
The third and final period looked set to be a tasty one. The Barons came out of their changing room ready to throw their all at Blackburn, spurred on by baying home support. The Hawks were initially taken aback by this, but still held their ground. Hawks Keeper Ben Keddie would face 12 shots in this final barrage from the Barons, with every single one being smothered by the safe hands of the Scotsman. It was now time for a final push from the Hawks, with the seventh goal coming just 10 minutes from the game’s end. To the chagrin of all Barons fans, the scorer was a jubilant James Royds, who with his eighth goal of the season had certainly put the game to bed. A sight insulting enough for the Solihull fans, many of them took this opportunity to vacate the building. However, no one was quick enough to leave before Andy McKinney scored an eighth goal, just 40 seconds after the seventh. With McKinney’s goals brilliantly bookending the game, all that was left was the buzzer as the Blackburn Hawks left the Midlands as 8-3 winners.
Coach Lomax had nothing but positives after the game. ‘The game was unbelievable…we targeted a win down here because I don’t think anyone got a win [in Solihull] last season, and we got it’. Much of Lomax’s praise was directed towards the MVP debutant Bailey Thomas, stating ‘we were debating about what to do with Bailey Thomas before the game, he’s a really good kid and he’s been working really hard in anticipation of this opportunity. We thought what better time than to throw him out there for the opening shift, against that strong Solihull line and he did really well, got the assist on the first goal and was solid at the back. He’s going to be with us for a long time’.
That win perfectly sets-up next week’s monumental clash against league leaders Billingham. Speaking on the upcoming opponents Lomax believes ‘Billingham are there to be shot at. They’re the league champions from last year and they’ve started the season like an absolute wagon. To be honest, they’re probably exceeding where they thought they’d be, but its clicking really well for them – they look like a really good side’. With the potential to narrow the gap between first and second in the league, next Sunday’s game is primed to be one of the most important of the season. On top of this, Billingham and Blackburn will face-off in double-header weekend at the start of December. Lomax looks forward to this, ‘We’re looking to be strong at home, and then travel up with a big following behind us. That being said, we know Billingham also bring a lot, we’re the two best supported clubs in the league. Anyone who’s in the area should come down – its going to be well worth the price of admission…’
The Blackburn Hawks will play against the Billingham Stars @ Blackburn Arena on Sunday 24th November, Face-Off: 6:00pm
Article Courtesy of Nathan Dove
FEATURED IMAGES PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Pollitt