Barons Blitz Blackburn

Motor Nation Solihull Barons : 16
Blackburn Eagles : 2

Sunday 5th January 2014

Sunday evening saw top versus bottom in Ice Hockey's Laidler Conference as the Blackburn Eagles made the trip South to take on league leaders, the Motor Nation Solihull Barons. While the Eagles have gradually built form through the season, so too have the Barons and the resulting convincing win for Solihull was not unexpected.

To emphasise this difference it took the Barons a mere seventeen seconds to open the scoring, a Joe Henry breakaway slicing through the Blackburn defence and into the Eagles net. A few minutes later and Josh Bruce was at the heart of the action as deft stickwork confounded the Eagles to set up Eddie Eaton for the Barons number 2. No sooner had the puck dropped than Bruce had his first for the night as he exploited panic in the Blackburn goal crease. A couple of minutes later and the Barons had number four, Connor Hubbuck working the puck from behind the Eagles left post. There then followed a spell of relative quiet before the Barons again found the net, Bruce again, this time taking a few swipes at the puck as it bounced around the Blackburn goal crease before finding the net for his second of the night.

The Eagles made the most of a brief Barons defensive lapse, Steven Hetherington scoring their first goal with less than a minute of the period to go. This was quickly cancelled a few seconds later as Rich Slater sent the Barons into the break 6-1 up.

The second period saw Blackburn show a little more positive play with a little more possession in the Barons end, however to all intents the game was still only going one way. A brace of goals before the half hour by Rich Slater and Connor Hubbuck, were followed shortly after by a single each from Joe Henry and Eddie Eaton. The final minute of the period saw a little excitement as a scrum formed around the Eagles net following Barons pressure, Perry Doyle easily keeping Christian Wareing at bay.

The final period was something of a formality. The Barons quickly adding three more thanks to a pair from Rich Slater sandwiching another for Connor Hubbuck. The Eagles got their second and final goal of the night via Dan Jones with 13 minutes to go but by now the Barons were simply padding their stats tallies, while junior Baron Calem Harper took the place of Hayden Laverick in. The Solihull net. By the game close Josh Bruce, Andy Whitehouse and Joe Henry had all converted to give the Baron a comfortable win.

An easy win for the Barons but every game has the same two points up for grabs and for the Barons the two points are vital in keeping ahead of  the chasing pack. With second place Deeside also pulling out a win over the weekend it could be a season which goes down to the wire and the Barons final game of the season against the Dragons.

The Barons now have a two week break before welcoming the Sheffield Senators to Hobs Moat. This will be the final meeting of the season for the two sides with the Barons having come out on top in each of the previous encounters. Nonetheless, the Senators are more than capable of scaring the top sides, with the Barons themselves escaping with a single goal victory following their trip to Sheffield in November. Make sure you get down to the rink to cheer the boys in red and white as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the Laidler conference. Face-off : 6pm.

Barons goals : R Slater (4), Bruce (3), Henry (3), Hubbuck (3), Eaton (2), Whitehouse
Barons assists : Bruce (5), R Slater (5), Hubbuck (4), Henry (3), Eaton (3), Whitehouse (3), Doyle (2), Papps (2)
Barons man of the match : Josh Bruce

Next Home Game The Barons welcome the Senators to Hobs Moat for the second time this season. The Sheffield squad are a mix of keen youngsters bolstered by a few wise older heads. While their season has perhaps been tougher than many might have expected, on the night they have the potential to catch any side in the league unawares. Sunday 19th January Face-off : 6:00pm Adults £6 : Concessions £3 Family ticket £16 (2 adults and up to 3 children)