Barons Winning Weekend

Sheffield Senators : 1
Bristol Street Motors Solihull Barons : 8

Bristol Street Motors Solihull Barons : 9
Nottingham Lions : 3

Saturday had the Bristol Street Motors Solihull Barons making the trip North-East to take on the Sheffield Senators in a table topping clash. Despite their runaway performance at the top of the Laidler division, Ice Sheffield has never been a place for the Barons to win points easily.

The Barons worked their way into the game gradually, Joe Henry using a powerplay to open the scoring. By the end of the second the Barons had opened things up to leave a 4-0 buffer going into the final period. A brace of goals by Josh Bruce would help see Solihull end the game with eight goals against a single from the Senators, though the play was considerably closer than the final scoreline suggested. With only the single goal conceded on 25 shots, netminder Josh Nicholls was awarded the man of the match.

Sunday had the Barons back on home ice against the Nottingham Lions, a side sharing a close rivalry with the Barons but for whom the wins had been difficult to come by this season. The game opened at a rapid pace, the Barons pushing forward and having to counter a strong Lions defence and breakaway threat. The first goal was via Edward Eaton on the sixth minute, a tap in from the messy area around the netminders crease. The lead was nearly doubled on the ninth minute, a Josh Bruce shot coming to rest on the goal line before being hooked clear by the Lions defence. The second goal would come however, a Joe Henry effort leaving Lions netminder Warren Gilfoyle pawing the ice as the puck trickled beyond him. The period ended with emotions running high and the Barons two goals to the good.

The second period quickly saw the Barons add further to their tally, Thomas Soar surprising the Lions defence with a backhand effort two minutes into the period. By mid-period the Lions were back in the game. A four minute penalty kill for the Barons went badly for Solihull, Dan Hazeldine and Slawomir Kasprzak combining for two goals to cut the Lions deficit to a single score.

The Barons however quickly regained their composure and their advantage, Josh Bruce launching Warren Gilfoyle's water bottle from the top of his net with a shot from the right hand face-off circle. A scare was then averted when a long range Lions shot put the puck under Barons goalie Sam Hewitt to rest an inch from the goal line, quick defensive work scooped the puck clear. With five minutes to go slick passing play by the Barons first line of Josh Bruce, Thomas Janak and Joe Henry gave the Barons back their three goal advantage.  

The final period opened brightly for the Barons, Joe Henry ringing the iron work with his first minute shot on its way through to Solihull's sixth goal. The Barons lead would continue to grow, Henry picking up his fourth goal of the night with some simple play with his line mates in front of a tiring Lions defence.

The Lions however made the most of their chances and were rewarded on the 53rd minute when Dan Hazeldine picked up his second goal of the evening.

It was too late to make any real comeback and the Barons would end the period on a high, Thomas Janak and Josh Bruce each picking up a short-handed goal in the final minute of the game to leave the score 9-3 to the Barons.

The Barons now have a break from home ties for nearly a month. There are no games next weekend with this followed by away ties on consecutive Saturdays against Blackburn, Coventry and Hull before welcoming Widnes to Hobs Moat on Sunday 16th November. Face-off 6pm.

@ Sheffield

Barons goals : Henry (2), Bruce (2), Eaton, Janak, Whitehouse, Soar Barons assists : Janak (3), Bakalar (2), Papps (2), Bruce (2), Hubbuck, Crowe, Henry Barons MoM : Josh Nicholls

Versus Nottingham

Barons goals : Henry (4), Bruce (2), Eaton, Soar, Janak Barons assists : Janak (3), Doyle (2), Bruce (2), Crowe, Selwood, Henry, Bakalar, Papps Barons MoM : Joe Henry

LEAGUE ROUND-UP _____________ Coventry Blaze : 3 Deeside Dragons : 7 _____________ Blackburn Eagles : 9 Bradford Bulldogs : 2 _____________ Deeside Dragons : 10 Bradford Bulldogs : 0 _____________ Sheffield Senators : 6 Hull Jets : 3 _______________ NEXT HOME GAME The Barons welcome the Widnes Wild to Solihull for their first visit of the current season. The Barons met the Wild on their ice, earlier this season coming out convinvcing winners. Few however will forget the Laidler Play-off Semi-final last year where a spirited Wild pushed the Barons to the limits in a closely fought tie. Make sure you make it to the rink to support the Barons in what will be a great tie. Make it loud and ensure they have that extra man on the ice ! Sunday 16th November Face-off : 6:00pm Adults £7 : Concessions £3.50 Family ticket £20 (2 adults and up to 3 children)