Barons Cruise to Challenge Victory

Motor Nation Solihull Barons : 8
Nottingham Lions : 1

The Motor Nation Solihull Barons cleared the frost from the Hobs Moat ice on Sunday evening with a comfortable win in a season opening challenge tie against league rivals the Nottingham Lions.

With the holiday season still winding up and players unavailable, both sides lined up with shortened benches, while the Lions also faced issues due to player registration difficulties combined with a clashing junior tournament pulling away many of their youngsters.

Once the puck dropped the Barons were quick to open the scoring. Within five minutes some slick passing play through the neutral zone and into the Nottingham end saw Ryan Selwood first to find the net.

The Barons second followed four minutes later - Josh Bruce lifting the puck past Lions netminder, Warren Gilfoyle's glove hand and into the top right of the Nottingham net.

The score would remain at 2-0 in favour of the Barons for the remainder of the period and through into the first half of the second period as the Barons handed the Lions an opportunity to get back into the game with a handful of powerplays which were left unconverted. Indeed it was the Barons who caught out the Lions on the last of these opportunities thanks to a breakaway and short handed goal by Joe Henry after 32 minutes.

The Barons extended their lead toward the period end. Ryan Selwood, fresh from delivering a massive open ice hit in his own end followed the play up the ice to be teed up by Tomas Janek for Solihull goal number 4.

The final period saw the Lions come out with a bit more intent, a suberb solo effort from Slawomir Kasprzak beating Josh Nicholls and bulging the Barons net.

Any hopes that the Lions may have had of keeping the tie in check vanished in the final 15 minutes of the game as the Barons pushed on against the tiring short bench of Nottingham. In the space of six seconds Andy Whitehouse made the most of feeds from Joe Henry for the Barons fifth and sixth goals. Jake Larkin would add a seventh, a pass from behind the net by Rob Eley finding the Barons number 21.

It would be man of the match Andy Whitehouse who rounded off the scoring for the Barons, again combining with Joe Henry to fire the Barons eighth goal of the night into the roof of the Lions net.

Next weekend the Barons face-off in their Laidler Division league campaign with a tricky away tie at Widnes Wild. The Cheshire side showed considerable promise in their first season last year and the Barons will need to be on their game to ensure they collect both points on offer. The following Sunday, 14th October the Barons launch their home season proper with a tie at the Solihull rink against the Blackburn Eagles, face-off 6pm.

Barons goals : Whitehouse (3), Selwood (2), Larkin, Bruce, Henry
Barons assists : Henry (4), Bruce (4), Janek (2), D Harrison, S Harrison, Eley, Doyle, Hubbuck
Barons man of the match : Andy Whitehouse 

Next Game Away @ Widnes Wild Saturday 6th September 2014 7:00pm Join the Barons as they launch their 2014 Laidler campaign at Widnes. Limited places avaialble on the team coach to the game available via info@pbsports.co.uk Next Home Game The Barons welcome the Blackburn Eagles to Hobs Moat for their first home league game of the 2014-15 season. Make sure you make it to the rink to support the Barons, make it loud and ensure they have that extra man on the ice ! Sunday 14th September Face-off : 6:00pm Adults £7 : Concessions £3.50 Family ticket £20 (2 adults and up to 3 children)