TC Cars Solihull Barons vs Sheffield Steeldogs

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Recap

Sunday evening saw the TC Cars Solihull Barons emerge disappointingly pointless after an enormously entertaining ice hockey game against an extremely well drilled Sheffield Steeldogs squad in the opening skirmish of their Moralee campaign.

Elliott Farrell celebrates Solihull's opener (S. Crampton)
Elliott Farrell celebrates Solihull’s opener (S. Crampton)

In what would prove to be a very fast paced first period the Barons game got off to a dissappointing start as they found themselves a goal down within the first minute as James Spurr for the Steeldogs shot past Danny Brittle in the Barons net. By six minutes the home side levelled as Ed Eaton passed the puck to a charging Elliot Farrell for the Barons first goal of the new season. After an interlude on nine minutes as the Barons changed to their away shirts due to the two sides initially both icing in white home jerseys the play got back underway and the Barons pushed into the lead, Matt Maurice, from behind the net feeding Josh Bruce for Solihull’s second. The lead would hold to the last couple of minutes of the period before Adrian Palak capitalised on a powerplay chance to draw the sides level once more.

Niklas Ottosson skates through the Steeldogs defence for his goal (S. Crampton)
Niklas Ottosson skates through the Steeldogs defence for his goal (S. Crampton)

The pace continued into the second period and it was the visitors who would find the net first as Palak went through the Barons defence for his second and the Steeldogs third goal of the night. Just after the game midpoint Niklas Ottosson brought things level once more, the Barons forward taking the puck up the right wing before cutting into the centre for Solihull’s third goal. The remainder of the period saw the two sides but there were to be no more goals.

Josh Bruce battles along the boards (S Crampton)
Josh Bruce battles along the boards (S Crampton)

The final period gave the first two goal buffer of the entire game as Sheffield players Ashley Calvert and Tim Smith both found the net, the latter making the most of a 5 on 3 powerplay to get what would turn out to be the game-winning goal. The Barons and their vocal support would be buoyed by a Luke Brittle score with five minutes to go but despite some frantic play the clock ticked down before an equaliser could be found.

Niklas Ottosson races past a sprawled Thomas Relf (S Crampton)
Niklas Ottosson races past a sprawled Thomas Relf (S Crampton)

The Barons now face a weekend on the road. On Saturday they take the trip to Hull to take on many people’s preseason title favourites, the ex-EPL Pirates, while on the Sunday they meet up with old rivals the Dragons at their Flintshire rink. The TC Cars Solihull Barons are once more on home territory the following weekend as the welcome the Telford Tigers to Silverblades Solihull, Face-off 6:00pm Sunday.

Barons Man of the Match Niklas Ottosson (S Crampton)
Barons Man of the Match Niklas Ottosson (S Crampton)
Steeldogs Man of the Match, Ben Morgan (S. Crampton)
Steeldogs Man of the Match, Ben Morgan (S. Crampton)

gamesheet

Results elsewhere in the League
The Dragons 2 : 13 Solway Sharks
Blackburn Hawks 3 : 2 Billingham Stars
Nottingham Lions 2 : 5 Telford Tigers


Next home game

TIGERS170917

Details

Date Time League Season
September 3, 2017 6:00 pm Moralee Division 2017/18

Results

Team1st2nd3rdT
Solihull Barons2114
Sheffield Steeldogs2125

Solihull Barons

# Player Position G A PIM SA GA SV
3Marcus MaynardDefence004000
4Dave RogersDefence000000
6Richard CroweDefence000000
8Ryan SelwoodDefence012000
10Dan HarrisonDefence002000
11Edward EatonOffence010000
15Matt MauriceOffence0127000
16Andy WhitehouseOffence010000
17Luke BrittleOffence100000
24Philip MulcahyOffence002000
25Daniel BrittleGoalie00032527
40Josh BruceOffence100000
44Elliot FarrellOffence100000
77Jacob SmithDefence000000
79Tom SoarOffence020000
81James MoellerDefence000000
91Niklas OttossonOffence112000
 Total 473932527

Sheffield Steeldogs

Position G A PIM SA GA SV
 591236432

Venue

Planet Ice Solihull Ice Rink
Hobs Moat Rd, Solihull B92 8JN