Solihull Barons – Blackburn Hawks

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Recap

The Direct Taxis Solihull Barons had a convincing win over the Blackburn Hawks in a goal-fest of a game on Sunday evening with both Niklas Ottosson and James Smith earning themselves hat-tricks.

Niklas Ottosson showed that his old habit of scoring short handed goals was still in fine fettle within the first minute of the game. An early holding penalty by Rich Crowe had given the visitors the man advantage but Ottosson robbed the Hawks of the puck on the Barons blue line, before breaking up the ice and firing in the opener. The Barons lead would be short lived however with the Hawks converting the same powerplay less than a minute later, Jared Dickinson with the goal.

James Smith hooking the puck round the post (S Crampton)

With 5 minutes of the period gone the Barons moved back into the lead as a puck knocked from Dan Mulcahy fell straight to Andy Hayward who fired home from square in front of net. Two minutes later and Mulcahy would get himself in the goals column, a clever shot over Michael Rogers blocker and into the top left corner of the Hawks net. The Barons continued to pile on the goals, James Smith with a beautiful solo effort – a break up the centre ice, flitting round the Hawks D before popping the puck in the net from behind the net, off and in via the goalie’s skate. The Hawks would stay in contention however with Petr Valusiak slotting past Graham Laverick for the visitors second.The Barons quickly returned to their three goal cushion, a James Smith shot coming off the inside of the Hawks post to an awaiting Tom Soar on the back post for Solihull’s number 5. Goal number 6 followed shortly afterwards as a training night style tic-tac-toe interplay between James Smith, Callum Bowley and Tom Soar to give the latter the goal.

Niklas looks for the back post tap in (S Crampton)

The Barons extended their lead further in the second, a relatively long spell on a delayed penalty six minutes in was rewarded with another another goal for James Smith. While the scoring in the second was not as free as in the first period, Niklas Ottosson got the Barons 8th, a tap in from set-up play by the Mulcahy brothers on the 38th minute. The Hawks would however keep themselves just about in touch, a powerplay effort saw a pin balling puck going beyond Graham Laverick in the dying seconds of the middle period, Valusiak once more with the final touch.

Despite the scoreline the Barons Defences including Graham Laverick and a returning Dan Harrison were kept busy (S Crampton)

The Barons ninth goal would come 4 minutes into the third, Niklas Ottosson with a close shot following an offensive zone face-off, while double digits would come a minute later as James Smith finished off a behind the net play by Tom Soar for the Barons 10th. Blackburn would counter a minute later as a break by the Hawks was finished by Jacob Lutwyche, the puck trailing over the line for the visitors fourth. A fifth would follow mid-period – Lutwyche again with the finish. Solihull would add number 11 with six minutes left on the clock – Richard Slater capitalising on a late powerplay and Dan Mulcahy would add to the tally by game end to round off a convincing display by Solihull.

Rich Slater would get a late powerplay goal (S Crampton)

The Barons face the Hawks once more in the league next weekend but this time in Lancashire. The Barons next scheduled home game is against Widnes on SATURDAY 18th December with the face-off still the usual 5:30pm.

Tom Soar (S Crampton)

BARONS MAN OF THE MATCH, TOM SOAR

Jacob Lutwyche ( S Crampton)

 HAWKS MAN OF THE MATCH, JACOB LUTWYCHE

gamesheet

Details

Date Time League Season
November 28, 2021 5:30 pm Division 1 2021/22

Results

Team1st2nd3rdT
Solihull Barons62412
Blackburn Hawks2125

Solihull Barons

# Player Position G A PIM SA GA SV
3Marcus MaynardDefence010000
6Richard CroweDefence002000
10Dan HarrisonDefence000000
16Andy WhitehouseOffence010000
17Richard SlaterOffence100000
22Elliot FarrellOffence002000
23Daniel MulcahyOffence222000
24Philip MulcahyOffence020000
35Graham LaverickGoalie00029524
51Ash CalvertOffence000000
55Bailey ChallansDefence012000
72Callum BowleyOffence040000
77Andrew HaywardDefence100000
79Tom SoarOffence220000
81James MoellerDefence002000
91Niklas OttossonOffence340000
94James SmithOffence320000
 Total 12191029524

Blackburn Hawks

Position G A PIM SA GA SV
 578341222

Venue

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