Bulldogs’ Junior Review: Under-18s, Under-14s and Under-10s in action
ROSES BATTLE: Bulldogs’ Lydia Lutwyche (right) battles for the puck during the Under-18s encounter at Manchester Storm on Saturday Picture courtesy of All Sports Photography.
BULLDOGS’ UNDER-10s continued to show great signs of progress in their latest X-Ice Tournament, this time hosted by Nottingham at the National Ice Centre.
Out of the four games played, the Bulldogs came away with three wins.
Team manager Aimee Clarke said the work being done with coaches Andy Bourke and Jemma Livingstone was clearly paying off.
“Watching the team play like they did was outstanding,” said Aimee. “Each and every one of them played like it would be their last.
“Over the past couple of training sessions Andy and Jemma have been working on passing and it showed in Nottingham.
“They worked as a team, spotting opportunities to make plays and score goals.”
The first game against Sheffield saw Stevie Abdy (pictured) among the goals, scoring twice in as many minutes, with guest player Seth also bagging a double, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 6-4 defeat.
NINE-GOAL HERO: Stevie Abdy was aong the goals for the Under-10s in Nottingham
A hat-trick from Seth was instrumental in the next game, with Stevie Abdy and Evan Bulmer also getting on the scoresheet in a 5-4 win over Nottingham.
Better was to come in the next game against a mixed team, which the Bulldogs won 9-6 thanks to strikes from Evan Bulmer (2), Steveie Abdy (2), Denis Sprogis plus two apiece for guest players Seth and Oscar.
The final game - against Sutton - brought even more success, a four-goal haul from Stevie Abdy leading the way in a fantastic 9-7 win, with Evan Bulmer (2) and Finley Mardell also getting on the scoresheet, along with guest players Seth and Oscar.
Elsewhere at the weekend, Bulldogs’ Under-18s headed west to Altrincham looking to even score with a Manchester Storm team who had beaten them 13-7 at ‘The Pound’ the week before.
In a close-fought game, only a 24th-minute strike from Alfie Kelly for the hosts separated the two teams at the first break.
But two goals in as many minutes put the home team into a dominant position, Joshua Milnes’s shorthanded strike at 26.59 being quickly followed by an goal by Bailey Thomas.
ON TARGET: Bulldogs’ Oli Massey (right) got on the scoresheet for the Under-18s against Manchester. Picture courtesy of All Sports
The lead was stretched to four goals when the lively Theo Malone scored a second shorthanded goal for the hosts, but the Bulldogs were handed a lifeline when Danny Harrison’s long-range effort beat former Bulldogs’ netminder, Callum Preston.
Into the third period, Oli Massey continued the fightback when he made it 4-2 at 44.16 and even though a second for Malone was quickly followed by a Jayson Burgess strike at 49.14, the visitors were quickly back in the hunt when Daragh Spawforth made it 6-3 just 55 seconds later.
Chances continued to come at both ends, but the Bulldogs were forced to head home without anything to show for their efforts.
On Sunday, Bulldogs Under-14s made the long trip to Solihull looking to avenge a defeat on home ice against the Junior Barons back in January.
The visitors certainly came out with intent and took the lead inside three minutes through a power play strike from Charlie Farrow.
But they were behind by the first break, trailing to a Riley Hubbock double, with the Barons’ forward sealing his hat-trick just over three minutes into the second period.
That was the first of three goals in under two minutes, Hubbock taking his tally to four at 19.52 after Louis Insall had beaten Jacob Mardell.
The third period proved another tough spell for the Bulldogs, who fell 6-1 behind to a Noah Bruce strike, with Raihan Lee completing the scoring to seal a deserved 7-1 win for Solihull.