Bulldogs suffer on the road in Telford

IT proved a tough night in Shropshire for Bradford Bulldogs when they fell to a heavy 18-0 defeat to a Telford Tigers team focused on retaining their NIHL North Two regular season league title. 

Short-benched going into the game - with just 11 skaters - it was always going to be a tough ask for the visitors - against a team who have been fighting it out with Sutton Sting for top spot all season.

Throw into the mix a player the calibre of Vladimir Luka - a mainstay of the Tigers’ NIHL National team until the turn of the year, scoring 36 points in 33 games - and the odds wee stacked heavily in the home team’s favour. 

After the first 20 minutes, Telford found themselves 5-0 ahead through strikes from Paul Davies, Daniel Mitchell, Luka (2) and Karol Jets. 

Five more goals followed in the second period, Jack Mickevicius beaten just 57 seconds in when Luka sealed his hat-trick with a shorthanded marker. Further strikes followed from Josef Lauder, Connor McNaughton, Joshua Hustwick and Taylor Stanton. 

The lead had stretched to 14-0 with less than five minutes remaining - Luka bagging another couple while Stanton and Cullum Griffin also found the net. 

The Tigers finished off with four goals in as many minutes, Benjamin Washbourn, Mitchell and Griffin the scorers, before Luka rounded off the game when he completed his second hat-trick of the day.