Ice Hockey – UK Round-up (games played 9th & 10th April)

Whitley Warriors stormed into the ENL Division One North play-off final after finally ending Blackburn Hawks’ brave resistance.

Trailing 4-2 from the first leg the Warriors looked in all sorts of trouble as the Hawks extended their aggregate lead to 6-3 at the end of the first period.

Coach Simon Leach rallied his men who responded to level the tie at the end of the second before Adam Reynolds put Whitley ahead with a stunning goal midway through the third. The Warriors sealed the win with an empty net goal in the final minute.

Whitley must now wait to face the winners from the other semi-final – Nottingham Lions or Coventry Blaze.

In the Southern section all four ties went to form with Wightlink Raiders, Invicta Dynamos, Romford Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains all advancing to the semi-finals.

Guildford Flames finally ended their Coventry curse as they edged out MK Lightning in the EPL play-off final – their 5-3 win at the Skydome ended a run of five consecutive final losses.

Lukas Zatopek gave Lightning an early lead but Ben Campbell (2) and Nathan Rempel put the Flames in control by the end of the first.

Gary Clarke brought Lightning back into it with a goal midway through the second before Blaz Emersic tied things up in the third.

With the game looking set for overtime the Flames were awarded a penalty shot which was coolly converted by Martin Masa and as Lightning pushed for an equaliser, Nathan Rempel converted an empty netter to see the Flames home.