Blackburn Hawks boosted their NIHL1 North play-off hopes with a 2-1 win at Coventry Blaze – Dan MacKriel got the winner. Karol Jets scored twice in Telford Titans’ 5-3 success at Trafford Metros. Sutton Sting beat Whitley Warriors 4-0 in the Trans-Pennine East/West Trophy.
NIHL2 North leaders Nottingham Lions returned to winning ways with a 12-0 victory at home to Fylde Flyers – Joe Wightman (left) scored four. Sheffield Senators stay second after an 8-2 win at Blackburn Eagles – Nathan Britton (2) & Callum Rawson (2) led the scoring. Erik Bakalar hit a hat-trick in Solihull Barons’ 8-3 win at Hull Stingrays.
Romford Raiders lost their 100% NIHL1 South record with a 4-3 defeat at Bracknell Bees and a 1-1 draw at home to leaders Wightlink Raiders. Julius Sinkovic (2) & James Ayling (2) led the way as Chelmsford Chieftains beat Invicta Dynamos 7-1. Chieftains also won 3-2 at Wightlink in the NIHL South Cup.
EPL leaders Basingstoke Bison beat Manchester Phoenix 5-2 – Andy Melachrino & Jaroslav Cesky both scored twice – but followed up with a surprise 6-3 loss at Peterborough Phantoms – Maris Ziedins bagged a hat-trick. Phoenix also lost 4-3 at home to Slough Jets – Frantisek Bakrlik hit the shoot-out winner.
Guildford Flames enjoyed a four-point weekend with a 4-3 win at home to Peterborough – Nathan Rempel’s second of the night secured the points – and a 4-1 success at Telford Tigers – Curtis Huppe scored two. Leigh Jamieson & Kamil Tvrdek both hit hat-tricks as MK Lightning beat Telford 9-0 and Tvrdek grabbed another two as Lightning won 5-2 at Swindon Wildcats. Bracknell Bees beat Sheffield Steeldogs 5-1 – Shaun Thompson scored twice.
Elite League leaders Belfast Giants fell to a 3-2 shoot-out defeat at home to Nottingham Panthers – Matt Francis hit the winner. Panthers followed up with a 5-1 win at Dundee Stars. Mac Faulkner scored twice as Cardiff Devils won 3-2 at Sheffield Steelers. Coventry Blaze secured a trio of victories, beating Edinburgh Capitals 5-2, Dundee 4-3 after a shoot-out and Braehead 5-1.
Clan took four points from their double header against Hull Stingrays winning 7-2 on the road – Drew Miller hit a hat-trick – and 4-3 on home ice. Hull completed a miserable week with a 6-2 defeat at Edinburgh – Curtis Leinweber (2) & Richard Hartmann (2) led Capitals’ scoring. In the Challenge Cup Cardiff beat Sheffield 7-6 after a shoot-out – Chris Blight got the winner.
(Image permission: John Knowles)
