Hexagon Telford Tigers 2 opened their Laidler Division campaign with a home game against Nottingham Lions. Tigers 2 were without net minder Ryan Lewis who was recovering from an injury. This allowed recent signing Hal Griffiths to make his senior debut in goal.
Tigers 2 made the perfect start to the game with a goal in the opening minute. A stretch pass from Callum Griffin found Filip Supa in space on the Nottingham blue line. He dragged the puck back away from a Nottingham defender, skated past him and shot low past Oliver Goodman in the Nottingham goal. Within three minutes Tigers 2 had doubled their lead whilst on the power play.
With Lions’ defender, Tyler Poole in the penalty box, Tigers 2 took full advantage of the extra skater. Griffin sent a cross ice pass to Supa in the left circle, Supa sniped the puck into the roof of the net hitting the net minders’ bottle and scoring a second goal.
Tigers 2 dominated much of the opening period and went close again when Connor Keyes hit a slap shot from distance that rang off the post.
The second period was scrappy and both teams struggled to maintain possession or create chances. Midway through the period Tigers 2 added a third goal. Ben Washburn’s shot deflected nicely into the path of Griffin who tapped the puck into the open net.
Five minutes later Tigers 2 had a fourth goal. Connor McNaughton sent a pass into the slot where Keyes had plenty of time to pick out the bottom left hand corner of the goal to put Tigers 2 four goals ahead at the end of the second period.
Early in the third period, Supa hit the cross bar with a superb wrist shot and Tigers threatened the Nottingham goal during the opening five minutes of the period. But a defensive mistake allowed Lee Holland to pull a goal back for the Lions and give Nottingham hope. In the final minute of the game Nottingham scored a second goal. Griffiths made a save from an Edward Harley shot but in trying to clear the puck Tigers’ Dan Mitchell poked the puck into his own net.
The goal proved to be a consolation for the Lions as Tigers 2 won their opening game of the season.
Final Score: Hexagon Telford Tigers (Laidler) 4 Nottingham Lions 2.
Scorers: Flip Supa (2), Callum Griffin and Connor Keyes.
Man of the match: Simon Harrison.
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