Wild trump the Aces in feisty encounter
WIDNES WILD ........................................... 6 ALTRINCHAM ACES ................................. 1
THE YKK-sponsored Widnes Wild remain top of the Laidler Division table following a somewhat bruising 6-1 win over North West rivals Altrincham Aces at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday evening.
Games between these two sides are always very keenly contested and passionate affairs but this one seemed to be over niggly with a high number of penalties being handed out to both teams.
The opening phase was very even with chances for both teams, but it was the Wild who took the lead after eight minutes with a goal from Chris Gee.
An unfortunate incident occurred on 13 minutes which seemed to set the tone of the rest of the game.
Wild playmaker Stuart Brittle went down under a hard challenge and the ensuing melee saw 47 minutes of penalties being given out in one go.
The main Aces player involved was expelled from the game for a check to the head plus fighting and Widnes playercoach Ollie Barron was handed a 2+2 for fighting and 2+10 for instigation, which kept him of the game until midway through the second period.
Shortly afterwards, Brittle had to leave the ice and took no further part in the game.
In the resulting powerplay, the Wild’s Danny Bullock put the home side two goals ahead and that remained the score at the end of the first period. ● ●
The second period was also littered with minor skirmishes and unnecessary bickering at every call.
Three more goals for the Wild – a second from Gee, a highly-popular strike from Ken Armstrong and a first of the night for Barron – gave Widnes a 5-0 lead after two stanzas.
The third period was much less fraught and played out with fewer incidents.
Bez Hughes fired the Wild 6-0 ahead and the game looked pretty much over – the only question remaining was whether the Wild defence could keep the Altrincham attack at bay and help netminder Matt Croyle to a shutout.
To their credit, the Aces upped their game in the final period and finally managed to match the Wild shot for shot.
They were eventually rewarded for their toil with a consolation goal in the 55th minute.
Speaking post-game, Barron said: “A hard fought victory.
“We all know that the Wild-Aces games are played at a fast, physical pace, and that’s exactly what this game was.
“We worked hard all over the ice for each other, playing a great team game, with hunger and energy.
“Our goalscoring was spread over the lines, and Matt Croyle played another great game.
“A special mention must go to King Ken [Ken Armstrong] on a great performance, picking up a goal and two assists with his man-of-the-match performance.”
The Wild are top of the Laidler Division table with 18 points from their 11 games to date. Hull Jets are second with 17 from 12.
The Wild are next in action this Sunday evening when they play host to the Coventry Blaze at Planet Ice Widnes.
As it is Remembrance Sunday and the centenary of the Armistice, special commemorations are being planned as part of the evening’s programme.
Face-off for the game is at 5.30pm and the doors open at 4.45pm.