Classic end to campaign as Raiders beat Blackburn
THE YKK sponsored Widnes Wild have announced three more signings to reinforce their challenge to retain their Laidler Division title for the new 2019/20 season with two new players and a returnee.
The first new signing is Ryan Kemp who was an important member of the Bradford Bulldogs team that reached the Laidler playoffs last season, scoring 19 goals and 18 assists in 30 regular season games, as well as one goal in the playoff semi-final.
Despite only being 20 years old, Ryan has a great deal of experience, having played 75 NIHL games for the Bulldogs over three seasons, and also having spent one season in the Moralee Division with the Deeside Dragons.
Kemp started off his junior career at Whitley Bay before moving to the Bradford youth system and has also played at numerous junior Conference tournaments and for the England U19s against Scotland.
Kemp said: “I can’t wait for the new season in Widnes and am really excited about being part of the Widnes Wild team.
“I have always enjoyed playing in Widnes and I’m m eager to hone my skills further under new head coach Mike Clancy, lancy, who I have known for a long ng time.
“He is an excellent xcellent coach and I know I will ill be able to progress in Widnes through his leadership whilst working g alongside a quality team.” ”
Clancy added: ed: “Ryan is a player I know now well, having coached d him as a junior, and I’m m excited to see him join the Wild.
“He will bring ing some excitement to our firepower up front, t, where I expect nothing ng less than a career r high points return for or this coming season. .
“It feels like ke Ryan has been around for a long time, but at 20 he’s only nly
RIVERSIDE RAIDERS BLACKBURN BUCCANEERS ● just getting started and that should excite the Wild fanbase.” The second newcomer is netminder Jonah Armstrong who was the first c choice “stopper” for the Deeside Deesid Dragons in N2 last season, having h previously played Moralee Mo Division hockey wit with both the Dragons and the th Telford Tigers. The S St Asaph born goalie played pl his junior hockey a at Telford before switching to Deeside and has also made appearances at junior ju Conference tournaments. tournaments Armstrong Armstron said: “I’m really looking loo forward to signing f for the Wild this season. 8 3 THE Riverside Raiders team rounded off their Summer Classic Cup campaign with an entertaining 8-3 win over the Blackburn Buccaneers at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.
The previous meeting between the two teams had ended in a 3-3 draw with a penalty shoot out deciding the winner in Blackburn’s favour and this game looked likely to be just as close.
The Raiders took an early lead with a goal from Jack Walker just 84 seconds into the game and, with the rest of the
“Speaking to Mike, it was a no-brainer to sign once I heard the ideas he had for the club. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and playing.
“The guys here are a great bunch and we’re ready to put a good season together.”
Clancy said: “I’m delighted to have Jonah join us next season.
“He is a big goalie who covers the net well and will give depth to the goaltending at the Wild this year. I’ve always been a believer that competition breeds success and that will become a key part in getting the best out of my team this year.
“I’m fortunate to have worked with Jonah through a very successful junior career, so understand how I can get the best out of him, and what he can bring to support the Wild through the 2019/20 campaign.”
The third signing of the week is a familiar face to Wild fans as Thomas Ratcliffe has been with the club ever since it started, although he missed most of last season due to work commitments.
Ratcliffe played his early hockey with the Manchester Phoenix junior teams at Altrincham before joining the Wild for their debut 2013/14 season. He spent part of the 2015/16 seaperiod playing out goalless, went into the first break holding on to that slight advantage.
Two more goals for Walker – on 25 and 28 minutes – edged the Raiders into a reasonable lead but the Buccaneers still looked dangerous going forward and they managed to pull a goal back through a Michael Walsh penalty shot in the 34th minute.
A powerplay goal from the Raiders’ Matthew Lennox on 38 minutes reinstated the three-goal lead and the home side took a 4-1 advantage into the second break.
It was the Buccaneers who scored first in the third period with another goal from captain Michael Walsh but two quickfire son gaining invaluable hockey experience in the USA where he played for Charlotte Rush in the USPHL tier three junior league, scoring five plus eight in 37 games.
Ratcliffe has played 111 games for Widnes over his six seasons to date, scoring 17+24 and picking up 316 PIM. He also played 14 league and cup games for Elite League team Manchester Storm rm in the 2016/17 season. on.
Tom said: “When When I saw that Mike Clancy had been appointed nted as Head Coach for or the coming season I was very pleased for Widnes, I was as even more pleased for myself when I got a phone call ll from Mike asking g if I would come back to join the team.
“Last season was a busy time e for me, with starting ting strikes within 30 seconds of each other – from Mike Filek and Lennox again – effectively finished off the game as a contest.
Bobby Samari scored for the Raiders on 52 minutes and the Buccaneers’ Glenn Rattray (who normally plays in goal) fired in the visitors’ last strike on 56 minutes.
The scoring for the evening was rounded off by Jordan Birtwistle a minute later and the Raiders were able to celebrate their first home win in this summer’s competition.
The MVP awards, presented by Howard Smith, went to Buccaneers captain Michael Walsh and Raiders netminder Rob Melvin (pictured right) who put in another outstanding performance in goal. str re n ven mitme reaso “To al experie rien s p