Wild boost as duo return
THE YKK sponsored Widnes Wild have announced the return of two more popular players for the 2022/23 NIHL season.
First up is Matty Barlow, who has made 61 appearances for the Wild over two stints, scoring 14 goals, 22 assists and notching up 48 penalty minutes.
He first joined Widnes for the 2017/18 season - when he was a member of the team that won the Laidler Division Play Offs for the second time - and he came back part way into last season to boost the team that won the Moralee Cup and finished a very creditable 3rd in the league table.
At the end of the campaign, he was selected to play for the England Under 23 team and made two appearances in challenge games against Denmark, at Widnes and Sheffield.
Despite being only 23, Barlow has a huge amount of experience, and already has some 224 competitive matches under his belt.
“I’m honoured to be asked to return to Widnes after a very successful first year in Division 1. The decision to wear black and yellow again was a no brainer,” said Barlow.
“After coming in late last year, I feel this year I’ll be able to show what I can do from the first game of the season. After gaining experience with England U23s and training hard all summer I want to be able to make an impact on the team going forward. I’m looking forward to be working with Hags and the rest of the boys again. Hopefully we can push on from last season and work toward lifting a trophy again for the best fans in the league!”
Commenting on Barlow’s return, Wild player coach Richard Haggar said: “Matty was an outstanding addition last season for us. He gave everything to the cause and got his reward playing for England U23s, which was the least he deserved.
“He really is a guy who inspires everyone in the changing room both on and off the ice for us. He made many game changing contributions and I look forward to him taking on more responsibility this season and grabbing that opportunity by the scruff of the neck. He’s one to watch this season for us!”
Also returning is utility player Berwyn “Bez” Hughes, who can play in either an attacking or defensive role.
In seven full seasons with the Wild – plus the 2021 Covid lockdown cup series – Hughes has made 216 appearances in Widnes colours, scoring 33 goals, 51 assists and notching up 240 penalty minutes.
The 27-year-old played his junior hockey at Deeside and Altrincham before switching to Telford where he played 28 NIHL North 1 games with the
Titans team over the 2012/13 and 13/14 seasons.
Hughes first joined Widnes for the 2014/15 season and then spent a year gaining experience in the USA in 2015/16 playing 32 games for Charlotte Rush in the USPHL tier 3 junior league.
Wild Player Coach Richard Haggar said of Hughes: “Bez will once again be our Assistant Captain this season, he is a top quality player who you know what you’re going to get game in game out from him. He had a difficult start to the season with an injury but once he got back on the ice he was as reliable as ever with more to give with a full off season ahead of him. His versatility was on show throughout the season scoring some big goals for us as well as giving everything every shift which is what I and all Wild fans want to see.”
Bez added: “It’s an absolute honour to be asked to re-sign again at Widnes for my 8th season – and I’m looking forward to returning to the ice with the boys soon. I’m keen to be getting back to work with coach Hags and the lads shortly and to improving on our very successful season last year!”
● British League sledge hockey returned to Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday after a two year break caused by the Covid pandemic but it was a day to forget for the local Mayhem team as they lost out 0-13 to league leaders Cardiff Huskies.
Cardiff took the lead in the seventh minute and then went 0-2 up with just 33 seconds left to play in the first period. A massive 7 goals in the second period – including two within 16 seconds of each other – put the visitors well in front and, despite increased Mayhem possession as the game went on, they found it difficult to penetrate the well organised Huskies defence.
The Mayhem’s chief playmaker, GB international Karl Nicholson, had to miss the game through suspension and, with Canadian national team player Peggy Assinck leaving the ice injured mid-way through the game, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the home side.
Darren Pomfrett was given a stern test in the Mayhem goal and, had it not been for some superb saves, the score would have been much higher.
Four more goals for Cardiff in the third period gave them a resounding victory and sees them pull further ahead at the top of the league table with 5 wins from 5 games.
The Mayhem have two away games coming up in a row – away to Sheffield Steelstings on 2nd July and then at Peterborough Phantoms on 9th July – before their next home game against the Steelstings on Saturday 16th July at Planet Ice Widnes.