Weekend Teaser: Hull double header, can Bees sting the Seahawks?

 


 Bees working hard to secure a playoff place

Brett earns his first NIHL win against Raiders after disappointment in Swindon

Saturday evening saw the Bees play away in Swindon where they were second best to the in form Wildcats. The Wildcats raced to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first, Josh Smith scoring Bees goal. The second period was tied 1-1 with Dominik Gabaj on target for the Bees. The Wildcats won the third period 4-2, Bees goals coming from Gianni Vitali and Marcel Balaz. Final score on the night 9-4 in favour of the Wildcats. Liam Morris picked up the man of the match, good job it's beer and not a trophy as he would need a bigger cabinet with all of his recent man of the match success.
Sunday saw the Raiders visit Slough having been the better team in the two meetings of the teams over the Christmas period. Raiders looked like they meant business again as they had a 2-0 lead by 5.35 both goals scored by Tjay Anderson.. A Bees powerplay opportunity saw Marcel Balaz get Bees first goal on the board and the first period ended 1-2 with the visitors just one goal ahead. Bees turned it on in the second period, Gianni Vitali scored to tie the game and then Dan Rose added another to give Bees the lead. Raiders scored to bring the scores level before Adam Rosbottom scored what would prove to be the game winning goal as Bees went into the locker room with a one goal lead at 4-3. The third period provided just one goal courtesy of the main man Dominik Gabaj and, despite a timeout and the inevitable pulling the goalie, Raiders could not find their way back leaving a final score of 5-3. Every player was exceptional for the Bees but there was only one player who was going to receive the man of the match. With his first NIHL win Brett Shepherd stood firm between the pipes and thoroughly deserved the award.

Player of the Weekend Results

No surprise here as the congratulations go to Brett Shepherd who, with 65%, is our player of the weekend.

New Signing for the Bees

Zaine McKenzie returns to the Bees on a two way contract with the Nottingham Panthers. Having previously played for the Bees in the 21/22 season Zaine returns after a season at Milton Keynes Lightning in 22/23 and makes the move from the Telford Tigers where he has played 24 games in the current season. Zaine has signed for the remainder of the 23/24 season and for 24/25 season too.  

Next - Double header with the Seahawks

Bees make the long journey to Hull on Saturday. The only time Bees have played there this season on 8th October 2023 they were the wrong side of a 7-0 scoreline where Seahawks could do nothing wrong on the night and Bees hard work didn't come up with the goals. 
 
Sunday sees the Hull Seahawks make the trip to Slough. They have visited just once this season back in October when Bees edged them in a thriller which ended 4-3 in regulation.

Seahawks currently sit 5th in the league although were they to win their games in hand they would be a top 4 team. In a bid to do this, Matty Davies has cut Bobby Young who has 23 points from 24 games and has brought in Owen Sobchak who was the Bristol Pitbulls captain last season and had 50 points from 37 games.This season so far hasn't gone to plan for him though as in early October 2023 the Pitbulls announced that he was leaving the team. He then made the move to Stromsbro IF where he has 10 points from 18 games. Both Young and Sobchak are left shooting centres so it's a like for like swap, let's hope Sobchak doesn't settle into his line until after the weekend!

All that is left to say is safe travels to the Bees players and supporters heading to Hull on Saturday and the same to the Seahawks and their fans travelling on Sunday. Come on you Bees!

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