Ice Hockey: Sticky business for Hawks

HUMBERSIDE HAWKS twice overcame a sticking point to secure two victories and lift themselves into contention for the play-offs, with a chance of a place in the Wembley finals next month, writes Steve Pinder.

The first win was 5-4 over Basingstoke Beavers, who also had an outside chance of making the top eight.

Beavers went 3-2 up after 25 minutes, but did not score again until four minutes to go, after the Hawks had scored three without reply. Beavers' final goal came from a five-on-three power play, with Hawks' import, Dan Dorion, adjudged to be playing with an illegal stick.

Word must travel fast. The next day, Bracknell Bees suggested to the referee that Dorion's stick was still a wrong 'un. They were the wrong 'uns, losing a player for two minutes for wrongfully protesting.

None the less, Bees were 4-3 up after 23 minutes. Alexander Kulikov equalised and Mike Bishop wrapped up the match from the blue line with seven minutes left, killing off Bees' hopes of a play-off place.

Whitley Warriors had the opposite kind of weekend to the Hawks. Replacing the first- choice goalkeeper, Kevin Dean, young John Worrel had a baptism of fire against the Premier Division champions, Cardiff Devils. He leaked 11 goals from 42 shots before being replaced in Devils' 13-7 win. The next day he played half the game, giving way to Phillip King as Peterborough Pirates won 14-4.