Warriors 1 bitten by Huskies
On Saturday 24th May 2025 our first team travelled to Telford to take on the Shropshire Huskies in the IHSC Cup.
This game marked the first-ever meeting between the Shropshire Huskies and the Leeds Warriors, and it also happened to be the Warriors’ longest road trip since the team was founded. For some Warriors players, it was their first time playing at Telford Ice Rink, while for others, it was a return to familiar ground.
The Warriors entered the game with a depleted roster, just managing to pull together three forward lines and two defensive pairings. Given the limited numbers, the game plan was simple: stay solid at the back and be clinical when chances came.
Dressed players:
Joe Quinn (NM), Chris Giles (C), Mitch White, Andy Giles, Chris Scampton, Ellen Gallimore, Niks Kamaldins, Adam Gibbons, Chris Blaschko, Niku Ghaemi, Jordan Batty, Simon Morrow, Harvey Galloway and Dzintars Jonuss.
1st period
The Huskies came out flying, dominating early possession and pinning the Warriors in their own zone. Their pressure paid off just four minutes in, when they opened the scoring to take a 1–0 lead.
At that point, the Warriors had yet to register a significant offensive threat — but that quickly changed. With 15:40 on the clock, Ellen Gallimore set up Mitch White, who broke through to equalise with a confident finish. 1–1.
Now settling into the game, the Warriors began to find their rhythm both defensively and in transition. Then, with 10:52 remaining, a loose puck in the neutral zone found its way to Andy Giles, who fed it to White. He carried it into the offensive zone, beat the defender, then the netminder, and scored a brilliant solo goal to put the Warriors ahead 2–1.
Despite sustained pressure from the Huskies for the remainder of the period, the Warriors held firm and took their narrow lead into the first intermission.
Huskies 1 Warriors 2
2nd period
The message during the break was clear: more of the same. The defensive-first strategy was working, and the Warriors aimed to stay disciplined while looking for more moments of individual brilliance.
However, the second period proved to be the turning point of the game. In a devastating three-minute spell, the Huskies scored four unanswered goals by the 16:48 mark, turning a 2–1 deficit into a 5–2 lead.
To their credit, the Warriors didn’t fold. With 12:40 left in the period, Chris Blaschko sent a breakout pass to Mitch White, who fed Simon Morrow to finish off a well-worked move. That made it 5–3, and the Warriors were back in it.
Momentum was building, and Leeds created several quality chances — but were repeatedly denied by the Huskies’ standout netminder. As the period wore on, Shropshire added two more goals (at 9:56 and 8:14) to end the second with a commanding 7–3 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Huskies 7 Warriors 3
3rd period
Despite the uphill battle, the Warriors came out determined to restore pride and reduce the deficit. They tightened up defensively and played with renewed intensity at both ends of the ice.
The final period was tightly contested, with both teams generating good chances. Joe Quinn stood tall in the Warriors’ net, making several key saves, while the Huskies’ goalie continued his strong performance.
The stalemate finally broke with 5:55 remaining. With sustained pressure in the Huskies’ zone, Chris Giles picked up the puck in the high slot and sent a diagonal pass to Adam Gibbons, who found Niks Kamaldins across the ice. Kamaldins hammered it home low and hard to make it 7–4.
The Warriors pushed hard for a fifth goal that might have made things interesting, but it wasn’t to be. Instead, the Huskies struck once more with 4:14 left on the clock to seal the final score at 8–4.
Final score :
Huskies 8 Warriors 4
Points scorers:
Mitch White 2+1
Niks Kamaldins 1+0
Simon Morrow 1+0
Chris Blaschko 0+1
Adam Gibbons 0+1
Andy Giles 0+1
Chris Giles 0+1
Ellen Gallimore 0+1
Despite the final scoreline, there were plenty of positives for the Warriors. They won the first period 2–1 and matched the Huskies 1–1 in the third. Ultimately, it was the second-period collapse — a 6–1 loss in that frame alone — that decided the outcome.
With a short bench, plenty of travel miles, and a determined opponent, the Warriors showed character and resilience. Plenty to build on ahead of the next fixture.
Jordan Batty
Player of the game
Chris Blaschko
Captain’s player of the game
When it came to the post-game awards, Jordan Batty was named Player of the Game by the Huskies and the Warriors helmet went to Chris Blashko. Well played guys!
Honourable mentions go to Niks Kamaldins who had an impressive game, putting in huge effort. Also to Joe Quinn for his big saves and Mitch White for putting us ahead early in the game and being a constant offensive threat.
This was the Warriors' seventh of ten IHSC Cup games this season and their second road trip in May. They now have a short break before heading back on the road to face the unbeaten Grimsby Trawlers ‘A’.
IHSC Cup
Saturday 28th June 2025
Trawlers ‘A’ v Warriors
@ Grimsby Ice Rink
Face-off : 3pm
Free entry
Watch this space for future Warriors 1 fixtures : Fixtures and Results.
But prior to that game, our two other teams are in action. Warriors 2 are back on the road, playing in the IHSC Cup. See details below:
IHSC Cup
Saturday 1st June 2025
Blackburn Buccaneers v Warriors
@ Planet Ice, Blackburn
Face-off : 4:45pm
Free entry
Watch this space for future Warriors 2 fixtures : Fixtures and Results.
Our 3rd team (devlopment) are also playing on the same evening, but on home ice. See details below:
IHSC Cup
Challenge game
Saturday 1st June 2025
Warriors v Bradford Ice Wolves
Face-off : 20:30
@ Planet Ice, Leeds
Free entry
Watch this space for future Warriors 3 fixtures : Fixtures and Results.
