IHSC Cup Quarter-Final : Warriors 1 @ Vikings ‘B’
On Saturday 16th August 2025 our first team travelled to Ice Sheffield to take on Don Valley Vikings ‘B’ in an IHSC Cup Intermediate Quarter Final.
With the IHSC Cup campaign completed, the final standings placed our Warriors 1 team in 3rd position — just behind Don Valley Vikings B.
Both sides finished level on 12 points, but the Vikings edged ahead on goal difference (+10 to Leeds’ +9). Crucially, their advantage came from two 5–0 forfeit wins against Shropshire Huskies, a situation that felt unsatisfactory - given how evenly matched the teams had been all season.
To settle matters fairly, it was agreed that a special ‘quarter-final’ game would be held between the Warriors and Vikings, with the winner progressing to the play-off weekend later this month.
The rivalry already had form: both previous meetings ended in dramatic 6–6 ties, with the Vikings taking the extra point(s) via penalty shootouts. Everything suggested this would be another close contest.
The Warriors travelled with three full lines and were close to full strength, while the Vikings iced only two forward lines — though they stacked their roster with several players who can (and do) operate at Elite level. With that backdrop, all the Warriors could do was dig deep, play their game, and try to earn the result on the ice.
Dressed players:
Joe Quinn (NM), Chris Giles (C), Chris Blashko, Dylan Noonan, Mitch White, Andy Giles (A), Simon Morrow, Tyler Heming, Niks Kamaldins, Tom Mallon, Adam Gibbons, Will Gibbons, Dzintars Jonuss, Chris Scampton, Harvey Galloway and Sam Cadman.
1st period
It was a frustrating start for the Warriors as the officials called what looked to be a harsh two-minute penalty for holding at 08:04.
The team had almost killed the penalty, but with just two seconds left, the Vikings struck through Franks, assisted by Hartley and Madeja (10:02).
The Warriors tried to respond but struggled to find their rhythm and were repeatedly exposed in the neutral zone.
The hosts sensed it and quickly doubled their lead when the dangerous pairing of Malc Smith and Pete Schofield combined to make it 2-0 (11:27).
Things went from bad to worse when Schofield struck again, this time with a clever wrap-around from behind the net, assisted by Smith (17:26).
At 3-0 down, the Warriors desperately needed a response to avoid the game slipping away before the first break.
Thankfully, the team hung on and got to the first break with no further damage done.
Vikings 3-0 Warriors
2nd period
The intermission message was clear: the next goal was crucial.
The Warriors settled into a calmer style, containing the Vikings’ top line and reducing panic in their own zone.
Their breakthrough finally came at 26:24. Under pressure in their own zone, Chris Giles flipped the puck high and into the neutral zone where Mitch White collected it and duly tore down the ice and finished clinically. A huge moment — 3-1, and the Warriors were back in it.
But just as the Warriors were starting to believe, disaster struck. At 34:53 the Vikings restored their three-goal cushion, making it 4-1 — a crushing blow, just as the Warriors were growing into the game.
The remainder of the period was a stalemate, but the uphill task remained daunting with just 20 minutes left.
Vikings 4-1 Warriors
Warriors’ Noonan battles with Vikings’ Franks.
3rd period
The final frame was always going to go one of two ways: either the Vikings would pull away comfortably, or the Warriors would claw their way back into contention.
Thankfully, it was the latter. At the opening face-off, Dylan Noonan won the draw and slid the puck to left D Chris Giles who banked the puck up to the opposite boards, where White collected and fed it back to Noonan. He skated into the zone and ripped a low shot past Allender. Assists to White and C.Giles. With the clock at 40:13 it was 4-2 and game on!
Both sides knew the next goal could decide the outcome. For nearly 20 tense minutes, neither side blinked. The clock ran down, the Vikings clung on — until late drama struck.
With just 38 seconds left, Mitch White carried the puck into the Vikings’ zone and laid off a nice pass to Andy Giles, who swept in a one-time shot from the slot. Timed at 59:22, the deficit was now down to one!
The Warriors immediately called a timeout. When the game reconvened, they pulled goalie Joe Quinn for the extra skater, and threw everything at the Vikings in the dying seconds. The puck stayed in the zone, chances were created, but the equaliser never came.
The Vikings held firm and took the win — but not without a huge scare. What a game!
Final score:
Vikings 4 -3 Warriors
Points scorers:
Mitch White 1+2
Chris Giles 0+2
Andy Giles 1+0
Dylan Noonan 1+0
Tyler Heming
Captain’s player of the game
Mitch White
Player of the game
Player of the Game, as selected by the Vikings, deservedly went to Mitch White - who collected 1+2 and was crucial to the Warriors offence. At the other end of the ice, D-man Tyler Heming took the helmet award for his fantastic marshalling of the defence. Well played guys!
This was a valiant effort from the lads. After a poor first period which left them with a mountain to climb, they never gave up and only conceded one goal in the final two periods, whilst converting two themselves.
Here’s the final standings in the IHSC Cup Intermediate Division:
The Vikings will now take on the Newcastle Predators in the IHSC Cup Intermediate semi-final at Ice Sheffield on Saturday 30th August at 11:15am. It’s sure to be a close and exciting game.
Here’s a list of Warriors 1’s top 10 points scorers in the IHSC Cup:
Thank You
Thanks to everyone who has supported the team this season. Whether that has been through attending games and cheering the team on or helping with the scoreboard, clock or game sheets etc - it’s much appreciated!
But, above all else, special mention and gratitude should go to our super dedicated manager, Lisa Speed, who does so much for the whole club. Thank you.
