Warriors² in tough defeat by the Spartans
On Saturday 11th April 2026 our Warriors 2 team welcomed the Telford Spartans to Planet Ice for this IHSC Cup fixture.
This was the Warriors fourth fixture in the IHSC Cup and their first contest with the Telford Spartans.
The Warriors were the victors in their previous IHSC Cup game against Hull Knights and they were keen to build on this momentum.
But, they were without a lot of key players for this one. Most notably, Captain and leading scorer Howard Barwick was absent - which was a big blow for the team.
That said, the Warriors still had a strong bench with some previously absent players returning.
Dressed players
Lewis Pickering (NM), Chris Hamilton, Arek Koziel, Cain Turner, Corey Clough-Howard, David Gorog, Gareth Lumley, Ivans Lebedjoks, James Way, Jamie Thurston, Leo Wright, Luke Cadman, Tim Lyndon-Belt, Stu Nelson, Stu Shepherd, Rhys Shears, Rich Guttridge, Sam Stokes, Matt Bolan, Matt Jubb and Simon Davis.
1st period
Both teams spent the first few exchanges feeling each other out, but it was the Spartans who made the stronger start - opening the scoring at 4:33, with #47 finding the net.
Whilst the Warriors pushed hard for an equaliser, the Spartans suckered them with another goal - doubling their lead at 11:15, when #87 scored with #44 credited with the assist.
Despite some good work by the team, the Warriors were unable to get on the board in the opening frame and went into the break trailing 0–2.
Warriors 0-2 Spartans
2nd period
The Warriors responded superbly after the restart.
At 25:39, Jamie Thurston got the Warriors on the board to make it 1–2.
The Spartans replied quickly at 25:22 through #87, assisted by #21 and #66, restoring their two-goal cushion at 1-3.
The Warriors hit back again at 28:07, with Rhys Shears scoring from a Stu Nelson assist to make it 2–3.
But the Spartans answered once more at 28:32, when #21 scored from #87, putting Telford 4–2 ahead.
That was four goals in 8 minutes and there was more to come.
The Warriors put everything they had into this period and kept on coming:
30:35 - Leo Wright scored from a Matt Bolan assist to make it 3–4
36:18 - Matt Jubb scored from David Gorog and Stu Nelson assists to level it at 4–4
38:47 - Gareth Lumley scored from a Corey Clough-Howard assist to put Leeds ahead 5–4
It was a huge turn-around from the Warriors, who scored five times in the period and had now seized control of the game.
The period score was 5-2 to Warriors.
Warriors 5-4 Spartans
3rd period
That second period seemed to take a lot out of the Warriors - whereas the Spartans re-grouped during the interval and were able to swing the game back in their favour during this final period.
At 48:11, Spartans’ #44 scored with assists from #7 and #66 to tie the game at 5–5.
The visitors re-took the lead at 51:49, with #87 making it 5–6.
A further goal at 57:44 from #44 stretched the lead to 5–7, before #87, assisted by #47, completed the scoring at 59:22.
The Spartans had won the period convincingly at 0-4 to take a 5-8 win - with the Warriors unable to add to their tally in the final period.
Final score:
Warriors 5-8 Spartans
Points scorers :
Stu Nelson 0+2
Gareth Lumley 1+0
Jamie Thurston 1+0
Leo Wright 1+0
Matt Jubb 1+0
Rhys Shears 1+0
David Gorog 0+1
Matt Bolan 0+1
Matt Jubb
Player of the game
Matt Jubb
Captain’s POTG
The Player of the Game for the Warriors as selected by the Spartans, went to Matt Jubb - and the Captain’s helmet also went to Matt Jubb. A clean sweep. What a performance. Well played Matt!
After going 0–2 down in the first period, the Warriors produced an outstanding second-period fightback, scoring five times to turn the game around and lead 5–4.
But the Spartans took over again in the third, scoring four unanswered goals to leave the Warriors empty-handed. Unlucky guys, good effort by all of you.
The next game for Warriors 2 is also in the IHSC Cup - see the details below:
IHSC Cup
Sunday 16th May 2026
Sheffield Blazers v Warriors²
@ Ice Sheffield
Face-off : 8:30pm
For all upcoming Warriors² fixtures, please check this page : fixtures and results.
