Warriors¹ in shoot-out drama with Knights
On Sunday 19th July May 2026 our Warriors¹ team travelled to Hull Arena to take on Knights A in their final IHSC Cup fixture for 2025-26.
Following Warriors²'s visit to Hull the previous day, our first team returned to the same rink on Sunday looking to end the weekend on a high. Few could have predicted the dramatic finale that was about to unfold.
This was the return fixture against the Knights, following the sides’ previous meeting in March where the Warriors produced a hard-fought 9-5 home victory.
But this time, the team were without some influential skaters like player-coach Dylan Noonan and Sam Cromack etc.
Netminder Lewis Pickering was injured and fellow goalie Joe Quinn had recently departed the club, meaning Andrew Hughes was between the pipes for the first time in a while.
Dressed players
Andrew Hughes (NM), Chris Giles (C), Adam Gibbons, Tom Mallon, Ellen Gallimore, Tyler Heming, Jake Warner, Andy Giles (A), Mitch White, Will Gibbons, Niks Kamaldins, Simon Morrow, Chris Scampton, Harvey Galloway, Jordan Batty, Adam Tomlinson.
1st period
The Warriors travelled to Hull knowing they would be in for a tough contest, and the opening exchanges were evenly balanced before the Knights broke the deadlock at 8:08.
The Warriors had some opportunities to respond but went into the first break trailing by a single goal after killing off a late minor penalty at 17:18.
The team knew they could play better but were not too disheartened as it was still early in the game.
Knights 1-0 Warriors
2nd period
The visitors came flying out for the second period and needed just 23 seconds to level the scores. Will Gibbons finished off an excellent move, converting passes from Andy Giles and Mitch White to make it 1-1.
The Warriors hoped they would kick-on from here but the Knights responded almost immediately, restoring their advantage at 22:17.
But the Warriors refused to let the game slip away - at 28:37, after great work initially by Niks Kamaldins, Mitch White buried the equaliser after another pin-point assist from Andy Giles to make it 2-2.
The Knights edged back in front at 31:21, before the game descended into a penalty-filled affair. Knights players were sent to the box twice in quick succession at 32:33 and 34:30, while the Warriors picked up minors at 37:40 and 39:12.
The officiating became the main talking point of the period, with the referee appearing determined to involve himself in proceedings, finding his whistle at almost every opportunity and disrupting the flow of the game.
With the buzzer sounding for the end of the period, the team had tied the period 2-2 but they still trailed by one goal with only one period to play.
Knights 3-2 Warriors
3rd period
Trailing 3-2 entering the final period, the Warriors faced another set-back when a checking penalty at 46:30 handed the Knights a power-play.
The Knights capitalised just 42 seconds later, scoring at 47:12 to extend their lead to 4-2, before adding a fifth at 53:39 to seemingly put the result beyond doubt at 5-2 with just over 6 minutes remaining.
But the Warriors had other ideas.
Just over a minute later (54:52), Will Gibbons grabbed his second goal of the game at 54:52, finishing from a Mitch White assist to breathe life back into the contest. 5-3.
With momentum firmly swinging towards Leeds, Mitch White took matters into his own hands, producing a superb solo effort at 57:38 to cut the deficit to a single goal. 5-4.
With time running out, it was clear the Warriors would need to pull the goalie for the extra skater and take a chance. With approximately 2 minutes remaining on the clock, Andrew Hughes darted for the bench and an extra skater joined the action.
With the Warriors managing to gain possession they looked dangerous and likely to score - but one poor pass and the Knights could score on the empty net.
With the game entering the final 30 seconds the Warriors completed a remarkable comeback - defence-man Tyler Heming let fly from the blue line, and his driven shot took a deflection on its way through traffic before finding the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations as the Warriors levelled the game at 5-5 with 21 seconds to go.
With no winner forthcoming, the game would move to a penalty shoot-out to determine who would claim the bonus point.
Final score:
Knights 5-5 Warriors
Points scorers :
Mitch White 2+2
Will Gibbons 2+0
Andy Giles 0+2
Tyler Heming 1+0
Niks Kamaldins 0+1
Penaty shots
Niks Kamaldins, Chris Scampton, and Mitch White all stepped up for the Warriors but were unable to beat the Knights netminder. The Knights eventually converted their third attempt to secure the additional point.
Mitch White
Player of the game
Mitch White
Captain’s POTG
For the post-game awards it was a clean sweep - Player of the Game, as selected by the Knights, went to Mitch White! And the Captain’s helmet also went to… Mitch White!
Mitch really grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck when the Warriors were desperately in need of goals.
Also, big shout-out to Will Gibbons who picked up two crucial goals on the first line.
Plus, Simon Morrow worked his arse off - and Andrew Hughes was absolutely amazing in goal for the whole game - he kept the team in with a shout with some excellent netminding.
Respect to Niks Kamaldins, Chris Scampton, and Mitch White for stepping up to take the penalty shots.
Although the Warriors came away with just a single point, their never-say-die attitude deserved enormous credit. To recover from 5-2 down with little more than five minutes remaining showed tremendous belief and character, and while the shoot-out didn't go their way, the Warriors could leave Hull feeling immensely proud of a battling performance that epitomised the team's resilience.
Thanks to the Knights for hosting and for two amazingly competitive games. We wish you well for the remainder of your IHSC Cup campaign.
Many thanks to Hull Knights for putting together this excellent montage from Sunday’s game (split into part 1 and part 2 sections):
That was the final game in the IHSC Cup Intermediate Division, Group 2 for Warriors¹.
The team played 8 games, winning 6, losing 2 (1 x regulation loss 1 x shoot-out).
Having ended the season on 13 points, they have won Group B.
The second place team, Sheffield Ice Tigers are on 10 points with one game left to play, so the Warriors cannot be caught.
Whilst that is a great outcome, the team desperately wanted to win this game against Hull Knights in order to reach 14 points where they would have had a realistic chance of winning the Intermediate Division overall (both Groups 1 and 2 combined).
The team may fall short of this achievement by one point - and this is why the outcome of this final game was tinged with disappointment despite the late heroics.
It all now hinges on what happens in Group 1, with Blackburn Falcons in pole position to take the league title.
Whilst there is disappointment, the team should also pat themselves on the back for clawing themselves back into this game back and taking that single point.
Had the Warriors lost, they would have remained on 12 points which would have risked Sheffield Ice Tigers winning Group B on goal difference.
Once all IHSC Cup games are completed, we’ll know who the Warriors will face in their play-off semi-final on Saturday 22nd August 2026.
At the moment it’s looking like Newcastle Predators but we shall see.
For all Warriors 1 fixtures and results, please see this link : Fixtures and Results
