The Blackburn Hawks’ relentless charge at the summit of the division showed no signs of slowing as they skated into another demanding double-header weekend, already sitting a commanding 17 points clear of nearest challengers Deeside. First up was a return to home ice against Widnes Wild, before attentions would swiftly turn westward for a fiery rivalry rematch in North Wales against the Dragons. With momentum firmly on their side, the Hawks approached the weekend in confident mood, icing a near full-strength lineup for the Widnes encounter, with the only absentee being Jacob Lutwyche through injury. The visitors arrived desperate for points as they clung to seventh place and attempted to reel in Hull with games in hand. Back in the comfort of the Hawks Nest, Blackburn were welcomed by a raucous home crowd. Over 800 voices filled the arena, creating an atmosphere that crackled from the opening faceoff, and the Hawks wasted little time in feeding off that energy.

In characteristic Hawks fashion, the opening exchanges set the tone. Blackburn moved the puck with confidence, stretching the ice and forcing Widnes to chase early, and it was no surprise when the breakthrough arrived just two and a half minutes in. A neat passage of play down low saw Jack Brammer and Jakub Hajek work space along the boards before finding Charlie Thompson in the goalmouth. The ‘Rotherham Rocket’ slid the puck under the pads of Luca Tessadri to give the home side a deserved early lead. Widnes, to their credit, refused to fold. Rather than retreat, the Wild responded with bite and unsettled Blackburn’s rhythm with physical pressure. Their persistence paid off at the seven-minute mark when Dani Haid levelled the scores, finishing well after good work from Mikey Gilbert and Jordan Jolly forced a turnover in the Hawks zone. Blackburn steadied themselves and began to reassert territorial dominance as the period wore on. Their reward came late in the frame. Once again, Thompson proved the difference-maker, collecting another smart feed built up from Brammer and Hajek before burying his second of the night to restore Blackburn’s advantage as the opening twenty drew to a close.

After a relatively open and energetic first period, the second evolved into a showcase of control for the Hawks. Blackburn poured forward in waves, cycling relentlessly and firing from all angles, but Tessadri stood tall. Time and again the shot-stopping starlet absorbed heavy pressure, smothering rebounds and frustrating a Hawks side that might easily have blown the game open. At the other end, Harrison Walker remained alert despite limited work, dealing calmly with the few Widnes chances that broke through. His composure allowed Blackburn to continue pressing without fear, and while the scoreboard remained static through the middle stanza, the momentum was unmistakably one-way. That pressure finally told late in the second period. At 38 minutes, Jack Brammer capped a tireless display by finding the back of the net himself, finishing a flowing move involving Hajek and Thompson once again.

By the third period, there was a sense that Blackburn were already half an eye on the challenge to come the following night. Still, professionalism dictated that the job be completed properly. Dylan Hullaby swooped in to extend the lead at 54 minutes, converting after sharp work from James Royds and Matty Cross, before Adam Barnes added a fifth just two minutes later. These late lifts allowed for the scoreline to reflect the comfortable and controlled nature of the game. Widnes were plucky and committed throughout, but Blackburn rarely looked troubled. The bigger test, however, loomed just 24 hours away.

All eyes were firmly fixed on Sunday night and a mouth-watering rematch in North Wales, as the Hawks prepared to renew hostilities with Deeside Dragons in what had quickly become the league’s fiercest rivalry. This was the first meeting between the two since Deeside’s dramatic overtime victory at the Hawks Nest in the Moralee Cup semi-final. The build-up was impossible to ignore, with statements flying across social media and the season series perfectly poised; four meetings played, honours shared evenly with both sides having claimed wins on home and away ice. Bragging rights were very much on the line in this penultimate regular-season clash, and while Blackburn made the trip west without top scorer Adam Barnes, who joined Jacob Lutwyche on the sidelines, they were bolstered by a huge travelling support. That black-and-gold contingent ensured the Dragons Den crackled with noise from puck drop, setting the stage for another chapter in a rivalry that continues to define the season.

The opening period was tight and physical, with both sides probing cautiously into enemy territory. Chances were limited, but when the breakthrough came, it belonged to Blackburn. At 11 minutes, James Royds opened the scoring, finishing confidently after good work from Hullaby and Sam Warnock. Drawing an eerie silence over the once rambunctious home support, this early strike showed that the Hawks could dictate terms even in the most challenging surroundings. The sole goal scored in the first frame, the away side went into the first intermission battered, bruised and determined not to lose this early advantage.

This determination manifested itself as soon as the second period started. The Hawks doubled their lead just fifty seconds in, and who else could it be but The Captain. Striking back against the familiar faces of his former team, Andy McKinney picked up his first of the night by stepping into space and firing home from a Sam Zajac assist. Needing to get a grip of the game, the home team hunkered down. They eventually responded through Jared Dickinson at 23 minutes, briefly reigniting their sporadic support. Blackburn refused to be rattled. Bobby Streetly restored the two-goal cushion on the powerplay, punishing the first of Ross Kennedy’s three interference penalties with a composed finish from Lee Pollitt’s feed. Moments later, Matty Barlow pulled Deeside back within one. The semi-final spectre had come back to haunt the Hawks, looking to once again direct a Dragons comeback. During this nervy spell for Blackburn, Harrison Walker delivered arguably his finest period of the season. Facing 15 shots from some of the league’s most dangerous attackers, Walker was utterly unflappable. The pressure finally eased when Lee Pollitt found the net at 33 minutes, finishing a move involving Warnock and McKinney. It was no less than Pollitt deserved, his tireless two-way work epitomising Blackburn’s dogged drive to defeat the Dragons.

The third period began as the second had ended, with the Hawks reduced to four skaters. With just seconds left on Bobby Streetly’s hooking penalty, a crushing goal from Jake Witkowski cut the deficit once more and reignited the cauldron. An intensely dramatic ending saw the Dragons pile forward in search of the leveller, however as the clock wound down, the cheers became increasingly louder from the away section. The pre-game loudmouthing all came to ahead as Deeside pulled de la Bertouche in a vain attempt to equalise, but the final word could only belong to one man…

Captain McKinney finished into the empty net with just five seconds remaining to seal a statement victory. Perfectly capturing the raw emotions of the travelling Hawks faithful, McKinney leapt onto the boards in front of the fans, as he was swarmed by his team at the final buzzer.

The curtain closed on a weekend that bordered on flawless for the Blackburn Hawks. Two more victories have pushed their advantage at the summit to a remarkable twenty points over Deeside, tightening Blackburn’s grip on the league title and sharpening the sense of inevitability around their charge. With the champagne all but on ice, there is a growing possibility that Deeside may be the first to greet Blackburn as confirmed League Champions next Sunday. A win on Saturday night against Leeds Knights 2 would see the Lancashire side crowned champions in Yorkshire, with their victory lap coming against their Welsh rivals at the Hawks Nest on Sunday. With Valentine’s weekend fast approaching, romance may not be the only thing in the air, as history beckons for the Hawks.

 

The Blackburn Hawks will play against the Sheffield Scimitars @ Elland Road Ice Arena on Saturday February 14th, Face-Off: 7:30pm

 

The Blackburn Hawks will also play against the Deeside Dragons @ Blackburn Arena on Sunday February 15th, Face-Off: 6:00pm

 

Article Courtesy of Nathan Dove

 

FEATURED IMAGES CREDIT: KIPAX