By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard
The Bristol Honda Pitbulls skated away with the two points on Saturday night following a 6-3 win against the Hull Seahawks on home ice for the final time this season.
The home team went into the game with a near-full roster, as Bayley Harewood was out of the lineup through suspension.
Pitbulls took the early lead in the first period as Calum McGill headed to the penalty box, allowing a powerplay opportunity for Sean Morris, who tipped the puck past Jordan McLaughlin off the back of Tanner Butler’s shot to open the scoring. Mitch Walinski was quick to chase this, doubling the lead over a minute later, causing the Seahawks to take a timeout. Shots came from Alex Kent and Lee Bonner in the following minutes; however, it was Bobby Chamberlain who was able to tap the puck behind the pads of Tommy Nappier and close the deficit to one goal.
The Seahawks applied pressure heading into the second, with Chamberlain swiftly equalising following multiple messy exchanges in front of the net. This was followed by Owen Sobchak launching a shot past Nappier to put the visitors ahead at 3-2 on the scoreboard. Attempts came from Cochrane and Walinski in the moments after; however, the Seahawks maintained possession to keep them in the lead heading into the final period.
The home side retaliated in the opening minutes of the third with Mason Lipsey taking the puck down the ice one on one with Josh Hodgskinson and pushing it past McLaughlin to level out the score. Josh Poole tailed this six seconds later, firing a shot top shelf, scoring his first goal in Pitbulls colours whilst also giving the home side their one-goal advantage back. Paces continued to build as the minutes went on, with Rhys Smetham getting the breakaway and launching a shot deep into the netting alongside Ewan Hill, who continued to expand the goal difference, lighting the lamp for the last time, finalising the score at a 6-3 win for the Pitbulls.
Man of the Match for your Bristol Honda Pitbulls went to Dylan Webb.
Image : Pete Fears
