Seahawks Secure Silverware Ahead of Season Opener
Hull Reckitt Seahawks v Leeds Knights – Yorkshire Cup – 08/09/24
In front of another big home crowd, and with the Yorkshire Cup on the line, the Hull Reckitt Seahawks took on the Leeds Knights in a winner-takes-all match to close out pre-season.
It has been a rollercoaster fortnight for the Seahawks, with the return to match action of club captain, Bobby Chamberlain, and new signing, Dave Phillips, following his time away with Team GB.
A 6-4 defeat to the Steeldogs at the start of pre-season became a distant memory, thanks to the Seahawks excellent away form. They secured a thrilling 6-5 overtime win at Leeds and followed that up with another excellent road win at Sheffield, beating the Steeldogs 5-2 to set up last night’s encounter and the opportunity to secure early-season bragging rights as the best team in Yorkshire!
The first period started evenly, with each side searching for the decisive first goal to seize the contest.
Leeds would have the first real chance at 5:26 when Kieran Brown and Mac Howlett combined to split the Hull defence, but the opportunity would be denied by Jordan McLaughlin in the Seahawks goal – the first of many saves for the Scottish stopper in a performance that would win him player of the match.
The miss would prove costly for the Knights, as the next passage of play saw the Seahawks go ahead on 5:56. Owen Bruton finishing an incisive breakaway, assisted by Owen Sobchak and Bobby Chamberlain, sweeping the puck home into the roof of the net.
It wasn’t long before the Seahawks doubled their lead on 7:36, this time with a shorthanded effort from Jason Hewitt after he was fed the puck by Kaden Hanas.
The Knights couldn’t handle the high-energy, clinical hockey being played by their opponents but did rally towards the end of the first period – drawing a string of fine pad saves from McLaughlin – but to no avail.
The first period finished 2-0 to the Seahawks.
The second period followed a similar pattern to the first, with the Seahawks dominating proceedings and dictating. The Knights struggled to break down a defence that was thoroughly committed to preserving a shutout.
Midway through the period (27:04), the Seahawks added further to their lead. Some intricate passing from Sobchak and Chamberlain left Sam Gospel in the Knights goal with no chance, with the puck finally being played across the crease for Bruton to tap home his second of the night at the back door.
Leeds tried desperately to make something happen, but it just wasn’t to be for the Knights. Their efforts either found the pads and gloves of McLaughlin or missed the net completely, with Finn Bradon squandering perhaps the best opportunity of the night for Leeds as he failed to put the puck in the net from close range with the goal at his mercy.
The second period ended 3-0 to the Seahawks.
The final 20 minutes was more of the same from the Seahawks. Dominant. Clinical. High intensity. Everything Leeds were not and worse was to come for the Knights as Lee Bonner was keen to add to his goal haul for pre-season and, at 40:52, the forward went forehand and backhand on the breakaway to beat Gospel, glove side, assisted by Hewitt and Hanas.
With minutes to go in the game, the shutout was on, and the Seahawks were determined that McLaughlin’s efforts should be rewarded.
However, Leeds would not be denied and finally beat McLaughlin, with a powerplay goal from Matt Bissonnette (54:47), assisted by Matt Haywood, while Tom Stubley was sitting a two-minute penalty for delaying the game.
It would prove to be nothing more than a consolation, as the Seahawks ran out winners to claim the pre-season Yorkshire Cup.
“It has been a much better week for us, and we could’ve won by a lot more tonight,” said Seahawks coach, Matty Davies.
“We were really good, and the team played like I wanted them too.
“We aren’t here to just win the Yorkshire Cup; we are here to win the league. The way we have played this pre-season is the start of a long process and we now need to carry this momentum forward into the season.
“Like we played tonight, I want the team to stay level-headed and be consistent every night.”
Davies also highlighted some of the standout performances of pre-season.
“Tonight was the best I have seen Jordan (McLaughlin) play in a Hull jersey. He was absolutely fantastic. The strength of our goalie line-up is huge positive for us, and it is a good problem to have. It is a long season, with lots of games, so having two of the best netminders in the league will help.”
Davies also acknowledged the work of his defence.
“For me, Kohen (Taylor) has been the find of the off-season. He is a young player with so much potential. His skating is more than good enough for this league and for him to be a really effective D-man. Playing alongside someone like Davey (Phillips) will be great experience for him, as nobody in this league can close a gap like he can.”
So, what are the coach’s final thoughts from pre-season?
“It is really exciting that we still haven’t seen the best of our top line yet. For our opponents, it is quite scary to think of what is to come from us. But, for our fans, it is something to look forward too and it starts against Bristol.”
By Mark Bateman
