Whitley Bay-based Newcastle Predators were in Group B, but had a disappointing opening day, losing to Altrincham Black Bears [2-0], Kingston Cobras [5-1] and newcomers Ayr Jets [1-0].
The Predators are used to competing in the Tournament, having been invited to take part over the last few years and defenseman Mark Bone, was full of praise for the quality of the opposition.
"This is the third time the Predators have attended the Dumfries Tournament and the standard keeps on improving each year. Some of the top rec teams in the country are invited so it's always a tough weekend playing the likes of Kingston Cobras, Black Bears or Paisley Blackhawks." he said.
The Blue liner admitted it was tough at times against some of the teams but also hinted that his side didn't exactly get the rub of the green.
"Our first game was against Black Bears which we lost 2-0 to what was a well drilled team. We put every effort in and played some good positional hockey which continued into the second game, but we couldn't get the results to show for the it. We suffered a heavy defeat to Kingston Cobras losing 5-1. he said.
"The last game of the day was much closer against Ayr Jets who just pipped us for the win. Unfortunately forwards Stu Darby, Curt Elgie and Ian Russell had shots on goal but were unable to get the puck past the goalies." he added.
If the results were disappointing on Saturday, there was no disgrace in losing to two of the tournaments best sides. Kingston, were always going to provide tough opposition for the Predators and are one of the Whitley Bay Islanders main rivals for this year’s Summer Cup. The Humberside outfit were winners of the tournament last year and advanced to the final again on Sunday, where they lost to eventual winners Paisley.
The Predators first opponents Altrincham, were impressive during the group stages, winning four of their games and topping the standings. Their only loss coming against the hosts [2-1] After qualification was already assured. However, the Black Bears came unstuck in the semi-finals against the Paisley Blackhawks.
Day two didn’t get much easier for the Predators either, after losing to another of the Islanders Summer Cup opponents, the Grimsby Lightning [4-2].
Bone, conceded that the defense and both his team's goalies were put under a lot of pressure over the five games but had an even harder time dealing with the strict officials.
"The predators defence had a tough job to do holding off the teams for the two days. Both Netminders, Max Hadfield and Brent Hope, were forced into pulling off some good saves too." he said.
"But it was the referees that got the better of us though, as they were calling any minor collision in what is a non checking tournament. They resorted to giving 10 minute misconduct penalties to anyone who questioned their calls, which is a bit unfair in a game that lasts only 25 minutes with a running clock." he added.
"This obviously had an impact on the man power on the ice which ultimately left us short. The last game on Sunday saw three Predators players ejected, with 5+game for nothing more than what would normally consist of a minor penalty or a quiet word to let the game flow."
The Tynesiders finished their fixtures with a 3-0 loss to the Edinburgh Knights, and despite losing all five games played, the weekend will prove to be vital for the experience gained and the fitness levels improved ahead of their Northern Rec Cup campaign next month, as they faced some very strong sides over the two days.
Bone agreed and felt it was great from a team bonding point of view.
"It was probably one of the best weekends the Predators have had as a team and we certainly came top of the table in having a good time. It was great for team bonding, although how we ended up back in Newcastle with less players than we started is anyones guess." he concluded.
The Edinburgh Lions were one of the sides in the same group as the Predators and they had a good weekend, winning three of their games.
The Lions lost their opening game to city rivals, Edinburgh Knights [2-1] who were Masters of Dumfries Tournament winners in 2013, but recovered to beat the Grimsby Lightning [1-0] and then split nine goals with the Ayr Jets in a 5-4 win.
Top Line forward Kelly Bertram felt the opening day went quite well for her side.
"First game was against our Edinburgh rivals the knights. We started off the game slowly and although we eventually picked up the pace, by then it was all too late and ended up on the losing end of a 2-1 scoreline." she said.
"Second game of the day was against Grimsby, it was a fairly even matched contest for the majority of the 25 minutes, until we managed a break in play to get the only goal and take the win 1-0." she added.
"Our last and final game of the day saw us face Ayr Jets. With them running a short bench there were a lot of tired legs out there and it meant we had an end to end game going back and forth. The scores went up equally until the last minute when a nice play from us meant we got a fifth goal to take the win. We headed to the hotel on a high, winning two out of three games played and it was looking good going into the next day." Bertram said.
On Sunday, the Lions got off to another slow starts and lost to eventual Group A winners Altrincham Black Bears [2-0] but they did end their schedule with another success in a nine goal thriller against the highly rated Kingston Cobras.
In the end the Lions finished third in Group B, meaning they just missed out on a semi-final place to eventual winners Paisley Blackhawks by a single point. While, they will be undoubtedly disappointed at missing out on progressing to the knock-out stages of the competition, the Lions will take a lot of positives from the weekend.
And Kelly, pictured above, agreed.
"Sunday morning saw us take on the Black Bears, who were a very organised team." she said.
"The game started even until Leith took a 5 plus game penalty, which meant that we were a player down for the remainder of the game, plus the start of the next one. We battled on hard but in the end, wasn't good enough to prevent a 2-0 loss." she added.
"Last game in the group stage was against the Kingston Cobras, winners of the tournament for the last few years. This was a must win game for the us, if we had any chance of making the semi finals." Kelly said
"It was a very evenly matched game for the majority of it, until 2 minutes to go when we fired home the fifth and final goal of the game to take the win. We can be proud too, finishing the group games as the only team to beat the Cobras." she said.
"In the end we missed out on a semi final spot by only one point, so theres lots of positives to take away from this weekend of hockey and we will be back again in Dumfries for the plate in April. As for my personal performance, being the only girl in the Lions team is sometimes tough but I just go out there and give it as good as I get it." Kelly Said.
"I felt I skated and gave it 110% the whole weekend. I had a couple of shots on goal, didn't manage any goals but I was on the forward line with Robertson and Leith who scored the only two goals in the first and second game on the Saturday morning." she said.
"All in all we had a great weekend, with both positives and negatives to take away from the tournament. Got to say thanks again to be demons for the invite and hopefully we will be back again next year." Kelly said.
Ayr Jets arrived as the only new side from last year’s edition, replacing the Durham Dragons, who opted to compete in the Barrel competition in Prague instead. After losing heavily to the host team, Dumfries, the Jets recovered to snatch a one-goal victory over the Predators and then just lost out in a nine goal thriller with the Edinburgh Lions. On Day two the Jets took a point from local rivals Irvine Flyers before ending their schedule with a 4-1 reverse to what was now an impressive looking Paisley Blackhawks.
The knockout stages saw Altrincham take on Paisley, while Kingston played the hosts. The Blackhawks who included, former Warriors player Stuart Lonsdale, beat Altrincham in a shoot-out, after their semi-final ended in a 2-2 draw. The Blackhawks path to the final was a slow one but they were a side that grew as the tournament moved along.
"We started pretty slow with a 1-1 draw against Kingston Cobras and got pumped off The Blackbears 3-0 so it didn't look good in the beginning." Lonsdale said.
With the top team from the round robin stage [Altrincham] now out of the tournament and the hosts Dumfries, eliminated by the Cobras, it meant Paisley had to face 2016 winners Kingston in the final.
The Glasgow-based side proved up to the task and skated off with a 2-1 win to claim the trophy.
"We got our game together and ended up into the semis where we got revenge on the Blackbears, beating them on penalty shots after a 2-2 draw then beat Kingston Cobras in the final 2-1." said Lonsdale.
"Not a bad turn around in the end. But today [Monday] my whole body is in pieces as a result, but worth it for the win." he added.
Since leaving the Whitley Warriors in 2002 to attend University in Edinburgh, Stuart 'Blonda' Lonsdale has kept his hand in with the gold old game. His first year North of the Border saw him turn out for the Edinburgh Capitals but he then decided to take a break from the sport for five years before resuming his career with Reccy side Edinburgh Stingers. In 2012 'Blonda' moved West to Glasgow and signed for the Paisley Blackhawks where he has been ever since and was delighted with the win last weekend.
"It's just nice to make it right through to the end [the Final]. It's still just playing for fun but obviously, winning is more fun than losing of course." he said.
With the Islanders having the weekend off, what will they have learned from this tournament?
Well having recently got the better of the Predators in a friendly game they would have seen how they took on both Grimsby Lightning and Kingston Cobras who they are set to face over the Summer months.
The Predators lost those games by nowhere near the kind of margin that they did to the Islanders. However, with all teams still trying to find form before the Summer Cup commences, it’s still early days as far as that is concerned.
