Last night was the first, and hopefully annual, 4v4 Summer Cup hosted by NIHL2 side Widnes Wild. It has been designed as almost a NIHL-wide showcase and also to be used as a Wild recruitment programme. They begin their trial period later this month for the 2014/15 year. I was asked by Ben Brown (Widnes) and Tom McDonald (Widnes) to feature with their team HUGE Fries in the competition. Teams are made up of four League and two Rec players -- a total of 10 teams were in the competition with Group stages taking place over the course two nights. Each group would play four Group games on the night.
The tournament was set up as 4v4 games consisting of one 10-minute period per game. Other minor blips to the rules were no offsides, no icing, and no faceoffs after goals. Games were fast and furious, that is, until the final few games of the evening when legs made way for tiredness.
Since it was a quasi-NIHL showcase the standard of the tournament was fantastic. Several partaking in the have represented Team GB at various levels so it was nice to get out on the ice and test my own game against theirs.
Widnes do a great job overall at connecting with their fan base. A solid number turned out for the event and stayed for the duration. They do love their ice hockey that way.
HUGE Fries won all four games, thus we advance to the finals on June 22 at 5PM. Star of the Group round was definitely Max Drakeley.
HUGE Fries:
Tom McDonald (Widnes)
Richard Charles (Widnes)
Max Drakeley (Minotaurs)
Tom Wilson (Rec)
Allen Gunn (Rec)
Ben Brown (Widnes)
