On Saturday night the Swindon Wildcats fell to a 5-4 overtime defeat to the Telford Tigers but secured a 8-4 win in Sheffield against the Steeldogs on Sunday.


Ben Clarke-Leach made his full debut for the Wildcats on Sunday getting his first win and making 37/41 saves on the night, well done Ben.


Jake Bricknell also scored three goals on the weekend which gives him the NIHL top scoring title with 57 goals.  


Saturday Night Report: Wildcats Vs Tigers


The Tigers took the lead with a blast from James Smith who fired it past Tyler Perre. They then doubled their lead with a very unlucky play for the Cats. Pakozdi’s stick broke as he was about to pass the puck which led to a 2 on 1 which McKenzie buried. 


The Cats battled back into the game with Nell making a great pass over to Malasinski who dragged it past the defesenman and goalie and slotted it into the empty cage. The equaliser then came with a bit of luck going to the Wildcats this time. Day committed to the puck out the net but it fell nicely to Jake Bricknell who fired it into the net. 


It was then a fast start to the third with the Wildcats taking the lead for the first time in the game. Pakozdi firing it to Nell who tapped it past Day. Pakozdi then scored a highlight reel goal and his 50th point of the season with a lovely move past the defensemen and slotting it into the back of the net. But the Tigers fought back hard with a power play goal from Devon Skoleski in front of the net. Then a shot from Rhodes Mitchell-King beat Tyler Perre to send the game to overtime. 


A couple of penalties were called on both teams and it would be the away side who took full advantage with Skoleski cutting inside and slotting it past Perre to give them the extra point and book their spot in the play offs finishing 8th. 


End of the game: Wildcats 4-5 (OT) Tigers


Sunday Night Report: Steeldogs Vs Wildcats


The Wildcats took the lead in the first period on the power play with Glenn Billing tipping the puck past Curtis Warburton. Ben Clarke-Leach then made some solid saves to stop the Steeldogs getting a goal back. 


The Dogs however piled on the pressure and scored three quick goals. The first one through Elmeri Halfors who fired it from the blue line and into the net. The second one from Ripley who had a two on one and wrist shot it low past Ben. Then the third on the power play with Bjorkly Nordstrom ripping a shot top corner. Nell took a timeout and it paid off as Billing scored his second right in front of the net to reduce the deficit to one. Just moments later Bricknell raced up the left and fired it off the cross bar and in the net to tie it up at three. Less than a minute later, Ed Bradley scored a beauty past Warburton which put his points tally on the season to 40. Then less than a minute after that goal, Edgar’s Bebris jumped in on the action with a lovely tip past Warburton to turn the game on its head. 


Reed Sayers extended the lead to three with a lovely play between him and Antonov which Sayers fired through Warburton. Halfors did quickly pull one back with a shot high past Ben. But two more goals from the Wildcats, sealed the victory. Bebris jumping onto the loose puck and firing it past Warburton before Bricknell snapped one into the back of the net to secure the top scorer of the NIHL. 


End of the game: Steeldogs 4-8 Wildcats


The big one is next weekend where we start our play off campaign against the Sheffield Steeldogs!