Blackburn Hawks 11

Nottingham Lions 0

IT was a perfect evening both on and off the ice for Blackburn Hawks when both the players and fans delivered.

For while the Hawks rattled in 11 goals without reply in their latest Midland Cup fixture, fans turned up in their hundreds for the annual teddy bear toss – an event where cuddly toys are thrown on to the ice to be donated to the children’s ward at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Supporters also brought along toys, books and food parcels for the club’s Christmas Foodbank appeal – and their genoristy was matched by the visiting Lions defence.

The bear ‘avalanche’ came in the 14th minute when Corey Lee opening the scoring, firing the puck past Tom Hovell in the Lions goal.

Play was halted to scoop up on the teddies but when it resumed, import Petr Valusiak doubled the lead just two minutes later. Aaron Davies scored his first of the evening in the 18th minute – a powerplay goal after the Lions’ Cole Arnold was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for high sticks.

The second period saw another two goals for the Hawks from former Altrincham Aces pair Tom Revesz and Jared Dickinson. The period also saw Hawks defenceman Ethan Mayo being ejected from the game for checking from behind.

Joe Greaves was also sent to the penalty box for a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

The third period turned in to a goal-fest for the Hawks as they scored six times – three for the Hawks all-time leading goal scorer as Davies grabbed a third period hat-trick taking his tally for the game to four. Lee completed his brace of goals, and James Riddoch and Lee Pollitt both scored a goal each.

A further incident ended with another two players being ejected from the game when Blackburn’s Jack Murray and Lions’ Mitchel Garner were each handed 2+2 penalties for roughing as tempers frayed.

Garner was sent to the changing rooms for incitement and Murray handed a similar punishment for resisting a game official.

Esther Gradwell, the club’s PR and media officer, was delighted to see some many fans turn up to support the annual event.

“What a great evening,” she said. “We welcomed approximately 800 schoolchildren to the rink with their families as part of our Hawks in the Community programme.

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everybody who took part in our annual teddy toss and donated toys for the children’s ward at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

She added: “We were also inundated with food parcels for our Christmas Foodbank appeal, such is the generosity of our amazing fans.”