Stop the scrapping, says Blackburn Hawks boss (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Stop the scrapping, says Blackburn Hawks boss

8:47am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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Blackburn Hawks head coach Gary Buckman insists his side need to cure their ‘penalty problem’ if they are going to challenge against the top teams.

In two closely-contested English National Ice-Hockey League games, Hawks lost 5-2 at home to second-placed Sheffield Spartans on Saturday, before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat away to league leaders Nottingham Lions 24 hours later.

Hawks more than matched their Yorkshire rivals in their opening game of the weekend, taking a 2-1 lead partway through the first period, thanks to goals from Aaron Davies and Rick Hughes, and entering the final third with the scores tied.

However, four of Sheffield’s five goals were scored on power plays and Buckman is calling for the ill discipline to stop.

“Once again, our biggest downfall has been taking penalty minutes,” said the Hawks chief. “The lads were certainly up for it, but silly penalties and silly mistakes have cost us the game.

“When you get some momentum going and you’ve got your lines sorted, it all goes to pieces when players are ordered off the ice.

“We’ve got to cure this penalty problem, because it is a big problem. Hockey is not all about fighting and sitting in the box. As soon as the players understand that – and I’ll make sure they do – then this league is there for the taking, and the lads know that.”

Hawks had hoped to bounce back on Sunday, but victory against a side who had lost just one of their last 12 games was never going to be easy.

After a goalless first period, Nottingham upped the tempo after the interval and took a two-goal lead.

Hawks responded in the final third, putting the Lions under sustained pressure and getting their reward when Jared Owen pulled a goal back. But that was as good as it got, as Buckman’s battlers just came up short.

“I couldn’t have asked for any more from the lads on Sunday,” he added.

“We didn’t deserve to lose, but the lads certainly didn’t let themselves or the club down. We have come up against two top teams.”

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