Wildcats went into the game full of confidence, icing 3 full lines against a short-benched Stormers squad who travelled with only 9 skaters.

Confidence was, however, short lived though as Grimsby #72, Andrew Portess, danced through the home side’s defence to score after only 2 minutes.

Wildcats pulled a goal back at 07:15 with a scramble around the crease seeing the puck just edge over the line (credited to #18 Pearson) but for next 2 periods the home side struggled to contain Stormers’ better positioning and long passing game.

Grimsby #17, Lewis Fenwick, proved a constant threat with his quick pace and hands, adding a break away goal at 13:00 followed quickly by another from Portess at 14:36.

This took the score to 1-3 going into the second period. While play continued ‘end to end’ Wildcats increased possession fast the period progressed and #22, player / coach Phil Gosling, pulled a well deserved goal back at 31:59 following a hard shot from the blue line.

Ashley Hame then scored against the run of play at 33:02 to restore the visitor’s 2 goal lead.

Stormers short-bench began to show in the final period and Wildcats piled on the pressure, pulling a goal back at 52:37 – a nice tip in from Pearson assisted by #42 Michael Hoult.

With the clock winding down Wildcats did everything they could to tie the game, including pulling the netminder for the last couple of minutes, but were unable to find a way through Stormers defence. Final score 3-4 and overall a great competitive game played in the right spirit.

MOM awards went to 2 veteran defencemen – Karl Robinson for Wildcats and John Yorston for Stormers, who apart from a 2 minute spell in the penalty box never left the ice for the full 60 minutes.