Under 12’s, Game 1

 Ayr Bruins, 0 v Kilmarnock Tornadoes, 43

17^th September 2011

Kilmarnock Tornadoes took to the ice at the weekend, for their first game of the season, playing away against Ayr Bruins. The Bruins have been absent from the league for a couple of seasons, so it was a nice return to Ayr Ice Rink for the Tornadoes, and the players and their supporters were excited to see this seasons team in action. Under the guidance of Coach Andy Anderson, the players had been training hard and were keen to put their hockey skills to the test, non more so than Jack Black, Jack Bray, Aaron Kerr, Toran Anderson and Ryan Blaney, all playing in their first ever league game.

After only 21 seconds of play, Ewan Anderson put his first of 12 goals past the Bruins minder, much to the delight of all the Killie fans, which seemed to set the standard for the way the game was to progress. The goals from the Tornadoes came thick and fast, with the Anderson brothers (Keir, Ewan and Toran) scoring a very respectable 21 between the 3 of them and the Solerod siblings (Alice and Mark) netting at total of 6. Assistant captain Lewis McHaffie-Holmes was equal top scorer with 12 goals and James Stalker was delighted with his hat-trick. Not to be outdone, defender Ross MacKinnon also managed to hit the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Tornadoes netminder, Liam Thomas, this was not a particularly exciting game for him, being at the very quiet end of the rink for the majority of the time.

To Ayr Bruins players credit, they kept their effort up 100% through-out the game, never giving up the fight. However, special mention must go to netminder Ben Burns whose head didn’t go down once, and was lapping up the cheers and the encouragement being given him from both sets of supporters. A well-deserved Man of the Match trophy went to him for his never failing hard work, determination and cheerfulness throughout.

Man of the Match for the Tornadoes was Lewis McHaffie-Holmes, who, following a hand injury, had only returned to training the night before. A truly stirling performance of ice hockey despite still being in discomfort.

 Scorers; L. McHaffie-Holmes (12+4), E. Anderson (12+3), K. Anderson (8+6), M. Solerod (4+1), J. Stalker (3+0), A. Solerod (2+0), R. MacKinnon (1+1), T. Anderson (1+1) 

                                                                                                                           Under 14's; Game 1

Ayr Bruins v Kilmarnock Lightning

September 17th, 2011

New season, new look for the Kilmarnock Lightning.  This years Seniors, defensemen Dylan Allan (C ), Jack Gemmell, Dean Hamilton and Behn Kerr; and forwards Ronan McCready, Dillon Robertson, Tom Watson (A) and Elliott Young have been joined by this years Juniors, forwards Andrew Barr (A), Struan Forbes, Kris MacKenzie and Scott Snaddon; and netminders Angus Laing and Lewis Dolan.  They were also joined for this game by U12 player Keir Anderson.

The Killie boys also have a new coach this season, former GB, Paisley and Kilmarnock player, Scott Cowan.  Coach Cowan had been rigorously putting the team through their paces in the off season and so they were keen to get the season going and off to a good start.

An opener against Ayr Bruins was a game that on paper the Lightning should comfortably win.  The playing experience the Killie team were icing should have proved no match for the relative inexperience of the newly formed Ayr side, so this was a game that would give Coach Cowan a good idea of whether work needs to be done in terms of position and discipline and how the team worked together.

The Kilmarnock side showed great promise for the coming season, taking control from the start and scoring after just 1.17.  From then on it was a goal every two minutes or so with almost every member of the team getting points.  Although the Ayr side put up a fight to the end the final score was 21-0 to the Lightning.

Coach Cowan said after the game “I thought the players put in great effort and showed good shape and structure throughout the game.  Credit to Ayr Bruins as they never gave up.  Captain Dylan Allan led the team to the perfect start and deserved his Man of the Match.”

Kilmarnock’s next game is against North Ayr at Auchenharvie on 1st October.

Stats: Watson (7-2); Barr (3-1); Hamilton (2-2); Young (2-2); Snaddon (2-1); Anderson (2-0); Forbes (1-1); Allan (1-0); Robertson (1-0); Kerr (0-1)

Man of the Match: Dylan Allan

 

Under 14's; Game 2

Kilmarnock v North Ayr

1st October, 2011

 

 The Lightning faced local rivals North Ayr Stars at Auchenharvie on Saturday evening.  This is always a tense fixture with expectations for a good game high, and that’s certainly how it began with the Stars scoring first after just 3 minutes.  The Lightning quickly took control but were finding it difficult to convert their chances until Struan Forbes lit the red light on 9.03, ably assisted by Kris MacKenzie and Jack Gemmell.  A line change and Ronan McCready picked up the puck from Dean Hamilton in the Killie defensive zone and continued the length of the ice to score a certain goal of the season contender.  The play continued end to end until Dillon Robertson passed to Gemmell who set up Tom Watson making it 3-1 going into the break.

The Lightning came into the second maybe a little too confident of their position as their shape faded a bit allowing the Stars two quick goals to level the score.  The Killie boys fought hard and Robertson and Watson set up McCready for his second after 27 minutes.  Just 3 minutes later McCready fired unassisted and gave the Lightning a two goal lead.  The Stars did pull one back but the Killie boys never really lost control and an on fire McCready finished the game with another solo effort.  

Final Score: North Ayr Stars 4 – 6 Kilmarnock Lightning

Man of the Match: Ronan McCready

Lightning next game 5th November against Dundee at the Galleon.

Stats: McCready (4-0); Watson (1-1); Forbes (1-0); Gemmell (0-2); Robertson (0-2); Hamilton (0-1); MacKenzie (0-1); Laing (NM) 4 from 21 shots.

 

Under 14's; Game 3

Kilmarnock V Dundee

5th November, 2011

Under 12’s, Game 1

The Lightning played host to current League Champions, Dundee Stars on Saturday.  The Dundee outfit had proven strength and had managed to aquire even more quality over the off season, now having no fewer than seven of the best players in the league.  This was going to be tough.

Unfortunately for Kilmarnock the depth of squad and superior experience proved too much for the Lightning and the final score was 15-1 to the Stars.

There were however some notable performances from the Lightning including Jack Gemmell, Andrew Barr, Dillon Robertson, Ronan McCready, Kris MacKenzie, Tom Watson, who got Killie’s goal and Dean Hamilton, who’s solid performance earned him Man of the Match.

The Lightning will have to re-group quickly as they face Kirkcaldy this coming Saturday.

Special mention to defenseman Behn Kerr who was boarded and has a minor concussion.  Best wishes from all his teammates.

Stats: Watson (1-0)

Man of the Match (sponsored by Ayrshire Ice Sports): Dean Hamilton

 

Ayr BrKJIHC U14 and U16 match reports; December 3rd

The Kilmarnock Lightning faced Moray Firth on Saturday night.  The Lightning coming off the back of two bad losses had been given a thorough debrief by Coach Cowan.  Changes were made to the line set up and the team were ready.  Moray on the other hand had lost two valuable players in the off season but still had an in form goalie.

It was second netminder, Lewis Dolan, who started the game between the pipes and he put in a solid performance over the forty minutes but an interference call against the Lightning allowed Moray to score a power play goal just two minutes into the game.  However the Killie team rallied and began to put on the pressure.  The run of play became all Lightning and the Moray netminder worked hard.  The equalising goal came in the seventh minute when a Tom Watson slap shot flew into the net.  From then on the goals came thick and fast, just a minute and a half later Dean Hamilton set up Dillon Robertson for his first of the game.  The third line saw plenty ice time and didn’t waste any of it with Lewis McHaffie Holmes passing perfectly to Keir Anderson for Killie’s third.  Defenseman Dylan Allen got the fourth after excellent play by Andrew Barr.  Robertson scored his second of the game, assisted by Behn Kerr to make it five and a Kristofer MacKenzie solo effort put the Lightning 6-1 ahead going into the break.

The Lightning were playing good hockey and it showed.  There was yet more to come, Jack Gemmell setting up Struan Forbes for goal seven, and Allen then creating for both Watson and Barr to take the tally to nine.  The last was a Robertson pass to Hamilton making the final score 10-1 to the Lightning.

The team showed a new energy which will hopefully stay with them til the next game on the 7th January at home against Solway.

Best wishes once again to defenseman Behn Kerr who suffered a recent concussion and had to return to hospital after Saturdays game.  Speed recovery Behn.

Man of the Match – Dillon Robertson

Stats: Robertson (2-1); Watson (2-0); Allen (1-2); Barr (1-1); Hamilton (1-1); Anderson (1-0); Forbes (1-0); MacKenzie (1-0); Gemmell (0-1); Kerr (0-1) McHaffie Holmes (0-1)



The Kilmarnock Devils faced Moray Firth on Saturday.  The Devils began strongly with Duncan Speirs scoring in the first 30 seconds of play.  Kilmarnock put another two past the goalie before the break, Steven Dunlop first scoring unassisted and then setting up David Tattersfield.  Moray managed to pull one back to take the half time score to 3-1.

The run of play was definitely in the Devils favour as the second period faced off and Dunlop scored a second solo effort to take the final score to 4-1 Devils.

The Devils will have to dig deep next Saturday as they face Dundee at the Galleon.

Man of the Match – Dean Hamilton

Stats: Dunlop (2-1); Speirs (1-0); Tattersfield (1-0)

 

KJIHC U14's Game 6

Kilmarnock v Solway

7th January 2012

 The Kilmarnock Lightning played host to Solway Sharks on Saturday evening in the first game of 2012.  After being left lacking in the away fixture the Lightning had something to prove.

The Lightning burst out from the face off.  They were fast, organised and disciplined.  After such an easy win in Dumfries the Solway outfit were immediately finding themselves in an unexpected defensive position and it took only two and a half minutes for the Killie team to find the net.  Fantastic team play allowing Tom Watson to claim the rebound for an unassisted goal.  This was the Sharks wake up call and the game step up a gear.  The Lightning had the best of the ice but the Solway netminder played brilliantly, denying Watson, Andrew Barr, Ronan McCready and Dillon Robertson to keep it a one goal game.  The fast pace and short bench saw the Lightning tire towards the break and Solway managed an equaliser with a minute to play.  All square at half time.

The second period faced off and both teams came out strong.  The Lightning quickly took control and after five minutes Watson set up Scott Snaddon for goal number two.  Solway had a brief run of dominance and it was time for goalie Lewis ‘Loopy’ Dolan to step into the breach and that he did, keeping the score as it was.  For the remainder of the period the tension was almost unbearable with some fantastic hockey being played, the score remaining unchanged.  Fine defensive play from Snaddon, Jack Gemmel, Dylan Allan and Dean Hamilton meant the lead was never under threat.  With seconds left to play Solway removed their netminder to give themselves man advantage but Kilmarnock were too strong and it was to no avail.  Final score 2-1 to the Lightning.

This was a brilliant display from the Lightning and a really exciting game to watch.  After the game Coach Cowan commented “The team got the New Year off to the perfect start with a well deserved win over Solway.  A solid display of effort and determination from the team saw us dominate from start to finish.  Exceptional efforts from defensemen Dylan Allan and Dean Hamilton who played a hard physical game, and Tom Watson who was Man of the Match”.

The Lightning hope to carry this performance onto their next game against Murrayfield at the Galleon on the 21st January.

Stats: Watson (1-1); Snaddon (0-1)

Man of the Match: Tom Watson

Game 7; 21/01/12

Kilmarnock Lightnings v Murrayfield Rapiers

The Kilmarnock Lightning faced the Murrayfield Rapiers at the Galleon on Saturday.  Fresh from their victory against Solway the mood was positive and the team were looking strong.

It took just 45 seconds of play for the Killie team to make their mark with excellent puck movement by Dillon Robertson to Tom Watson who passed to the stick of Ronan McCready.  Murrayfield came to life after this and the score remained the same for the next 15 minutes until a brief surge forward from the Rapiers and the score was 1-1.  However this was short lived and 20 seconds later Elliott Young set up Jack ‘Chippa’ Gemmell for a powerful slap shot, 2-1 to the Lightning going into the break.

The second period saw Kilmarnock build on the first half performance and dominate the game.  Watson got his first of the game assisted by Dean Hamilton, Young added to his assist after a fine pass from Andrew Barr and Robertson added to his assist with a solo effort before setting up Watson for his second.  Robertson finished of the period with a goal in the dying seconds converting a McCready pass to take the final score to 7-1 Kilmarnock and earning himself a four point game.

After the game Coach Cowan commented “This was the second game of the new year and another superb performance from the boys.  Great teamwork, effort and hockey sense were there for all to see.  Although Murrayfield kept trying the boys physically dominated the game from start to finish and this allowed the scoring units to go to work.”

I fine performance from the boys especially defensemen Jack Gemmell who was awarded Man of the Match.

The Lightning face Belfast Giants Juniors in a friendly at the Galleon next Saturday.  Face off 3.30pm.

Stats: Robertson (2-2); Watson (2-1); McCready (1-1); Young (1-1); Gemmell (1-0); Barr (0-1); Hamilton (0-1)

 

Game 8;

Kilmarnock Lightnings 6  Kirkcaldy Chiefs 7

February 4th, 2012

 The Kilmarnock Lightning made a late evening trip to Kirkcaldy to face the Chiefs on Saturday.  This was the first meeting this season between the teams and expectations for a good game were high.

The Lightning came out on fire with coach Cowan describing the first shift as “the best we had played all season” and it took only a minute for Tom Watson to set up Ronan McCready to put the Lightning on the score sheet.  Just two minutes later Dylan Allan struck a beautiful blue line slap shot and Killie were two up.  The game stayed that way for the next ten minutes until Allan received a charging penalty giving the Chiefs the power play.  The extra man benefited the Kirkcaldy team and they pulled one back.  Within seconds though Andrew Barr set up Dean Hamilton who made it three for the Lightning with another blue line strike.

Kilmarnock were in control and positive and then the game took a turn.  The Chiefs had a break on goal and in desperation Jack Gemmell threw himself across the ice.  The forward tripped and the whistle went for the penalty.  Play stopped but the puck kept rolling and into the net.  The call should have been at best 2 minutes for Gemmell and at worst a penalty shot, but instead in one of the most bizarre refereeing decisions the goal was given.  The Lightning tried to keep their heads and some good passing play from Lewis McHaffie Holmes to Gemmell to Allan made it 4-2 but the Chiefs found new vigour and the score was 4-3 after 20 minutes.

What happened in the break no-one knows but the Chiefs came out fighting and the Lightning came out without passion.  Just 22 seconds onto period two and the Chiefs levelled the score, two more goals in the following minute put them ahead and the Lightning support wondering what was going on.  With six minutes left to play Watson struck a fine unassisted effort to make it a one goal game.  Watson scored his second minutes later after another refereeing decision that brought his initial goal scoring opportunity back to the face off in an apparent infringement.  A solid face off win from McCready set up the same play and the goal went in assisted by Dillon Roberston.

In a game of highs and lows a draw was going to be satisfactory but with just 20 seconds to play a scramble round the net gave Kirkcaldy their seventh and it was all over.  Final Score Kirkcaldy Chiefs 7-6 Kilmarnock Lightning.

After the game a visibly frustrated coach said “well look at the positives, we scored six goals.”  That about summed it up.

The Lightning have it all to do now if they are to challenge for a top place in the league.  Their next game is a Scottish Cup game against South Ayr on Saturday 18th February.

Man of the Match: Tom Watson

Stats: Watson (2-1); Allan (2-0); Hamilton (1-0); McCready (1-0); Barr (0-1); Gemmell (0-1); McHaffie Holmes (0-1); Robertson (0-1); Dolan (6 from 19 shots)