With just one crucial game remaining in the season, a play-off spot decider against Nottingham, Widnes are looking back at a season of ups and downs.
The Wild, currently ninth in the NIHL 1 Northern Division, have won 7 out of 35 games so far.
A rough start
After starting the season with nine losses, the Wild finally got their first win, 2-3 against the Sheffield Scimitars, on the second of November.
This rocky start was no doubt due to a number of departures from the team during the summer.
“We lost a lot of our top players with the transition we had over the summer” said Widnes Captain Andrew Hopkins.
Positive changes
A key change of the season was the return of Dani Haid and Flynn Massie to the team in January.
While wins were still hard to come by, the team’s form saw a significant improvement.
“With Massie and Haid in the line-up now we’re stronger on the offence” said assistant captain Jonathon Williamson.
Hopkins said: “When you look back at the start of the year we were conceding 16 or 15 goals, but now that we got a more consistent line up we have been able to put better performances together.”
Particularly the addition of Haid to the line of Hopkins and Michael Gilbert has been very fruitful for the Wild and resulted in many goals.
“Dani was a good addition when we brought him back in January, we managed to click and it has made my game better” said Hopkins.
Haid said: “It’s a bit like coming home, Widnes is my home for hockey, and I think we can compete.”
Eyes set on playoffs
Widnes’s luck continued to change for the better in the last few weeks.
A 5-4 overtime win to play off spot rivals Leeds Knights helped narrow the gap of attaining a play-off spot.
This was followed the week after with an 8-4 win against the Nottingham Lions, who the Wild previously lost to 6-2.
Widnes are currently ninth in the table and with only one game remaining need to make it to at least eighth place to qualify for a spot in the play-offs.
“We’re in a tough spot right now, but pushing for a play-off spot is always good fun,” said Widnes forward Damarni James.
With a total of 19 points, Widnes is currently 2 points behind the Leeds Knights, so the gap is bridgeable if they manage to get the win in regular time.
They are facing the Nottingham Lions at home again for their last game, so despite two unfortunate back to back losses this past weekend, Widnes will be hoping to replicate their last at home success.
Kickoff for Widnes vs Nottingham will be at 19:00 on the 25th at Planet Ice Widnes.
(Featured Image by Juliann Cloud)
