Ice-hockey: North-East pair edged out of final

There was not a North-East winner in the tournament, however, Billingham Bears and Sunderland Commanches reached U16 and U14 finals respectively.

Billingham Bears came close to winning the U16 title losing 3-2 to Telford Rockets in the final. Telford went ahead in the 11th minute and extended their advantage to 3-0 at 23.43. Robert Down cut the deficit on the powerplay at 26.09 and 15 seconds later Anthony Price added a second. Bears went in search of the equaliser but could not find a way through Telford's defence which included new signing netminder Andrew Jaszczyk from Sheffield.

Bears' opening group match was against Telford which they won 2-0. Michael Farn scored both of Bears' goals, the first on the powerplay at 16.34 and the second at 17.55.

James Flavell in the Billingham net had another clean sheet as Bears defeated Whitley Tomahawks 3-0. Anthony Price opened the scoring on the powerplay at 06.45 and Robert Dowd doubled the lead two minutes later. Farn completed the scoring in the 23rd minute.

Their remaining group match was against Sunderland Arrows which Bearts won 3-1. The result brought the two teams back together in the semi-finals. Arrows surprised Bears by going ahead after only 31 seconds. Price tied the scores at 17.15 as the game ended 1-1. Billingham went forward into the final due to the 3-1 win over Arrows in the league stage.

Sunderland were 4-0 winners in their opening game against Whitley tomahawks. Mike Holland put Arrows ahead at 04.22 and Daniel Murdy hit a second seven minutes later. Murdy and Dean Holland in a four-minute spell in the second period wrapped up the victory.

Arrows second match was against Telford Rockets and decided by a lone goal which went Telford's way after 23 minutes.

Sunderland met Whitley Tomahawks in the third/fourth play-off coming out on top by 4-1. Murdy and Dean Holland were on target for a 2-0 Arrows first period lead. Mark Nicholson was on target for Whitley at 16.41 to cut the deficit. Murdy and Mark Robson made certain of Sunderland's third place with final period goals.

Whitley's group matches were all losses with a 9-1 defeat against Telford Rockets after going down to Sunderland (4-0) and Billingham (3-0). Telford led 7-0 within ten minutes, an eighth followed before Ben Moore netted the consolation at 16.30.

They got another drubbing from Telford at the semi-final stage losing 7-0 before meeting Sunderland in the third/fourth place play-off.

In the U14 event Sunderland Commanches lost 6-1 to Sheffield Stormers in the final. Sheffield were in control scoring four times in the opening period. Nathan Salem netted Commanches' consolation.

It started well for Commanches with a 1-0 victory over Whitley Mohawks in the league format. Danny Lamb broke the deadlock after 18 minutes for the opening victory.

Telford Venom went by the wayside losing 5-0. Jimmy Moutrey put his side ahead at 05.55 and Salem doubled the lead three minutes later. Callum Pattison, Salem and Moutrey were on target to secure the win.

Commanches' stiffest challenge was against Sheffield Stormers in their final league game. Grant Sharp was on target at 07.46 to put Sunderland ahead and Salem hit a second in the 16th minute. Sheffield replied at 18.27 in their 2-1 loss.

Telford met Commanches in the semis and went ahead after eight minutes. Moutrey equalise at 11.45 in the 1-1 tie. Sunderland went through to the final courtesy of the 5-0 win over Telford earlier in the day.

Whitley Mohawks' second match of the day was against Sheffield Stormers peppered 33 shots on David Lawrence and Daniel Smith in Mohawks net during the game and won 4-1. Lawrence faced 13 in the first and conceded only one. Sheffield led 4-0 before Callum Watson netted at 20.29.

Mohawks' final round robin game was against Telford and they lost narrowly 2-1. Venom went ahead at 15.50 and doubled the lead short-handed at 18.00. On the same powerplay Kris Pyle 51 seconds later pulled a goal back.

Finishing fourth Mohawks faced Sheffield in the semis and lost 6-0. Whitley then came up against Telford in third/fourth place play-off which Telford won 8-0.

It was not all bad for Mohawks as Daniel Smith was named netminder of the tournament. Commanches' Jimmy Moutrey was forward of the tournament and Sunderland won the Fairplay Trophy.

At U16 level Bears' Robert Dowd was forward of the tournament and Billingham won the Fairplay Trophy.

Results - Under-14s

Sunderland 1, Whitley Bay 0; Telford 2, Sheffield 4; Sunderland 5, Telford 0; Whitley Bay 1, Sheffield 4; Sunderland 2, Sheffield 1; Telford 2, Whitley Bay 1.

Semi-finals: Sunderland 1, Telford 1. Sunderland go through to the final due to the result against Telford in the league format.

Sheffield 6, Whitley Bay 0

Third/fourth place play-off: Telford 8, Whitley Bay 0.

Final: Sunderland 1, Sheffield 6

Commanches: Nathan Salem 4+4, Jimmy Moutrey 3+5, Callum Pattison 1+2, Danny Lamb, Grant Sharp 1+0, Ross Hanlon, Ross Cameron, Danny Pye 0+1.

Mohawks: Callum Watson, Kris Pyle 1+0.

Fairplay Trophy: Sunderland Commanches

Forward of the Tournament: Jimmy Moutrey (Sunderland)

Defenceman of the Tournament: Ryan Handisides (Sheffield).

Netminder of the Tournament: Daniel Smith (Whitley Bay).

Under-16s

Sunderland 4, Whitley Bay 0; Telford 0, Billingham 2; Sunderland 0, Telford 1; Whitley Bay 0, Billingham 3; Telford 9, Whitley Bay 1; Sunderland 1, Billingham 3.

Semi-finals: Billingham 1, Sunderland 1. Billingham go through to the final due to the result against Sunderland in league format.

Telford 7, Whitley Bay 0.

Third/fourth play-off: S'land 4, Whitley Bay 1.

Final: Telford 3, Billingham 2.

Bears: Michael Farn 5+3, Anthony Price 4+3, Robert Dowd 2+3, John Elkins 0+2, Michael McKenna, Stephanie Box 0+1.

Arrows: Daniel Murdy 5+0, Dean Holland 3+0, Mark Robson 1+1, Mike Holland 1+0, Richard Westgarth 0+4, Martyn Davies, Lee Haywood, Karl Nelson, Jeremy Lundin 0+1.

Tomahawks: Ben Moore, Mark Nicholson 1+0, Daniel Harris 0+1.

Fairplay Trophy: Billingham Bears

Forward of the Tournament: Robert Dowd (Billingham).

Defenceman of the Tournament: Chad Briggs (Telford).

Netminder of the Tournament: Andrew Jaszczyk (Telford).

Pre-season tournaments continue over this coming weekend at the Telewest Arena tomorrow and Sunderland. Sunderland Ice Hockey Club are holding a U12 and U14 B tournament.

Sunderland are competing at Ice Sheffield's new arena tomorrow, Sunday and Monday in U14 A and U16 events. At U16 level Sunderland Arrows join hosts Sheffield Rapiers and Greyhounds, Slough Spitfires, Telford Rockets, North Ayr Predators, Vallentuna Hockey (Sweden) and Solent Cruisers in the eight-team event. There are six teams at U14.

Sunderland Commanches alongside hosts Sheffield Stormers and Sabres, Slough Bombers, Telford Venom and Whitley Mohawks who accepted a late invitation.

Weekend fixtures

Tomorrow: Sheffield Tournament, U16 event: 07.30-8am Sheffield Rapiers v Sheffield Greyhounds; 08.25-08.55 Vallentuna v Solent; 09.10-09.40 Slough v Sunderland; 10.00-10.35 Sheffield Rapiers v Sunderland; 10.50-11.20 Slough v Sheffield Greyhounds; 11.45-12.15 Telford v Solent; 12.30-1.00pm Vallentuna v North Ayr; 1.25-1.55 North Ayr v Sheffield Rapiers; 2.10-2.40 Sunderland v Vallentuna; 3.05-3.35 Telford v North Ayr; 3.50-4.20 Sheffield Greyhounds v Telford; 4.45-5.15 Solent v Slough; 5.30-6.00 Telford v Sheffield Rapiers; 6.25-6.55 Sunderland v Solent; 7.10-7.40 Vallentuna v Slough; 8.05-8.35 Solent v Sheffield Rapiers.

U14 event: 08.00-08.25 Sheffield Stormers v Sheffield Sabres; 09.40-10.05 Whitley Bay v Sunderland; 11.20-11.45 Telford v Sheffield Sabres; 1.00-1.25 Sheffield Stormers v Slough; 2.40-3.05 Slough v Telford; 4.20-4.45 Whitley Bay v Slough; 6.00-6.25 Sunderland v Sheffield Stormers; 7.40-8.05 Sheffield Sabres v Sunderland.

Sunderland, August 24

U16 event: 08.15-08.45 North Ayr v Sheffield Greyhounds; 09.50-10.20 Telford v Sunderland; 11.25-11.55 Sheffield Rapiers v Slough; 12.35-1.05 Solent v North Ayr; 1.40-2.10 Vallentuna v Telford; 2.35-3.05 Slough v North Ayr; 4.10-4.40 Sheffield Greyhounds v Sunderland; 4.10-4.40 Sheffield Greyhounds v Sunderland; 4.55-5.25 Vallentuna v Sheffield Rapiers; 5.50-6.20 Slough v Telford; 6.35-7.05 Solent v Sheffield Greyhounds; 7.05-7.35 Sheffield Greyhounds Vallentuna.

U14 event: 0.75-07.50 Slough v Sheffield Sabres; 07.50-08.15 Telford v Sheffield Stormers; 09.00-09.25 Whitley Bay v Telford; 09.25-09.50 Sunderland v Slough; 10.35-1.00 Whitley Bay v Sheffield Stormers; 11.00-11.25 Sheffield Sabres v Whitley Bay; 12.10-12.35 Sunderland v Telford; 1.05-1.30 Pool 1a v 1b; 2.10-2.35 Pool 2a v 2b; 3.20-3.45 Pool 1c v 1a; 3.45-4.10 Pool 2c v 2b; 5.25-5.50 Pool 1b v 1c; 8.05-8.25 Pool 2b v 2c.

Sheffield Tournament, August 25

Positional play-offs: 08.00-09.00 U16 7 v 8; 09.15-10.15 U14 5 v 6; 10.30-11.30 U16 5 v 6; 11.45-12.45 U14 3rd v 4th; 1.00-2.00 U16 3rd v 4th; 2.15-3.15 U14 1st v 2nd; 3.30-4.30 U16 1st v 2nd.

Closing ceremony

* Crowtree Bandits defeated Newcastle Coyotes 6-3 in a recreational ice hockey game at Hillheads, Darren Box and Curt Elgie twice put Bandits ahead only for Coyotes to equalise by 21 minutes.

Dave Cowey restored Crowtrees' lead five minutes later and gave his side a 4-2 advantage on 40 minutes. Coyotes cut the deficit at 43.33 only Andrew Nichol to bag a brace in the 45th and 49th minutes to secure victory.

Bandits: David Lowey 2+1, Andrew Nichol 2+0, Darren Box 1+1, Curt Elgie 1+0, Stu Davis 0+3, Daniel Hodgson 0+2, David Emmerson 0+1.

Coyotes: Darren Farren 1+1, Andrew Proctor, Craig Jaundzikers 1+0, Lee Wilkinson 0+1.

* Former Whitley Warriors import Claude Dumas, who played for the Tynesiders for three seasons from 1990-1991 to 1992-1993 and has played in Britain ever since, has been given a testimonial game by his present club, English Premier League side Milton Keynes Lightning.

This game will take place tomorrow (Sat, Aug 23) at Ice Plaza Milton Keynes, face-off 6pm, between a Lightning invitation team and a Claude Dumas Select.

Forwards Adam Carr and Tom Griffiths, who began playing in the Durham Junior system, have both signed for Milton Keynes this summer and will ice for Lightning tomorrow.

Joe and Tom Watkins and Michael Knights, also former Durham Juniors, are named in the Dumas Select.

Steve Chartrand, Hilton Ruggles and David Clarke, who have played for North-East clubs, are also in the Dumas Select.

Further details on the game can be gained from Milton Keynes Ice Plaza on (01908) 606696 or www.MK-lightning.com.