What a howler!

The Islanders faced off in their first meeting in recent years with the Newcastle Coyotes Saturday 16th January 2008 at the Hillheads rink in a 10:30pm face off.

Both teams iced short benches of players with 2 lines each. The Islanders started James "Latts" Latimer between the pipes, and Stevie "Boozy" Armstrong tended goal, as ever, at the other end.

The Coyotes were up for the challenge and came running out the blocks from the drop of the first puck. This aggressive forecheck caught the Islanders on the back foot which resulted in a quick turn over and early goal for the Coyotes from Michael Anderson, assisted Wilson at 00:44.

However the Islanders weathered the early storm and began to settle the game down. A great break out pass from Dave Sproat sent David Cowey streaking away to even the score at 1:53.

The Islanders kept the momentum going and on another hustling play a minute later Paul Scott took the lead with a wrister, assisted Crowe at 2:53.

The Coyotes had lost their early momentum and resorted to cheap tactics and dirty play to try and keep their heads above water. However another hammer blow was delivered as Richy Crowe slotted away another wrister for the Isles at 14:50, unassisted.

Score Coyotes 1 - Islanders 3, end of the first

The Islanders came out for the second period ready to take the game to the Coyotes. An early strike from skipper Craig Thompson, assisted Haslam and Sproat at 21:21 set the tone for the rest of the period.

Thompson struck again, unassisted at 23:59 as he drove a loose puck over the line in a goal mouth scramble.

Coyotes renowned cheapshot artist Davis then took a changing penalty as he blindsided Islanders defenceman Brown at 25:39 that set the Isles powerplay up for Richy Crowe to convert unassisted at 27:03.

What then followed was the begining of a rout as the Islanders stepped up the game. Strikes at 27:11 from Tom Glazzard, unassisted; 33:57 Craig Thompson - hattrick, unassisted; 36:55 Thompson from Glazzard and Haslam; and finally Raymond Haslam from Cowey at 38:30.

Score Coyotes 1 - Islanders 10, end of the second.

The third period can only be classed as a "turkey shoot" as the Islanders continued with the schooling of the Coyotes right from the drop of the puck.

Craig Thompson bagged his 5th of the night at 40:18, assisted Glazzard. Followed by his 6th unassited strike at 40:52. Raymond Haslam then bagged his second of the night at 41:09, assisted Armstrong.

The onslaught continued as the Coyotes looked utterly demoralised. David Cowey struck again at 42:45, assisted Crowe and Scott. Raymond Haslam then got his hattrick at 44:04, assisted Glazzard and Brown.

Craig Thompson scored another unassisted marker at 47:21 before a quick break from the Coyotes finally broke through. Dave Farren slotted away a nice shot to the top corner beating Latimer up high, assisted Goldsmith at 50:18.

Another (yes ... another) strike from Islanders fly boy Craig Thompson assisted Haslam and Brown at 53:09 responded to the Coyotes goal.

However Coyotes skipper Dave Farren was not finished yet and he streaked down the wing again, scoring a replica goal up high on Latimer, assisted Park and Davies at 54:19.

A final strike by Tom Glazzard at 55:03, assisted Thompson put the game to bed and the clock ran down to carnival like scenes as the Whitley faithful celebrated another win.

Final score Coyotes 3 - Islanders 18

Coaches Comment:

"What a way to send those Coyotes away with their tails between their legs?"

"They came out gunning for us in the first five minutes and then they fizzled out and had nothing to show except cheap hits and back doors."

"I was really impressed with all the team who turned out tonight and showed some class."

"Thats how to win a hockey game and all the lads deserve it - way to go boys!"

Man of the match awards went to Tom Glazzard for the Islanders and Dave Farren for the Coyotes.

Full stats from the game can be found here