Telford Tigers in triumphant weekend overtime double

Autocraft Telford Tigers secured their second consecutive overtime victory against the Bristol Pitbulls this weekend, with a last-gasp goal from Tate Shudra settling a pulsating pre-season encounter at Planet Ice in Bristol.

The 6-5 win followed a hard-fought battle that saw both teams trade blows and leads throughout the match.

The Tigers, who had edged out the Pitbulls in their previous match, looked a little sharper this time around. They took an early lead while shorthanded, with David Thomson and Eric Henderson combining to put Telford on the board. However, the home side quickly responded, with goals from Calum McGill and Jake Bricknell giving the Pitbulls the advantage. Thomson, on his second, ensured the Tigers were level heading into the first intermission.

A Second-Period Scrap

The second period proved to be just as chaotic. Bricknell scored his second on the power play to restore Bristol’s lead, but the Tigers refused to back down. After an Eric Henderson shot rattled the post, Harry Ferguson scored from close range in the final minute of the period to send the teams into the break tied at 3-3.

The game grew increasingly fractious in the third period, with several skirmishes breaking out. Ferguson and Deakan Fielder for the Tigers, along with Josh Batch and Bari McKenzie for the Pitbulls, all received penalties for fighting. But it was the scoring that truly defined the final stanza.

Telford briefly took the lead through Caelan McPhee's wrist shot, only for Bristol's John Dunbar to quickly tie it up. Patrick Brown scored his first goal for the club to put the Tigers ahead once more with five minutes left on the clock, but Rhys Smetham equalised almost immediately, sending the game to overtime.

Shudra's Heroics

Just as in their previous match, it was the Tigers who found a way to win in the extra period. With only twenty-two seconds remaining, Tate Shudra capped a man-of-the-match performance by skating into the offensive zone and firing a winning shot past the Bristol netminder. The win was a testament to the Tigers' resilience and stamina.

Head Coach Tom Watkins praised his team’s resolve. "That was another very tight game and a good battle for both teams," he said after the match. "There was not a lot between either club this weekend, but fortunately we were able to find a way to win both nights in overtime. I really like the togetherness the team has already."

With two hard-fought wins in the bag, the Tigers look well-prepared for the new season. The team’s physical conditioning and fighting spirit have been evident, providing a solid foundation to build upon.