Bulldogs Junior Review: Under-18s and Under-14s hit the ice

TOP DOGS: Jacob Mardell (left) performed heroics in net for the Under-18s while injured, Jack Clarke impressed in goal for the Under-14s, for who Joshuah Windass (second right) scored in the defeat at Nottingham.  Captain Danny Harrison (right) posted 4+4 in the Under-18s' win over Manchester.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS’ Under-18s got their season up and running at the fourth attempt when they saw off Roses rivals Manchester Storm Academy 8-4 in an entertaining clash at The Pound.

It was no more than the Bulldogs’ deserved overall, having seen their initial 3-0 lead wiped out by the Storm before re-establishing their control to run out comfortable winners.

The hosts got off to the best possible start when Daragh Spawforth reacted quickest to a rebound off goalie Marley Williams to force the puck home at 2.47.

Just under seven minutes later, Spawforth then teed up captain Danny Harrison to fire home from the right circle to double the lead, on that was increased further in the 26th minute when defenceman Dan Johns fired a piledriver through traffic from the blue line.

But then the Storm rallied, cutting the deficit to two at 27.42 through Kane Morin, Bailey Thomas then making it 3-2 just after the halfway mark when he beat Jacob Mardell from the top of the right circle.

The comeback was completed when Alexandre Turner’s effort squeezed through traffic just under three minutes later, although the Bulldogs were able to respond before the second break, Harrison intercepting a pass just inside the Manchester zone before driving towards the net and backhanding past Owen Severn at 38.31.

Manchester hit back again, though, when Charlie Hargrove pounced at 41.43, although their joy was short-lived when - just over two minutes later - Harrison found space down low before teeing up Aiden Southwood to force the puck home from in front to mark his debut for the team in style.

In the 49th minute, the Bulldogs put some welcome daylight between the two teams again when Harrison fired home into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Spawforth then worked some space for himself to fire home from the top of the right circle at 52.55 before Harrison grabbed his fourth when going five-hole on Severn when one-on-one with just 48 seconds remaining.

Netminder Jacob Mardell deservedly got the team’s Spirit of the Game award, putting in a huge performance playing through the pain barrier after getting injured during the warm-up.

The Bulldogs Under-14s made the long trip south to Nottingham and came off second-best in a testing encounter at the National Ice Centre, eventually going down 13-1.

They found themselves up against it when they were trailing 6-0 inside 12 minutes, although Joshuah Windass provided some welcome relief when he got the Bulldogs on the board with his first league goal at 11.51.

Nottingham added two more before the first break for an 8-1 lead and continued their scoring spree in the second period, Elis Wyn Thomas (4), Jayden Thomas (3) and Charles Butler (3) leading the way for the home team.

Netminder Jack Clarke got the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award for an impressive performance in the first two periods.