Bulldogs show plenty of promise at start of 2025

LEADING LIGHTS: Kacper Andrukianiec (left) and Kai Hathaway both scored hat-tricks against Deeside, while Jack McVicius won the MVP award after turning away 29 of the 30 shots on his net. Pictures: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

HAVING closed out 2024 with a 9-3 home defeat to reigning NIHL North Two champions, Telford Tigers, Bradford Bulldogs started the new year in promining style on a two-game weekend. 

Having twice held the lead, the Bulldogs lost out 7-4 to Coventry Blaze NIHL on Saturday, but built on the promise shown in that performance when they won 9-1 against Deeside Ducks on home ice the following day. 

Kacper Andrukianiec and Kai Hathaway led the way with a hat-trick apiece, with Lucas Vince, Ben Fox and Oliver Massey also getting on the scoresheet. 

Reflecting on the weekend overall, assistant coach Hannah Gibson said: “With it not being long since our previous game against Deeside and that being so tight, we knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy night for us and at the end of the first period, it was close with us just 2-1 up.

“Deeside were still attacking strongly and we had to dig in deep going into the second and they gave me the response I asked for. 

“Deeside certainly didn’t make it easy for us and I think we took advantage of a few lucky bounces, whereas Deeside were unfortunate not to score a few more, but Jack Mickevicius was strong in net and played a big part. 

“It was nice to see Ollie Massey and Ben Fox get on the scoresheet, too, with all three lines contributing. 

“All in all, it was the response we needed after a close game in Coventry the day before and we deserved something out of the weekend.” 

A first period double from Andrukianiec had the Bulldogs 2-1 ahead after 20 minutes at The Pound - Chris Jones replying for the Ducks - but thereafter, it was the hosts who were more clinical in front of the net. 

Hathaway struck twice within five minutes of each other to make it 4-1 before Massey struck at 36.40 and Andrukianiec completed his hat-trick just under two minutes later. 

A power play marker from Vince followed in the 44th minute before Fox made it 8-1 six minutes later. 

Hathaway then completed his hat-trick and a comprehensive win when he fired home at 57.29. 

The previous day, the Bulldogs stunned hosts Coventry when Daragh Spawforth put them ahead at 11.36, although they were level before the first break through a power play strike from Connor Mellett. 

The Bulldogs got ahead again just two minutes into the second through Jacob Brownlie but the Blaze were able to score three unanswered goals in nine minutes to take a promising 4-2 lead into the second intermission. 

Their lead was stretched just eight seconds into the third by Harrison Sumber’s power play strike, but it was the Bulldogs who then rallied, making it a one-goal game when Andrukianiec’s goal at 46.21 was followed by an effort by Vince 83 seconds later. 

But, as the Bulldogs pushed in search of an equaliser, they were hit by a Sam Prosser strike with just over three minutes left, the Blaze sealing the deal with an empty netter from Joel Gavigan with 104 seconds remaining.