Nottingham Lions opened-up their long-awaited ice hockey campaign after a year off ice down to covid-lockdown with a win against Sheffield Scimitars during overtime of the two teams NIHL North Cup match at the Motorpoint Arena.
A fiercely contested match was locked at 5-5 following three periods of tense and exciting action but a late Jack Hopkins winner was enough to give the home side the two points which takes them joint top of their group with Widnes Wild who won their match with Blackburn Hawks a little more convincingly 9-3.
The competition has been arranged by the English Ice Hockey Association as the first on ice back from twelve months layoff and the four teams involved will play home and away over the next month to decide the eventual winner.
Nottingham Lions are a third-tier national ice-hockey team captained and Managed by Danny Harrison and last season were bottom of the Division 1 North (Moralee) having lost all their 24 games prior to lockdown.
This year however has already seen an upturn in fortunes and you can watch back the action here from the game against Sheffield, thanks to the Lions YouTube streaming service on the day.
Next up for Nottingham is a trip to Widnes this Saturday where a tough encounter awaits.
*Main image @NIHLHockey the winner from Hopkins gave Nottingham the points.
