JASON HEWITT says there is a “good feeling” at Hull Seahawks as they continue to set the early pace in NIHL National.
Another four-point weekend – courtesy of following up Saturday’s 4-1 win at Solway with a tense 4-3 derby triumph at home to fierce rivals Sheffield Steeldogs – was enough to help the Seahawks go top of the regular season standings.
They are now level on points with Milton Keynes Lightning, who lost 5-4 at reigning champions Swindon Wildcats after a shootout, but are ahead due to having more regulation wins than Pete Russell’s team.
The Steeldogs had to come from behind against the Steeldogs, who went ahead through a strike from former Hull forward Nathan Salem at 16.41.
Cody Monds levelled early in the second before the Steeldogs regained the lead through Nathan Ripley at 34.19. But it only took the hosts 54 seconds to respond and level for a second time when Lee Bonner beat Shane Owen.
Into the last 10 minutes, it was Hull’s power play that proved the biggest difference, first Johnny Corneil at 54.36 and then Jack Musil scoring just under four minutes later to put them in control.
It wasn’t plain sailing, however, Michael Pelech making it a one-goal game with 67 seconds left, but the Seahawks were able to see the game out.
“We're pretty fired up at the moment,” said defenceman Hewitt. “We're rolling and it's a good feeling. That's not something we expect, but I think with the group we've got, it's something that we strive for and right now it's going the right way.
“I honestly think in that first period, we probably could have been up by three or four. Obviously we didn't take our chances, but it was still a really positive period.
“When we got hit on the counter and we're 1-0 down going into the dressing room, there was a little bit of a flat feeling of course.
“But the message was pretty clear in the room. From the gaffer it was ‘keep doing what we're doing and it'll come right ‘ - and then you see what happens.”