Netminder Thomas is Kingston's star

THOMAS Weatherley was the star as Kingston Rivermen under-12s overcame a strong Telford Venom team 9-4 in the English Ice Hockey League.

The Kingston netminder conceded just four times despite home side Venom launching 18 shots on his goal and was rightly named player of the match.

At the other end three goals each for Jack Sewell and Kate Marsden helped seal the win to maintain the Rivermen's unbeaten start to the season.

Kingston took the lead inside the first minute with a Braden Jennings flick into the top corner of the net from a Tom Stubley pass.

Sewell then broke through the defence and set up Marsden to fire home Kingston's second, before Telford capitalised on a Kingston penalty to pull a goal back with the extra player advantage splitting the defence.

Strong Telford pressure followed with Weatherley pulling off some fine saves in the Kingston net, supported by Susanna Pearson and Beth Barwell in defence.

Kingston extended their lead on nine minutes when Carla Clark and Jennings broke through on goal and set up Alfie Glenn to chip over the goalie into the net.

A minute later Cain Taylor took the puck down the ice and sold a dummy to the Telford goalie with a pass to Sewell to grab his first goal of the game.

Telford pulled another goal back when firing home from close range through a crowd of players to end the first period with Kingston leading 4-2.

The second period started in similar fashion to the first with Kingston extending their lead with Marsden scoring her second after being put through on goal by Taylor.

Marsden then completed her hat-trick three minutes later with a powerplay goal after a Telford penalty, in a move with Sewell and Jennings.

Telford then got a goal back with a solo effort, only for Kingston to score again when Finlay Ulrick's shot was well saved and Glenn pounced on the rebound for his second.

After Sewell bagged his second with a well-taken solo effort, Telford were awarded a goal from a goal-mouth melee, but Sewell finished the scoring with another solo flourish to leave the result at 9-4 to Kingston.

Kingston Rivermen: Thomas Weatherley, Thomas Stubley, Braden Jennings, Jack Sewell, Susanna Pearson, Cain Taylor, Bethany Barwell, Carla Clark, Kate Marsden, Alfie Glenn, Aiden Strangeway, Finlay Ulrick