IT was seven-up as Deeside Dragons made a return to winning ways.

Following a disappointing Division One North spell that saw heavy losses to Billingham Stars and Blackburn Hawks, Dragons were on fire as they won 7-2 at Widnes Wild.

Deeside had to come from behind to achieve their second success of the season and after Widnes had edged in front, new Dragons’ player Jake Witkowski supplied the assist as Jakub Hajek levelled.

Dragons then took control with two goals in the closing minute of the first period. Ross Kennedy and Hajek struck, both assisted by Witkowski.

Widnes reduced their deficit to a single goal, but a double from Witkowski had Deeside 5-2 ahead heading into the final period.

There was to be no fightback, with Witkowski completing his hat-trick and Alex Parry added the seventh.

Speaking about Witkowski, assistant head coach Matt Compton said: “Once he’s back into UK time, we’re in for a real treat and the fans are as well.

“He is three steps ahead of everybody and he raised everybody’s game.

“It was a really good team performance. It could easily have been double-figures. Everybody was on top form.”

Witkowski has joined the Dragons after two seasons with the Leeds Knights in the NIHL National Division, where he scored 30 goals and 87 points in 45 games.

He is a product of Boston University, where he spent four years, and will bring dynamism and excitement to the Dragons roster.

Other results: Blackburn Hawks 3 Nottingham Lions 5; Leeds Knights 0 Hull Jets 3; Sheffield Scimitars 3 Whitley Warriors 5; Hull Jets 7 Sheffield Scimitars 4; Leeds Knights 2 Blackburn Hawks 9; Solihull Barons 8 Billingham Stars 3.

Deeside Ducks had a difficult time on their first ever away trip – losing 13-1 to a highly organised Coventry Blaze side in Division Two.

Continuing their policy of encouraging young talent and providing a stepping stone into senior league hockey, the Ducks gave NIHL debuts to three more promising players – Mackenzie Wilkes, Liam Yarwood and 16-year old Deacon Wilkes.

Deeside found themselves up against it right from the start and were 3-0 down by the end of the first period. It was 8-0 after two periods and they were 12-0 down by the time Michael Speare scored their first ever away goal in the third period.

The netminding partnership of Callum Preston and Paul Jones were kept busy all night but managed to keep out 55 of the 68 shots that they faced between them.

Deacon Wilkes was named the Ducks’ MVP for the match.

Lead coach Peter Bleackley said: “I’m not going to make any excuses. We just didn’t gel as a team last night.

“We’ve lots of areas to work on in training and I am putting this down to a bad day at the office.

“Coventry were a well organised team and played good simple hockey from the start. They outworked us and took every opportunity and capitalised on it.

“We will dust ourselves off and the team are looking forward to this weekend.”