ANDY BROWN is hoping Kacper Andrukianiec’s remarkable six-goal haul has given Bradford Bulldogs a timely confidence boost as they look to make a surge up the National Ice Hockey League North Two standings. 

The Bulldogs picked up their third win of the season on Sunday with a 7-3 home triumph over Nottingham Lions 2. 

And it was Andrukianiec who took centre stage, scoring a first-period hat-trick, as Bradford came from 2-1 down, before going on to add three more goals. 

It moved the Bulldogs level on points with Sheffield Titans and made up for the previous day’s 10-2 road loss at the hands of unbeaten leaders Sutton Sting. 

The Bulldogs head to Altrincham Aces tomorrow, looking to avenge a frustrating 7-4 home loss to their Greater Manchester rivals last month. 

“Saturday was a tough day at the office,” admitted head coach Brown. “Defensively we were very poor and really should have been able to keep that team to a more respectable score. 

“On Sunday, we again started slow and that allowed Nottingham to be by far the better team in the first period and we were lucky to be 3-2 ahead going into the second. 

“The boys responded well though and stuck with the gameplan. We kept our cool as Nottingham seemed to lose their discipline and we capitalised. 

“The highlight was definitely Kacper’s six goals and, hopefully, that will fill him and the boys with confidence going into this weekend.” 

There was little debate about Kacper Andrukianiec (second right) being named man of the match.There was little debate about Kacper Andrukianiec (second right) being named man of the match. (Image: Podium Prints/Andy Bourke.)

Andrukianiec broke the deadlock against Nottingham with a redirect in front of net from Ben Darbyshire, but the hosts soon found themselves behind when the Lions hit back through Adam Clark and Jake Fisher. 

Andrukianiec wrestled back the initiative for the home team with two goals in as many minutes before the first break, his hat-trick strike coming with 17.33 on the clock. 

Ben Fox doubled the lead at 26.02 before Andrukianiec took his tally to four when he forced the puck over the line in the 38th minute. 

His fourth goal of the game was perhaps the pick of the bunch when he pinged it in off the underside of the bar to make it 6-2 at 46.15. 

Nottingham responded through Charlie Davenport but, fittingly, it was Andrukianiec who had the final say with two minutes of the game to go.