REAPERS RISE: The Underdog Story of the Hull Humber Invitational 2025
- Lewis Cleveland
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
In the world of ice hockey, numbers often matter — deep benches, line rotations, fresh legs. But this past weekend, at the Hull Humber Invitational Tournament 2025, the Chester Road Reapers rewrote that rulebook, trading in quantity for heart, grit, and the kind of underdog resilience that legends are made of.
Turning up to Hull with just nine skaters and one goaltender, the Reapers looked like longshots before the puck had even dropped. But if you know this squad, you know that being underestimated only fuels their fire.
DAY ONE: BATTLE BEGINS
Game 1 saw an early start against the Cardiff Bay Buccaneers at a brutal 07:35 face-off. Both teams battled the grogginess, but it was Cardiff who had the advantage on paper — a full squad with fresh legs to rotate. The Reapers, however, had something else: sheer will. They dug deep and opened their account with a tight 3-2 win, setting the tone for what was to come.
Game 2 was a different story. Facing off against Nottingham Cyclones, a team with whom the Reapers have a patchy history, the short bench caught up with them. Nottingham used their full roster to full effect, dominating in a 5-0 shutout. It was a sobering loss, but not one that would break the Reapers’ spirit.
Their final game of the day brought them to the doorstep of the Hull Knights, the tournament hosts. A fresh ice cut, a roaring crowd, and tired legs didn’t stop the Reapers from leaving it all out there. Despite a valiant effort, they dropped the match 3-1, finishing Day One with one win and two losses, and the odds stacked further against them.
DAY TWO: REDEMPTION AND RAGE
Day Two brought a crucial reinforcement: #4 Ellis Flanagan, stepping in after missing Day One. The timing couldn’t have been better, as Game 4 was a grudge match against last year’s champions, the Sheffield Ice Tigers. This game carried more than just tournament weight — it was redemption for Josh Jones, who suffered a tournament-ending injury at their last meeting.
Fueled by emotion and resolve, the Reapers took the fight to the Tigers and came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 win.
Game 5 pitted them against the Blackburn Renegades, a team yet to secure a victory. Unaware of the standings due to app issues, the Reapers played like everything was on the line — because to them, it was. The bench may have been short, but the hearts were full. Dave “The Save” Meadows delivered a shutout performance as the Reapers crushed the Renegades 9-0, every man contributing in a complete team display.
When the dust settled, four teams were tied on points. The Reapers snuck into the semi-finals by a single goal on differential — the narrowest of margins earned by the broadest of hearts.
SEMI-FINAL: RETURN OF THE KNIGHTS
And so the semi-final was set: Reapers vs. Hull Knights — again. But this time, the outcome flipped. A brutal, beautiful 35-minute battle of bodies, boards, and belief ended with the Reapers victorious 3-1, eliminating the hosts and booking their spot in the final.
Meanwhile, the Cyclones advanced via a penalty win over the Ice Tigers, setting up a David vs Goliath final — ten Reapers against a full-force Nottingham squad.
THE FINAL: WRITING OUR STORY
The final was nothing short of a movie script. End-to-end action saw no goals in regulation, and none in 3v3 overtime, despite relentless pressure. Rink staff hovered impatiently, ready to shut the building down. The game pushed into a penalty shootout.
Captain Steven Roberts stepped up for the coin toss and chose to shoot first.
#14 David Lešča skated out and buried the opener.
Dave Meadows stood tall, turning away Nottingham’s first shot.
#97 George Kelly coolly slotted goal number two.
The Cyclones sent their second — DENIED.
Game over.
Reapers 1, Cyclones 0 (Shootout).
Chester Road Reapers — 2025 Champions.
THE CHAMPIONS:
Against the odds, the Chester Road Reapers didn’t just compete — they conquered. With fewer players, fewer breaks, and no excuses, they reminded the world what hockey is really about: passion, resilience, and team spirit.
From underdogs to champions.
Reapers, 2025 Hull Humber Invitational — remember the name.
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