Hull Seahawks beat Swindon Wildcats 2-1 in front of 2,308 fans at the Planet Ice SkyDome Arena in Coventry on Saturday evening to advance in the NIHL play-offs. It was Owen Bruton who proved the difference, scoring in the first period to give Hull the lead and then adding the decisive goal early in the third - his second of the match - to settle a tense, closely fought contest.

Hull strike first

The game began with a fractious edge. Coincidental roughing calls for Tyler Plews and Alex Kent at 4:39 cancelled each other out, and the match settled into a scrappy but competitive pattern. Hull broke the deadlock at 14:56 when Bruton finished from Joshua Crawley and Dylan Hehir's work to make it 1-0. It was a well-worked goal and gave the Seahawks something to protect heading into the first intermission.

Swindon level - but not for long

The Wildcats started the second period with more urgency and were rewarded for it. Hull were penalised twice without conceding - Lee Bonner for High Sticking at 20:52, then a bench minor for Too Many Men at 24:40 - and though Swindon couldn't convert either man advantage, the pressure told eventually. Owen Griffiths equalised at 39:43, Glenn Billing and Ryan Wells picking up the assists, to send the sides level into the second intermission.

At 1-1 after forty minutes, this was anyone's game.

Bruton wins it

Hull came out with purpose in the third and Bruton settled the tie at 50:21, taking the puck himself and finishing unassisted to put the Seahawks back in front at 2-1. It was a composed, confident finish from a player who had already scored the opener - and it proved to be the match-winner.

Swindon threw everything at an equaliser in the final stages. They called their timeout at 59:12 and had already pulled Renny Marr from goal at 58:36 for an extra attacker, but the Seahawks held firm. Hull are through.

The bigger picture

For Hull, victory continues what has been a strong play-off campaign - they beat Telford Tigers in both legs of their previous tie and now take their place in the next round. For Swindon, it is a gutting exit after four wins from their last five, including back-to-back victories over Peterborough Phantoms to reach this stage.

Bruton's brace was the story of the night, but Hull's collective discipline - keeping their composure under late pressure from a Wildcats side with real momentum - was equally important. This was a proper play-off occasion, played in front of a fine crowd at a neutral venue, and Hull did what good teams do: scored when it mattered and defended when they had to.

 
Result: Swindon Wildcats 1-2 Hull Seahawks Planet Ice NIHL Play-offs | 18 April 2026 | SkyDome Arena, Planet Ice Coventry Attendance: 2,308

Swindon Wildcats scorers:

39:43 - Owen Griffiths (EV) | A: Glenn Billing, Ryan Wells

Hull Seahawks scorers:

14:56 - Owen Bruton (EV) | A: Joshua Crawley, Dylan Hehir
50:21 - Owen Bruton (EV) | unassisted

Period scores:

  1st 2nd 3rd
SWI 0 1 0
HUL 1 0 1

Goalkeepers: Renny Marr (SWI); Aleksanteri Heiskanen (HUL)

Penalties - Swindon Wildcats: Tyler Plews (Roughing, 2 min, 4:39) Penalties - Hull Seahawks: Alex Kent (Roughing, 2 min, 4:39); Lee Bonner (High Sticking, 2 min, 20:52); Bench minor - Too Many Men (2 min, 24:40); Dylan Hehir (Slashing, 56:28*)

The 56:28 Hehir penalty is recorded in the source data as a 0-minute penalty. Duration omitted pending clarification.