NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 10th October 2015

Sheffield Senators vs. Billingham Stars

Sunday 11th October 2015

Blackburn Hawks vs. Solway Sharks

As Whitley Warriors welcome a break from play, the spotlight will be on Terry Ward’s Billingham Stars and Dumfries outfit Solway Sharks this weekend as they prepare to travel to Ice Sheffield and Blackburn Ice Arena respectively.

Billingham Stars will take to the ice on Saturday against Sheffield Senators who have been susceptible to loss this season, making them vulnerable opponents as they remain in ninth place with zero points and the poorer goal difference of -29 after just four games. The Senators’ last game saw them snatch two goals against Blackburn Hawks, the most they have managed to score against any side so far. However, the disparity between the former Division Two side and their current opposition in the Moralee Conference is all too clear to see. Led by captain Andrew McEwan, the Senators do not hand over victories so easily but, lacking players who have iced on a long term basis or at a higher level, and the absence of imports, which now appear crucial to success in the NIHL, the team continue to struggle at this level.

The Stars will therefore believe that they are at an advantage as they look ahead to this fixture. With a host of experienced players, such as long term Star Paul Windridge and Swedish import Dennis Boström who has impressed in recent games, Billingham coach Terry Ward will be disappointed if he does not leave with two points. So far this season, Sheffield Spartans, Solway Sharks and Blackburn Hawks have defeated the Senators and, if the Stars wish to compete this season, they can only hope to do the same. Losing out twice last weekend means Billingham have a point to prove but equally, confidence may be low after two successive defeats. This could leave the Senators feeling that they have nothing to lose and, with a home crowd on their side, it may be possible for them to hunt down that crucial win to kick-start their season.

Two points would give Billingham a lift, though their league placement after this weekend will also be dependent on the outcome of the contest between Sutton Sting and Telford Tigers on Saturday. If the Stars win, they require Sutton and Telford to share the points in order to remain in fifth place; a win from the Sting and a loss from Billingham would see the Tessiders fall into sixth behind the Tigers.

To add to the NIHL action this weekend, Solway Sharks make the trip to Blackburn Ice Arena to challenge the Hawks’ unbeaten run as the home side look to make it six wins out of six. This fixture is likely to be a tough one for the Sharks who have failed to find good form from the beginning of their 2015-16 campaign, managing just two points from a possible ten. Martin Grubb’s line up is made up of strong leaders, skilful skaters, youth and experience not to mention the goal scoring abilities of Slovakian imports Martin Cingel and Juraj Senko but the team have surprisingly been unable to execute victories over most of the sides they have confronted this season. Despite this, racking up goals has certainly not been an issue for the Dumfries outfit. Thus far, Solway have scored twenty six goals, the same amount as Sheffield Spartans who currently sit in third place, but the Sharks have struggled to hold onto the early leads they have gained, also finding it difficult to come back from a deficit in the latter stages of the game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As a result, Blackburn will feel the more confident of the two sides as they look to topple Whitley Warriors from pole position and, with former Shark Richard Bentham, Canadian import RJ Berra and experienced forward Adam Brittle exhibiting impressive performances in recent weeks, Solway will have to be at their very best to beat the Hawks this season, just as other NIHL teams will also have to surpass the quality of Daniel MacKriel’s squad this season. Solway will search for a win in the hope that they can go above Solihull Barons who play the Senators on the same evening but a game in hand may eventually give the West Midlands team the edge over the Sharks in the league standings, particularly as that game will be against bottom-placed Senators. Should Solway take nothing away from this fixture, they will be faced with the bleak prospect of enduring a second consecutive encounter with the Hawks in their own rink on Saturday 17^th October so Grubb will urge his side to prove a point on Sunday and what better way to do it than against last season’s league champions.

For fans hoping to catch a game over the weekend, Billingham face off against the Senators at 4:30pm at Ice Sheffield on Saturday 10^th October whilst Solway Sharks journey to Blackburn for a 5:45pm face off on Sunday evening as they prepare to take on the Hawks.