WEEKEND
PREVIEW
NIHL
NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE
Saturday
17th December 2016
Sutton Sting vs. Whitley Warriors
Sunday
18th December 2016
Whitley Warriors vs. The Dragons
Billingham Stars vs. Sutton Sting
As Solway Sharks break for the Christmas period
earlier than their competition in the Moralee Conference, David Longstaff’s Whitley Warriors face a tricky double header this weekend whilst title
contenders Billingham Stars are set to host Sutton Sting for what will be their
last home fixture of 2016.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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First to take to
the ice, Whitley Warriors will make the trip to Ice Sheffield for
an encounter with Simon Butterworth’s resilient Sutton Sting on Saturday afternoon. With both teams
now on eleven points following Whitley’s recent points deduction, there is
little to separate the two teams in the league standings, with the Warriors
just out in front due to better form; Longstaff’s line-up have tallied six
wins, six losses and a draw from thirteen games, whereas the Sting have taken five
wins, eight defeats and one draw from fourteen games by comparison. Though
making this trip for the first time this season, the Warriors have already
taken Sutton on twice at Hillheads, recording 4-2 victories on both occasions.
Typically low scoring games, these fixtures have certainly been difficult
ones for Whitley to deal with this campaign, particularly as the Sting’s
tight knit defence and exceptional netminding never fail to pose
a threat to the success of their opposition. Despite Sutton’s efforts, the
Warriors’ persistent offence has prevailed in their last two
meetings, with long-serving forward Callum Watson grabbing four goals against the side whilst team mates Lawson Glasby, Harry Harley, Jordan
Barnes and DJ Good have also collected a goal each when faced with Butterworth’s team this
season. Hoping to repeat their recent success against Butterworth’s team, the
Warriors must confront the Sting’s combined
youth and experience, with Sutton likely to ice talented youngsters Joe Colton and
Charlie Thompson alongside knowledgeable on-ice leaders James
Spurr, Ryan Johnson and James Goodman. Just how the points will be shared on
Saturday is anyone’s guess as the two teams anticipate another close contest which could see the Sting move into fourth place should they claim at least a
draw, meaning victory for the Warriors is essential if they are to cling to their present position. Speaking to NIHL Northern Trio, Warrior DJ Good shared: “I’m looking forward to the weekend. With no game last
weekend, everyone is fresh and looking to get back into things. We trained well
last night and will do the same tonight and hopefully get the points this weekend.”
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Travelling back to Hillheads after this game,
Longstaff’s men will then host Scott McKenzie’s Dragons as the Welsh outfit
make the trip to Whitley Bay Ice Rink for the first time this season, having already suffered an 11-4 home defeat to the Hillheads outfit last month. Working hard
to build up some good form, the Dragons go into this game on the back of two
consecutive defeats to league leaders Solway Sharks and title contenders
Billingham Stars. Though suffering some heavy losses this campaign, McKenzie’s side have also shown their ability to contend with their opposition in the
Moralee Conference. Defeating Telford Tigers at home and on the road, recording
a 6-3 win against Solihull Barons and claiming a 9-4 victory over Blackburn
Hawks are just some of the side’s achievements this season. It is due to the
Dragons’ goal scoring ability that the Warriors will need to make a snappy
start on Sunday to ensure that they are not caught out by their visitors as the game progresses.
However, the Warriors have a strong squad and will no doubt aim to show that their fortitude is unshakeable in
the wake of recent adversities whilst forward Shaun Kippin will personally hope to
snatch two points from his former club, having already scored a hat trick
against the side this season. As with the Sting, there is little separating the
Warriors from the Dragons in the league table at present and a victory could
potentially see McKenzie’s outfit displace Whitley from their current league
position should Saturday’s results also go in their favour. Considering Whitley’s double header, Warrior Shaun Kippin noted: “We are
expecting two tough games this weekend. After the two point deduction, we are
playing the two teams below us now and they are right behind us. Sutton is a
tough place to go and get a result and the Dragons have been a real surprise
this season, getting some good results against top teams.”
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Also playing on Sunday, Billingham Stars are
set to ice against Sutton Sting as Simon Butterworth’s men pay a visit to The
Forum for their last game of 2016. Encountering the side once already this
season, the Stars were disappointed to lose out to the Sheffield-based outfit
on the road last month, particularly as the game ended in a narrow 4-3 defeat for
the Teessiders who were unable to make the comeback they were hoping for following Lloyd Gibson’s first period hat trick. Losing out twice to the
Sting last season, Head Coach Terry Ward and his men will be hoping that their defeat against Sutton in November was merely a slip in form, the Stars having
won four consecutive games prior to this fixture before going on to collect
maximum points in all competitions since this loss. Though forwards Michael
Elder and Swedish import Dennis Boström were both on the score
sheet for Billingham in their previous encounter with the Sting, Ward will be
hoping for more from his team this weekend, especially as the Stars have a
hardworking, skilled and experienced offence who are more than capable of testing
Sutton’s netminders at the very least, whether the side are faced with first
choice shot stopper Dmitri Zimozdra or back up, Zack Brown. Whilst Butterworth
and his men will give their all for maximum points in the hope that they can pile the pressure onto Whitley Warriors and The Dragons, both of whom are in
close proximity to the Sting in the league standings at present, Billingham
will stop at nothing to claim victory, this game providing the perfect
opportunity to further close the gap between themselves and title rivals Solway
Sharks who do not have a fixture this weekend. Whether or not the Stars can
narrow the gap to six points at the top of the table remains to be seen though
as the home side face quite the challenge against sturdy Sutton Sting. Looking forward to playing against his former club
once again, Star Chris Sykes told NIHL Northern Trio:
For those hoping to attend a game this weekend,
Sutton Sting host Whitley Warriors from 2:00pm at Ice Sheffield on Saturday.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, David Longstaff’s men clash with The Dragons on home ice
from 5:00pm whilst Billingham Stars encounter the Sting from 6:30pm at The
Forum. Can’t make it to a game? Fear not! Please find listening details for
NIHL Radio below.
NIHL
Radio Listings
Saturday
17th December
5:45pm
on NIHL Radio 1
Blackburn
Hawks vs. The Dragons
Sunday
18thDecember
5:00pm
on NIHL Radio 1
Whitley
Warriors vs. The Dragons
6:30pm
on NIHL Radio 2
Billingham
Stars vs. Sutton Sting
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