Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 12th September 2015

Solway Sharks vs. Billingham Stars

Sunday 13th September 2015

Solihull Barons vs. Whitley Warriors

This weekend’s NIHL action is set to feature one of the most highly anticipated games of the season as Solway Sharks prepare to play host to regional rivals Billingham Stars on Saturday. In recent years, both sides have iced strong teams to win league titles and playoff trophies, only last season contending for the top league place and the NIHL title.

But, with neither winning the opening game of their 2015-16 campaign, this fixture has become far more momentous than anyone could have predicted it would be only two games into the season. Should Solway win, Martin Grubb’s team will proceed with confidence, having achieved their first home win and put two points on the board. Likewise, if the Stars come out on top, they will gain a mental boost, knowing that their goal scorers have managed to strike on the road at a difficult venue.

But one thing is certain. Whichever team loses, they do so knowing that they have lost another two points in a highly competitive league which may prove crucial in the latter stages of the season.

So far this week, Sharks have revealed their aim to move forward from their away loss at Hillheads through the signing of experienced netminder Andrew Jaszczyk. This suggests that coach Grubb recognises a need to improve in this area and has immediately sought a solution in the form of a netminder who has played in goal across a range of leagues, including the ENL, the EPL and the Elite League. The Sharks, who play in front of a home crowd and have already managed to get key players onto the score sheet, must therefore feel that they have some advantage over the Stars now that their netminding woes have been dealt with.

Alternatively, Ward will be conscious that his Stars have yet to score and he must feel that this weekend is their perfect opportunity to show that they are capable of causing damage in front of goal. With import Dennis Boström yet to impress, the loyal but impatient Stars fans will be expecting him to deliver against Solway, particularly as their opposition’s new addition Martin Cingel excelled against Whitley, accomplishing two goals and two assists, despite his team’s overall loss.

Just who will win, will be revealed in the sixty minute showdown but, even though there are other exciting pairings facing off against each other over the weekend, it is likely that most eyes will be straying to the score line at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.

Another score line that must be watched closely is that of Solihull Barons and Whitley Warriors. Always an unpredictable game, with penalty minutes served by both sides, it is usually unclear which team will triumph over their opposition until the final buzzer sounds.

In Whitley’s last meeting with the Baron’s in February 2012, the Warriors scored four final period goals to win the game 8-4, despite being surprisingly beleaguered by their visitors. As is often the case with the Barons, they are certainly no pushover and will most definitely aim to hunt down two points from every contest. The Barons have once again enlisted the services of Captain Rob Ely, and imports Tomas Janak and Niklas Ottoson who accumulated an impressive 52 goals, 88 assists and 140 points between them in the NIHL Laidler Conference last season.

A win for the Barons in front of their home crowd would give their side a good footing in the league table as they look to cement their place in the Moralee Conference. Solihull will also journey to Hillheads on the 20^th September so a victory would boost the Barons’ confidence ahead of their away encounter to a club long-established in the NIHL North 1.

In contrast, Whitley will look to replicate last weekend’s success, with new away alternate captains Joe Stamp and Dan Pye taking to their new leadership roles for the first time this campaign. An away win for the Warriors would mean that they go into their third fixture against Telford Tigers next Saturday with maximum points from their first two games, the best possible start for David Longstaff’s side.

The rotation of three lines certainly worked against Solway Sharks on Sunday and, such is the depth of Whitley’s line-up, that bench coach Dave Holland managed the system effectively so that Warriors certainly did not look to be without the five players that they were missing. If Whitley can repeat this feat, they could certainly be a threat; a strong opening to their season may give them the momentum and determination they need to chase after that all-important playoff place.

Whether Solihull or Whitley take the points, no one can predict, but one thing is certain: fans are guaranteed that both teams will fight it out from the first face off until the last in what will be a fiercely entertaining NIHL clash.

For those fans hoping to make it to one of these games over the weekend, Solway and Billingham face off at 7:00pm on Saturday 12^th September at the Dumfries Ice Bowl whilst Solihull Barons host Whitley Warriors at 6:00pm on Sunday 13^th September at Hobs Moat Road. 

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