NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 24th October 2015

Solway Sharks vs. Whitley Warriors

Sunday 25th October 2015

Whitley Warriors vs. Billingham Stars

If nothing else, this weekend promises to be one of high-intensity ice hockey as our Northern Trio face off against each other, Whitley Warriors travelling to the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday to take on the Solway Sharks before hosting the first Tyne Tees Derby of the season at Hillheads on Sunday.

Currently second in the NIHL table, but just three points ahead of the Spartans, Whitley will look to add another victory to their impressive tally over the weekend and, no doubt, player/coach David Longstaff will expect a repeat performance of Warriors’ opening game defeat over the Sharks which ended 7-4 in his side’s favour.

So far this season, Whitley have won six games and drawn one; only league leaders Blackburn Hawks, who have yet to lose a single point, have gone one better. In theory, Solway should have their work cut out on Saturday night, even with a home advantage, as they have yet to pick up points against a side other than the suffering Sheffield Senators who are struggling with their Division One status, having been promoted from the Laidler Conference last season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Yet, Whitley Warriors should be far from complacent. Solway’s coach Martin Grubb aims to generate momentum through a good run of results which will allow his team to improve their current league standings. Last weekend saw the Dumfries outfit boosted from eighth place to seventh and, though Sutton have a game in hand, one win could see Solway challenge the sides above them, as opposed to casting furtive glances over their shoulder. This weekend Whitley will likely be without Alex Lawson who picked up a knee injury against Telford Tigers back in September, Craig Johnson who has missed out on several senior games due to soft tissue damage in his hand and, of course, Dean Holland who is continuing to recover from injuries sustained in Whitley’s preseason game against Kirkcaldy Kestrels. Despite these absentees, the Warriors have battled well thus far, presenting themselves in a more professional capacity on the ice and maintaining a winning mentality from the first face off to the final whistle. The addition of Longstaff and home alternate captain Andre Payette has made a great impact, their leadership and guidance clearly visible in a Whitley side who were close to the bottom of the league table this time last season.

Strangely, Solway have found themselves to be that side this season, unable to accumulate enough points to contend with the strong competition now residing in the NIHL North Division One Moralee Conference. Whilst the Sharks will hunt down two points to raise themselves from their current slump, Whitley will target victory if they are to stand any chance of narrowing the gap between themselves and Blackburn Hawks who continue to demolish their opposition, last week defeating Solway with just two lines. Whatever the outcome, both coaches will find a loss difficult to take, particularly as the two clubs have a history of close rivalry.

Also taking place this weekend is the hotly awaited Tyne Tees Derby as Terry Ward’s Billingham Stars visit Hillheads for the first time this season. Always a fiery affair with no shortage of talking points, the Stars travel to Whitley with a list of historic wins at the rink under their belt. But, with Whitley currently above Billingham in the league table, and seven points separating the sides, the Stars will have to bounce back from two consecutive zero points weekends in order to defeat the Warriors. However, should the Stars snatch two points from the hockey foe they love to hate most, their previous losses will be cast aside as the bragging rights of this contest are worth so much more.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Often attracting a bumper crowd, league placement will be temporarily forgotten as the sides go head to head. In the past, Billingham have often had the upper hand in such games and, though both sides always give their all, it is usually the Stars who leave with the points. Consequently, Whitley must not be haunted by the ghosts of previous Derby Day defeats to stand any chance of taking revenge on their chief adversary in the NIHL.

Billingham’s top point scorer Dennis Boström will have his first taste of the event on Sunday, having never before experienced an NIHL contest of this kind and will face the might of Whitley signing Payette who, making his return after a dismissal from Whitley’s fixture against Sutton Sting on Sunday, will surely be prepared for the hard-hitting, high energy hockey match ahead.

A Derby Day triumph for either side will vastly enhance confidence and provide the victorious team with energy and momentum as they prepare to tackle up and coming competition in the next few weeks. One thing is for sure though: whatever happens in this pivotal clash will be long-remembered by both sets of fans. Whilst a win might mean elation, defeat would be absolute devastation and either outcome could severely impact on the fixtures which are to follow this fiery occasion.

If you do not want to miss our Northern Trio in action over the weekend, Solway Sharks host Whitley Warriors on Saturday from 7:00pm at the Dumfries Ice Bowl before Whitley Warriors invite Billingham Stars for that all-important 5:00pm face off at Whitley Bay Ice Rink on Sunday.

For more photographs from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.