NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 28th November 2015

Telford Tigers vs. Whitley Warriors

Sunday 29th November 2015

Billingham Stars vs. Whitley Warriors

Whilst Solway Sharks play host to Billingham Stars in the NIHL North Cup on Saturday, Whitley Warriors continue their 2015-16 league campaign with a lengthy trip to Telford Ice Rink where the side are set to encounter Jason Parry’s formidable Telford Tigers.

David Longstaff’s side go into this challenging away fixture with the knowledge that the Tigers have proved tricky competition for some of the most established teams in the Moralee Conference, triumphing against Billingham Stars on two occasions, defeating Solway Sharks on home ice and scoring three past netminder Daniel Brittle to threaten, though not end, the unbeaten run of league leaders Blackburn Hawks. Going into this game on the back of an 11-1 landslide victory over Sheffield Senators, the Warriors will fully expect to be confronted by a defiant Telford outfit which will set out to disconcert Whitley from the first face off.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Already this season, Whitley have been on the receiving end of the Tigers’ resilience, the Shropshire side holding the Warriors to a 3-3 draw on home ice before making the journey to Hillheads. Having made the trip to Whitley Bay, Parry’s side conceded in the last three minutes of a closely contested clash to lose 4-3, the Warriors showing a slight edge over their visitors on the evening.

Besides good form, both teams have proficient rosters this season. Player-coach Longstaff has accumulated twenty one assists for the Warriors to date whilst Callum Watson, Callum Queenan and Jamie Tinsley standout as the side’s consistent goal scorers and Whitley’s youngsters continue to shine, Kyle Hindmarsh-Ross collecting a Man of the Match award for his club just last week. Likewise, the Tigers also have several skilled players in their ranks, Slovakian import Karol Jets becoming one of the top four NIHL points scorers, his stats comprising twelve goals and seventeen assists. Karol’s expertise, combined with that of forward James Smith, alternate captain Callum Bowley and the EPL-experienced Adam Taylor, makes for a fearsome Tigers line up designed to simultaneously frustrate and impress the opposition.

Taking this into account, it would seem that this fixture will be an interesting one; Telford will certainly feel the need to avenge their narrow away defeat to Whitley on home ice whilst the Warriors will look to gather momentum before heading north to contend with fierce league rivals, Billingham Stars. With third placed Telford trailing the Warriors by just three points, both teams with be vying for a win, the Tigers aiming to leapfrog Whitley on Sunday evening whilst Longstaff’s line up look to create a greater gap between themselves and the newly promoted side.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Following this fixture, the Warriors travel north to The Forum where Billingham Stars will play host to their league rivals for the first time this season in the highly anticipated derby day confrontation. Last weekend, Billingham defeated Dumfries outfit Solway Sharks to move into sixth place with thirteen points, and the Stars will look to add two more to their current tally with a win over Whitley Warriors. Yet, whilst league placement continues to be of importance to both sides, success in such derby games is ultimately measured in bragging rights; the context of league tables and season form displaced by the demand to be the best team on the night.

Their last encounter ending in a 4-4 draw, the two fiercely passionate sides will look to compete to the limits of their ability in a bid to have the edge over their opposition. The Stars’ most dangerous player continues to be Swedish import Dennis Boström who, achieving his thirteenth goal of the season against the Sharks last Sunday, is a persistent threat in front of the net, his speed and skill difficult to counter. Equally adroit, forwards Chris Sykes, James Moss and player-assistant coach Michael Bowman have also proven to be particularly effective in recent games, the trio contributing to fourteen Stars’ goals in their last five games.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whilst Billingham will hope for their strongest players to be at the top of their game, the Warriors must battle on away ice in front of an unwelcoming but extraordinary Stars’ fan base to combat such an attack. When the sides faced off against each other last, it was Billingham who went ahead with just twenty six seconds on the clock, a setback which Whitley will not want to experience again. Should the Stars achieve a home win, Billingham could move into fifth position if Sheffield Spartans lose out to Sutton Sting on Saturday whereas a victory for the Warriors would allow the Hillheads outfit to stay one step ahead of Telford Tigers. Rivalries will be put to one side momentarily however, in the interval between the first and second period as both sets of fans prepare to take part in Billingham’s annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’, an event presenting local people with the opportunity to throw soft toys onto the ice which will then be donated to children who are spending the Christmas period in hospital. 

For fans hoping to attend an ice hockey game over the weekend, Whitley Warriors face off against the Tigers at Telford Ice Rink from 5:30pm on Saturday whilst Billingham Stars travel to the Dumfries Ice Bowl for an NIHL North Cup encounter with Solway Sharks at 7:00pm. This will be followed by a derby day spectacular at The Forum where Billingham Stars face off against Whitley Warriors from 6:30pm in what will be a fascinating clash whatever the outcome.

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