NIHL North Cup Special Report

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL North Cup Special Report

Saturday 2nd April 2016

Blackburn Hawks vs. Billingham Stars

Solway Sharks vs. Widnes Wild

Sunday 3rd April 2016

Widnes Wild vs. Billingham Stars

Now that NIHL league action is at an end, all that remains before the playoffs are some last cup fixtures and, whilst Solway Sharks encounter Widnes Wild on Saturday, the winner of the cup will likely be decided at Blackburn Ice Arena on the same evening. Here, the Lancashire outfit are set to host Billingham Stars who sit three points behind them with a game in hand. Should the Stars win, the Teesiders will have nine points and the opportunity to seal the silverware in a fixture against Widnes Wild on Sunday. However, victory for Daniel MacKriel’s side would confirm that Blackburn win the North Cup with six wins out of a possible six.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

This clash is made all the more interesting after last weekend’s league fixture between the two sides at The Forum ended in a post-buzzer brawl following a hit from Hawks’ forward Adam Brittle on Stars’ defenceman Ben Davison. Both benches cleared in response to this incident and it was not long before several scuffles broke out, both teams lucky to leave the ice without incurring further punishment from two man system David Farren and Anthony Boynton. If this clash is anything to go by however, this weekend’s fixture is likely to be an intense one as Billingham aim to achieve silverware, having failed to make the playoffs. Speaking ahead of this fixture, Star Chris Sykes told NIHL Northern Trio: “Saturday is a massive game for us. A win on Saturday will put us in pole position to win the cup on Sunday away in Widnes. Saturday is round three of three. In the last three weeks we’ve played the Hawks, we’re getting closer to beating them every time we play. Hoping everything goes right on Saturday, we can clinch a victory in their rink and go on to win the cup on Sunday!”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

For those fans hoping to catch a game over the weekend, Blackburn Hawks host Billingham Stars from 5:45pm at Blackburn Ice Arena on Saturday, whilst Solway Sharks faceoff at 7:00pm at the Dumfries Ice Bowl against Widnes Wild on the same day. On Sunday, Billingham Stars will then travel to Widnes where they take on Scott McKenzie’s team from 5:30pm, hoping they have done all they can to take hold of the silverware. 

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