NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 19th March 2016

Solway Sharks vs. Telford Tigers

Sunday 20th March 2016

Blackburn Hawks vs. Solway Sharks

Billingham Stars vs. Whitley Warriors

With the top three playoff places now confirmed, a contest for the fourth and final place will continue this weekend as Solway Sharks host Telford Tigers in a pivotal double points home fixture on Saturday before a rescheduled trip to Blackburn Hawks on Sunday. Meanwhile, Whitley Warriors make the shorter journey to The Forum for one last derby game of their 2015-16 campaign in which the bragging rights will be just as vitally important as the points.

First though, Solway Sharks will face off against Jason Parry’s Telford Tigers in an encounter which will see the sides play for double points; the EIHA raising the stakes of this contest rather than rescheduling the fixture which was cancelled in December due to adverse weather conditions.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Losing seven, drawing twice and winning only once in their last ten games, the Tigers have slipped out of the playoff spots and into sixth place. Yet, with twenty six points and a double point game ahead of them, Telford could easily go level with Billingham Stars and Solway Sharks should the remaining results of the weekend go their way. Making the trip to Lancashire last Sunday to take on the Hawks, the Tigers were missing several key players which saw the side lose out by four goals to nil; the absence of usual goal scorers Karol Jets, Callum Bowley, James Smith and Adam Taylor highly noticeable within the team. In consequence, Parry will most likely prepare to travel to Dumfries with a strong squad so that his side have the best chance of taking as many points as possible from the game now that his team have just one final fixture remaining after this weekend.

By comparison, Solway Sharks currently have two games in hand on the Tigers, and one further game in hand on both Solihull Barons and Billingham Stars, meaning the side are at a distinct advantage due to the amount of points still available to them. Set to play Blackburn Hawks on Sunday, Martin Grubb’s line-up also have a second double points fixture to play against Sutton Sting on the 27^th March in what will be the side’s final league game of the season. As a result, the Sharks have ten points still to play for starting from Saturday as the team prepare to conclude a defining push for fourth position, and the side could confirm their spot this weekend as, if they win both fixtures, no other team would be able to match or better Solway’s points tally.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Last weekend, the Sharks displayed resilience and determination in a 6-4 victory over Sheffield Spartans and in a 3-3 draw against Sutton Sting, having been behind in both games. With two goals each from Daniel Abercrombie, Marc Fowley, Duncan Speirs and Steven Moore over the weekend, Grubb will be hoping for more of the same against the Tigers who continue to pose a threat to their opposition in their bid to regain their place in the NIHL’s top four. Making the most of their chances in front of goal has, on occasions, been something of a struggle for Solway this season but the Sharks will need to be quick to light the lamp on Saturday if they want to taste success, having already lost one and drawn one to the Tigers this season. Solway’s last game against the Shropshire side was a close contest which ended with the score line tied at 3-3 on the road, the Tigers claiming a last second equaliser to leave the Sharks disappointed.

Aware that this game will be quite a challenge, Grubb told NIHL Northern Trio: “Saturday is another huge game in our season as we face Telford for double points after the first meeting between the teams was cancelled. With both teams chasing that final playoff spot, we know what this game means and we know we need to play better than last weekend. We have been working hard in practice this week and will look to take that into the game to ensure we find a way to win. Jason [Parry] will have his team ready to play and will be looking for the win and we need to work harder than them and take our scoring chances to win.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Solway Sharks will then travel to Blackburn Ice Arena to take on the Hawks, with Daniel MacKriel’s team looking to confirm their league title on Sunday. Again, this clash will be a challenging one for the Sharks but victory is not an impossibility for the Dumfries outfit, Solway having defeated Blackburn at the Ice Bowl once already this season to reveal a chink in the armour of the reigning champions. Dominating at the top of the league for the most part of the season, the Hawks have suffered only three losses and two draws in twenty nine games and, whilst their unbeaten record came to an end with a 4-2 defeat to Whitley Warriors in December, Blackburn have looked largely unconquerable in their quest for their second consecutive NIHL North Division One league title. Boasting a squad of high quality players, such as Adam Brittle, Richard Bentham and Chris Arnone, who have collectively accumulated an amazing one hundred and eighty four points so far this season, the Hawks continue to balance skill with fortitude to endanger the success of their opposition. Having won their last eight games, Blackburn will be aiming to make it nine in a row as they take to the ice on Sunday filled with the confidence that they have again extended the gap between themselves and the Warriors, following Whitley’s loss to Solihull Barons last weekend.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Regardless of the result on Saturday, this battle is one that Solway will want to win to both move one step closer to securing fourth place and to ensure that they can compete with a difficult Hawks team. Considering the Sharks’ next road trip, Head Coach Grubb noted: “Sunday is a game that we know will be big for both teams, as we need the points and Blackburn can win the league and, to add to that, we may play each other in a playoff semi. We have to go into this game and stick to our game plan, and what makes us successful, and play with confidence as the Hawks will come hard and want to try and get the breathing space early to enjoy their night. We know if we play to our capabilities, then we can go there and win and try and make them wait a little longer to wrap up the league.”

  

Also icing on Sunday are Billingham Stars who will welcome David Longstaff’s Whitley Warriors to The Forum for one last derby day fixture, the Teesiders still fighting for two points in a bid to keep their playoff hopes alive. With several Warriors missing last Sunday’s road trip to Solihull for various reasons, including injury, suspension, work and family commitments, it is hoped that some of these players can make a return to the squad ahead of this encounter with both sides battling it out for the bragging rights once again. Having qualified for the playoffs, Whitley Warriors play solely for pride and will look to bounce back from last weekend’s 6-4 defeat to Solihull Barons with a win over the Stars.

So far this season, Whitley Warriors have taken five points from a possible six against Billingham Stars, starting with a 4-4 draw on home ice back in October before a narrow 2-1 away victory at the end of November and a more recent 3-1 win at Hillheads. Whilst the Warriors have undoubtedly had the upper hand in previous contests with the Stars this season, Billingham will put up a fight for the points as they look to finish their season in the best possible league position. Interestingly, Stars’ Swedish import, Dennis Boström is the only player to score in all three games between the two sides this season, making it a clean sweep for the skilful forward should he print his name on the score sheet this weekend.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As ever, this highly enthralling tie will attract the gaze of a large crowd who watch on with anticipation of another heated but memorable clash between the fierce rivals in the North East. Considering the rivalry between the two teams, Warriors’ player-coach David Longstaff told NIHL Northern Trio: “It’s a really important game for Billingham trying to make the playoffs, so we’re expecting a tough game. We’ll be trying some stuff to see if we can take any of it into the playoffs as we’ve already qualified.” 

Meanwhile, Star Chris Sykes shared his views, noting: “This weekend is a massive, massive part of our season; the Tyne-Tees derby. Well, it doesn’t get much bigger than that, does it? We want revenge for losing at their barn and we want to finish our season on a high. Two points is still a must for us, chasing them playoff spots, so we will come prepared for war. What a game it’s going to be!”

For those fans hoping to catch a game this weekend, Solway Sharks faceoff at 7:00pm against Telford Tigers at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday before a road trip to Blackburn Ice Arena where Grubb’s men will take on the Hawks from 5:45pm. Meanwhile, Billingham Stars and Whitley Warriors will go head to head from 6:30pm at The Forum in what should be a fantastic final derby game of the season. The Stars are also collecting for Billingham Foodbank on Sunday and the club have asked fans to donate non-perishable food items to help with this good cause.

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