NIHL North News

NIHL North Bulletin

Just missing out on fourth place and a much-coveted playoff spot last season, Billingham Stars have confirmed that Director of Coaching Terry Ward will return for the club’s 2016-17 campaign alongside player-assistant coaches Michael Bowman and Richie Thornton. Whilst Ward will oversee the organisation of the Stars from the bench, forward Bowman and defenceman Thornton will respectively take responsibility for the coaching of Billingham’s offence and defence.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, Solway Sharks have announced the return of spectacular Slovakian defenceman Juraj Senko. Taking on the role of alternate captain last season, Senko provided several offensive opportunities for the Sharks who struggled in the early stages of their campaign before battling back to claim a playoff place. Scoring at Ice Sheffield against league champions Blackburn Hawks, Senko will surely prove to be an invaluable source of skill once more when Solway head onto the ice in September.    

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Further to this, there is a new addition to the Sharks’ roster in the form of two-way player Ben Edmonds who will take to the ice with both Dundee Stars and the Dumfries outfit next season. Breaking through the ranks of Dundee’s junior setup, Edmonds iced on twelve occasions in the Elite League last season, picking up two goals and an assist, but the junior featured more so in the Stars’ Under 20s side, collecting an impressive forty five points.

Commenting on these latest additions to Solway’s roster, Martin Grubb noted: “We are delighted to be able to bring Juraj back as he is one of the league’s best players. He is happy in Dumfries and he wanted to come back and to get the Sharks challenging and winning trophies, and you need that hunger in your team. He’s an impact player who will again be vital to the team and he makes everyone around him better so it was an easy decision to bring him back. Ben is a young player with huge potential and the deal with Dundee Stars is one that is good for us all. He is skilled and can score goals and will do well here. We will help him to get the game time he needs along with practices at Dundee. I would like to thank Marc [LeFebvre] and Dundee Stars for allowing this to happen. We all look forward to helping Ben develop and welcome him to the team.”

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