NIHL North News

Star signing Sykes set to shine again on Teesside

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Following last week’s announcement of coaching trio Terry Ward, Michael Bowman and Richie Thornton, Billingham Stars have now confirmed that forward Chris Sykes will also make his return to the club for the 2016-17 campaign with hopes that he can assist the outfit in their quest for silverware. Though claiming victory over Blackburn Hawks to seize the NIHL North Cup in March, the Stars failed to qualify for the NIHL North Moralee Conference Playoff Weekend, narrowly missing out to rivals Solway Sharks. Consequently, a playoff place and league silverware will be two of Billingham’s chief aspirations as they look to improve on last season’s run of form in the Moralee Conference.

Finding himself Billingham’s second highest points scorer for a second consecutive campaign, Sykes accomplished twelve goals and twenty six assists in thirty two games, only beaten to the title of the team’s top points scorer by Swedish import Dennis Boström. With experience in both the EPL and the Elite League, it is clear that Sykes has a lot to offer at Billingham but it is clear that the Stars must avoid the slip in form suffered last season in order to stand a chance of contending with the league’s strongest outfits. Losing points to Solway Sharks, Sutton Sting and Telford Tigers in the latter stages of their campaign, Billingham fell short of the playoff spots and will surely seek to rectify this with a positive start in September.

Speaking to NIHL Northern Trio following the announcement of this news, Sykes noted: “Well…2016-17 season is approaching us fast and I’m back with Billingham Stars. I couldn’t be happier. I’ve settled in perfectly now after my previous two seasons with the club and, when they approached me again to remain for another year, I was happy to say yes straight away and to get myself signed up! It’s great at the Stars and such a close, tight group, we have each other’s backs through the entire season and it’s nice to be a part of. The fans make it worthwhile when they’re singing and shouting the lads’ names every weekend, it makes a difference and it’s nice to hear. Michael Bowman and Richie Thornton have been announced as the coaches again, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I like playing under the guidance and experience they bring but it’s always nice that Bomber [Bowman] takes in what I have to say, or any of the lads for that matter, and we fix the problems together. He’s a great coach and a great guy to play alongside too. So here we go; two more months to go until September and I’m already chomping at the bit to get back on the ice, to get training and to start getting back into it.”

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