NIHL North News

NIHL North Bulletin

With several other NIHL North clubs having made summer signings, it was only a matter of time before player-coach David Longstaff and Head Coach Dave Holland released news of Whitley’s 2016-17 line up and first to make the roster is none other than returning Warrior and fan favourite, Andre Payette. Lengthy spells in both the Elite League and EPL mean that Canadian-born Payette is a highly experienced player with invaluable leadership skills and extensive knowledge of the British game. Moving away from his role as a forward last campaign, Payette iced on Whitley’s blue line, tallying six goals, ten assists and one hundred and eight penalty minutes which saw the defenceman serve a three match ban before the final game of the season. Renowned for his physical approach to the sport, Payette has also proved more than a match for some of the NIHL’s toughest players, including Solihull Barons’ player-coach Perry Doyle and Hawks’ ‘D’ man Reece Cairney-Witter. Already an asset to one of the NIHL’s most established teams, Payette’s involvement in Whitley Bay Ice Rink’s Pro Edge Hockey Schools and his commercial organisation of the club mean that the blue liner’s work is instrumental to the development of Whitley Warriors and ice hockey in the North East.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, joining the roster of Billingham Stars alongside forward Chris Sykes, and coaching duo Michael Bowman and Richie Thornton, defenceman Callum Read makes the progression from the Teesside outfit’s under 20s team to play senior ice hockey in the Moralee Conference next season. Working his way through the junior ranks at Whitley Bay, Read made the switch to Billingham last season after a year away from the sport, scoring on three occasions and tallying nine assists whilst icing on the blue line. Also claiming the award for Best Defensive Player at the Under 20s presentation night, it is clear that Read will be a welcome addition to Billingham’s squad as the team look to challenge for the NIHL North league title in their upcoming campaign.

In other news, former Hawk Daniel MacKriel has been named Head Coach of Telford’s NIHL outfit as he makes his return after five years away from his hometown club and former Head Coach Jason Parry will now take on the role of Assistant Coach. Whilst Parry has been with the Tigers from 2014, having also coached the Titans in their 2008-09 campaign, MacKriel started out with Telford in the mid-nineties and returned to play for the Shropshire’s EPL side in 2002 following spells with Blackburn Hawks and Solihull Barons. MacKriel then went on to make his return to Blackburn where he progressed from the role of alternate captain to player-coach, bringing the Hawks much success in recent seasons. It is now hoped that MacKriel and Parry will work together for the upcoming 2016-17 campaign to develop and enhance the quality exhibited by the Tigers in the Moralee Conference following their promotion in 2015. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Further to this, Blackburn Hawks announced the signing of young forward Philip Mulcahy and defenceman Reece Cairney-Witter. Whilst Mulcahy enjoyed his first taste of senior ice hockey with the Tigers last season, grabbing nine goals and eights assists, Cairney-Witter left Bradford Bulldogs for the Hawks in December and, with much the same temperament as Whitley Warrior Andre Payette, it will be the ‘D’ man’s physical presence on the ice that Hawks’ fans will be looking forward to most. As Head Coach Matt Darlow continues to build his squad in preparation for next season, Blackburn now have five forwards, four defencemen and a netminder to their name, with more announcements expected soon.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

For the latest signing news, keep an eye out for more NIHL North News Bulletins and for more photos from IceHockeyMedia, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.