NIHL North News

NIHL North Bulletin

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Continuing with the string of signing news recently released from clubs in the NIHL’s Moralee Conference, Billingham Stars have announced that defenceman Ben Davison will be joining the Teesside outfit for a sixth season. Featuring in all thirty two league fixtures on the Stars’ blue line in his last term, Davison is perhaps one of the outfit’s most consistent players, occasionally picking up points along the way. Starting out with the Billingham Bombers Under 16s team in 2004, Davison progressed through the club’s junior ranks before switching to Whitley Bay where he featured in ten games for Whitley Braves in 2009, as well as making five appearances with the Warriors. Now that September is fast approaching, Davison will look forward to making an impact in the Stars’ line up, with his consistency likely to play a big part once again.

Looking ahead to his next campaign on Teesside, Davison noted: “I feel good about the upcoming season, keen to get back to policing the Stars’ blue line and setting off where I ended last season, playing a lot of minutes and shutting down key players of the opposition. As of now, I would like to see us competing for every trophy we can win next season but we will have to see how other teams recruit this summer. I believe with the squad we had last year and a bit more consistency, we are beyond capable of doing so. However, I think some more depth in the squad would be a big bonus. It would be great to see some new faces in a Billingham shirt who can fit in with the boys and bring something to the games week in, week out.”

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Further to this, netminder James Flavell has also signed for the Stars ahead of his tenth spell with the Teesside club. As Billingham’s first choice netminder, Flavell played in twenty seven of the Stars’ thirty two fixtures to contribute a save percentage of 92.6% and, having played for Sheffield Steeldogs during his 2012-13 campaign, the star shot stopper is able to draw upon EPL experience when confronted with the division’s most influential players. One of the NIHL’s best netminders, Flavell has become a key figure in the Stars’ line up and will remain at the club for at least another season in the hope that he can work with his team mates to bring league and playoff silverware back to Teesside.

Meanwhile, former Sutton Sting forward Simon Butterworth has been named as Head Coach of the Yorkshire-based team following Matt Darlow’s switch to Blackburn Hawks. Butterworth makes his return to the outfit in this coaching role having previously played four consecutive seasons for the Sting between 2010 and 2014. Recently taking time away from the sport, Butterworth accepts this new challenge with a view to build on the seventh place finish Sutton achieved in their previous campaign; the side capable of so much more.

Solihull Barons' new logo

In other news, Solihull Barons’ player-coach and Director of Hockey Perry Doyle has revealed that trio Tomas Janak, Josh Bruce and Joe Henry will play for the club again next season. Accumulating one hundred and thirty seven points collectively in their previous term for the Barons, Janak, Bruce and Henry certainly demonstrated their skill to contend with some of the most established defences in Division One and will surely look to do so again as their next campaign approaches. 

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