NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 (MORALEE)

Saturday 6th October 2018

Billingham Stars vs. Nottingham Lions

Sheffield Steeldogs vs. Whitley Warriors

Sunday 7th October 2018

Nottingham Lions vs. Solway Sharks

Blackburn Hawks vs. Whitley Warriors

Fixture:    Billingham Stars vs. Nottingham Lions

Date:        6^th October 2018

Venue:     The Forum

Faceoff:  6:00 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

After recording a 6-2 victory against Nottingham Lions on the road last month, Billingham Stars will prepare to host Matt Bradbury’s men on Saturday evening. In a game which saw Captain Michael Elder claim a hat trick and Alternate Captain Chris Sykes achieve a brace, Billingham will be confident that they can secure both points should they continue to demonstrate the work ethic that they have shown in most league games so far this season. That said, fresh in the minds of the Stars will be Sutton Sting’s recent 6-3 win at The Forum so the Teessiders know that they cannot afford to be complacent when they step out onto the ice this weekend. Currently sitting in eighth position with 4 points from 4 league games, Billingham require a victory to contend with their close competition which at present consists of Blackburn Hawks and Sutton Sting. Nottingham, by comparison, have yet to attain a single point from seven games and will therefore give their all in this meeting in their effort to progress from the foot of the table.

Heading out onto the ice with goal scorers Elder, Sykes and forward James Moss at their disposal besides Canadian Kevin Boyd, Billingham have many players who are capable of causing damage in front of Nottingham’s net and the Stars will set out to utilise the skill of these players to ensure the side can build on their recent hard work as the outfit continues to go from strength to strength. Similarly, Nottingham will rely on top points scorers Jakub Klima, Cameron Pywell and Ruskin Hughes when they confront Billingham on Saturday but, having suffered seven defeats to date, the Lions know that they could be in for a difficult contest if recent form is anything to go by. Encouraged by the fact that their 6-2 defeat to Billingham is the narrowest margin by which they have lost so far this campaign, Nottingham will aim to improve on recent score lines at the very least.

These games usually hard-fought due to the level of effort shown by both sides, this clash is a must-win for Nottingham if they are to build confidence in the coming weeks but Billingham will be unlikely to rest until they have bagged both points, meaning this meeting will surely be another highly competitive one whatever the final result.

Fixture:    Sheffield Steeldogs vs. Whitley Warriors

Date:        6^th October 2018

Venue:     Ice Sheffield

Faceoff:  7:30 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off against the Steeldogs at Ice Sheffield on Saturday evening, Whitley Warriors will prepare to make life difficult for last season’s league champions, knowing that a strong work ethic and a great deal of fortitude can go a long way against the former EPL outfit. In their previous outing against Sheffield, the Warriors found themselves one of just three teams who were able to defeat Ben Morgan’s men, the other two sides being Telford Tigers and Hull Pirates. Following a respectable 5-2 road defeat against the Steeldogs last November, Whitley narrowed their deficit to just two goals at Hillheads in early December. Disappointed that their diligence and determination went unrewarded in these games, the Warriors then hosted the Steeldogs in February with the resolve to make their efforts count and it was Whitley’s drive in front of goal that really made a difference as the side responded to left winger Ashley Calvert’s goal with four unanswered goals scored in the last ten minutes of this fixture. With this game largely closely contested, tensions were quick to rise between the two sides, resulting in a clash between Warriors’ experienced defenceman Sam Zajac and Sheffield’s left winger Liam Charnock. This fieriness then continued into Whitley’s 7-0 defeat to the Steeldogs one month later when, finding it difficult to contend with Sheffield on the road, the Warriors allowed their frustrations to show; Whitley’s Alternate Captain Shaun Kippin taking on Calvert in the opening period whilst long-serving Warrior Callum Watson exchanged punches with Sheffield’s forward Charlie Thompson.

With these previous encounters in mind, Saturday’s fixture has the potential to be just as unpredictable with Warriors’ left winger Ben Campbell, defenceman Sam Zajac and forward Callum Watson likely to make their presence felt in front of goal, having so far accumulated 29 points collectively. Likewise, Sheffield also have a strong roster at their disposal following the recruitment of ex-Whitley Warrior Nathan Salem and former Shark Duncan Speirs, the duo respectively achieving 52 points in 31 games with Peterborough Phantoms last season, and 36 points from 26 league games after returning to the Dumfries outfit from Edinburgh Capitals. 

As such, this will be a challenging contest for Whitley and one that the Warriors will hope to be competitive in to build on last weekend’s victory against Sutton Sting. Meanwhile, a win for Morgan’s side would see Sheffield move into second place ahead of Solihull Barons who find themselves tied on points with the Steeldogs, having played three more games than last season’s league leaders.  With both teams exhibiting a great deal of talent in their rosters, fans will hope for another entertaining encounter when the two go head-to-head on Saturday evening.

Fixture:    Nottingham Lions vs. Solway Sharks  

Date:        7^th October 2018

Venue:     National Ice Centre

Faceoff:  5:30 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Travelling to the National Ice Centre on Sunday to take on Nottingham Lions, Solway Sharks will be ready to build on their recent league success as they hunt down their fourth victory of the 2018-19 campaign. Martin Grubb’s men have taken on the Lions once already this season at the Dumfries Ice Bowl where Solway recorded a 12-2 win over Nottingham in which Sharks’ Alternate Captain Ross Murray notably notched a hat trick and an assist whilst Lions’ Stand-in Captain Paul Stanley and forward Ruskin Hughes were both on target for the visitors. This game a struggle for Nottingham, their situation was not improved any by the ejection of netminder Ashley Smith whose slashing offence against Canadian Cale Tanaka earned him five minutes plus game. As such, discipline will be key for the Lions when they take to the ice against the Sharks again on Sunday because a strong line-up will ensure Nottingham have the best chance of battling back from the difficult start to their campaign.

So far this season, Solway have managed to achieve three wins from four league games, only losing to Sheffield Steeldogs in their first game of the season, to currently sit in fifth position with six points; just one point behind Telford Tigers who have played the same amount of games. In consequence, the Sharks will be keen to utilise the momentum gained against Solihull Barons last weekend in this fixture to continue their climb of the league table. Utilising influential forward Rick Bentham, who has so far accumulated 7 goals and 6 assists during league action, and skilled left wingers Peter Gápa and Steven Moore who together have racked up 14 points in 4 league games, Solway will set out to cement another two points in their quest for a top four finish. Nottingham, meanwhile, will return from their trip to Billingham to face the Dumfries outfit and will hope to build on Saturday’s result, whatever that may be. Again, both sides require two points and will stop at nothing to achieve them but, whilst Solway will head out in search of a similar score line against the Lions, Nottingham will aim to significantly reduce the margin separating them from the Sharks.

With these games typically competitive, the Lions will set out to better their performance having impressed last season after a show of strength and character, whilst Solway will plough onwards in their efforts to displace Telford Tigers from fourth position.

Fixture:    Blackburn Hawks vs. Whitley Warriors

Date:        7^th October 2018

Venue:     Blackburn Ice Arena

Faceoff:  5:30 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Having recently lost out to Blackburn Hawks in a 5-2 defeat on home ice, Whitley Warriors will seek revenge in their quest for a road victory of their own on Sunday. After a positive start against Steven Duncombe’s men in their previous meeting with the side, the Warriors struggled to add to Callum Watson’s opening goal, conceding an equaliser late in the middle stanza before leaking two goals in quick succession in the final period. Although Watson hit back with another, Whitley could not prevent Lithuanian Danielius Nomanovas from restoring Blackburn’s two-goal lead seven seconds later which was followed up by another from Hawks’ forward Adam Barnes who sealed his hat trick in the process. As a result, the Warriors will look to show the defensive strength that they exhibited last weekend in their 4-1 victory over Sutton Sting which showed that the side have what it takes to win this season. Whilst Whitley will hope to take momentum gained from this win into this weekend’s road trips, the Hawks will be determined to bounce back from last weekend’s 8-5 loss to Solihull Barons at Blackburn Ice Arena, having so far won two of the four league fixtures they have played; their other defeat arising in their difficult season opener against Hull Pirates which ended with a respectable 5-1 score line.

As both teams boast a great deal of talent this season, this game is expected to be another competitive one in which anything is possible. Whilst Whitley will again rely on the ability of left winger Ben Campbell who has unsurprisingly dominated in offence of late, the side will also turn to blue liners Ross Connolly, Josh Maddock, Sam Zajac and Liam Smedley to support the Warriors’ creative play; the side’s defensive unit having played an important part in last weekend’s result at Ice Sheffield. Likewise, Player-Coach David Longstaff will also hope to have new Latvian import Rolands Gritāns at his disposal should the experienced defenceman arrive in time for Saturday’s fixture against Sheffield Steeldogs. On the other hand, Blackburn Hawks will hope to deploy skilled two-way player Adam Barnes, who has so far contributed 6 points in 2 league games, alongside fellow top points scorers Lee Pollitt, James Neil and James Riddoch who have collectively chipped in with 13 points in 4 league games. With three games in hand on Whitley, Blackburn find themselves one point ahead of Longstaff’s line-up at present and will therefore make the most of this opportunity to succeed against their close league rivals. Similarly, the Warriors will not want to miss their chance to bag another away win to gain further confidence ahead of next weekend’s difficult home clash against Telford Tigers.

With neither side willing to give up on the points, particularly due to the fierce rivalry between the teams, this game promises to be another engaging encounter which will either see Blackburn move ahead of Sutton Sting to claim sixth place or the Warriors push on to challenge for a higher position in the coming weeks.

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