NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 (MORALEE)

Saturday 20th October 2018

Solway Sharks vs. Billingham Stars

Sunday 21st October 2018

Nottingham Lions vs. Whitley Warriors

Fixture:    Solway Sharks  vs. Billingham Stars

Date:        20^th October 2018

Venue:      Dumfries Ice Bowl

Faceoff:  7:00 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Preparing to host Billingham Stars at the Dumfries Ice Bowl following last weekend’s 5-3 road win against the Teessiders, Solway Sharks will look to utilise momentum gained in their most recent victory to continue their progression in the league. Having so far lost twice to the Stars in September’s cup fixtures, Solway are more than aware of the threat that Billingham pose but, having already taken steps to avenge these defeats, Martin Grubb’s men will seek further retribution in front of their home crowd on Saturday evening. Their first result of October a 5-3 cup win against Blackburn Hawks, Solway then achieved a hard-fought 6-3 road victory over Nottingham Lions before finding themselves on the wrong end of the same score line against Sutton Sting. As such, the Sharks are placed second with ten points from seven games, just two points behind current league leaders Hull Pirates who do not play their next league fixture until 4^th November. This presents Solway with the chance to go top of the table if they can keep pace with close contenders Sheffield Steeldogs who, level on points with the Sharks, have two games in hand. Billingham, by comparison, find themselves in seventh place with six points from six games, having won just one game this month. Defeating Nottingham Lions by eight goals to four on home ice, the Stars have since suffered three consecutive losses, enduring cup defeats to former EPL outfits Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers before missing out on two points to Solway last Sunday. In consequence, the Stars will be just as eager to improve on recent form as Solway will be to build on their previous league win.

In spite of the Stars’ loss to Solway last Sunday, young forward Ethan Hehir was able to shine against the Sharks, bagging himself 2 assists to take his tally to 4 points in 5 league games. Similarly, Billingham’s current top points scorer Chris Sykes demonstrated his offensive ability with a goal and an assist whilst Lithuanian defenceman Edgar Protčenko managed the same feat in his effort to get his team back on track in what was a difficult contest. Hoping to improve on last weekend’s performance, the Stars will set out to make the most of their goal scoring prowess but Solway will ensure that Billingham will not go unchallenged as Sharks Rick Bentham, Scott Henderson and Steven Moore will look to impress once again, the trio having collectively contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in their most recent encounter with the Stars. Likewise, young forward Lewis Houston also made a positive impact, assisting both Captain Struan Tonnar and Bentham to facilitate his team’s victory. With little separating the close rivals of late, this game promises to be another highly competitive clash.

Whilst a win for Solway would ensure that they at least go level on points with league leaders Hull Pirates, the Stars require two points to go ahead of Sutton Sting. As such, neither team will want to miss out on the chance to advance in the NIHL North standings with such fine margins between league positions at present.

Fixture:    Nottingham Lions vs. Whitley Warriors

Date:        21^st October 2018

Venue:     National Ice Centre

Faceoff:  5:30 pm

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing off against Nottingham Lions on Sunday evening, Whitley Warriors will prepare for a testing fixture against Matt Bradbury’s men with the knowledge that their visitors will more than put up a fight in their quest for the points. Making the step up to NIHL North’s Division One last season, the Lions proved difficult competition for many teams, including David Longstaff’s line-up who were one of three outfits to concede defeat to the side. Nottingham’s final league position in March was certainly not reflective of the Lions’ determination and perseverance and, as such, Whitley will be more than aware of the difficulties of the clash awaiting them. Winning three of four games against Nottingham last season, the Warriors accomplished a 4-1 win over the side in September which was backed up with a 5-2 road victory one month later. Events took an unexpected turn however, when the Lions troubled Whitley at Hillheads last November, the side battling back through Alternate Captain Marc Levers and forward Joseph Aston after the Warriors had taken the lead through Canadian forward Philip Edgar in the fourth minute of play. Disappointed to lose both points to the newly promoted outfit, the Warriors then made amends for their performance with a more convincing 5-0 victory against Nottingham in February. Consequently, the Warriors’ 3-2 loss against the Lions will serve as an important reminder as to the challenges that their opposition will pose ahead of this encounter as they set out in search of another two points. 

Besides recruiting several key players this summer, including Czech forward Jakub Klima, netminder Ashley Smith and former Hawk Thomas Parkinson, the Lions also secured the re-signing of influential top points scorer Ruskin Hughes and fellow forward Cameron Pywell who, together, have accomplished 11 goals and 8 assists in 9 league games to date. Though the Lions have yet to achieve a point so far this season, Bradbury’s side will surely feel that they have a chance of contending for their first league points in front of their home crowd on Sunday, having recorded far narrower defeats to Billingham Stars and Solway Sharks in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the Warriors will seek a win to build on their latest road performances which have seen Whitley take a point from Solihull Barons in a 4-3 overtime loss before recording a 4-1 victory over Sutton Sting and a 4-2 win over Steven Duncombe’s Blackburn Hawks. These their only points of the season so far, the Warriors cannot afford to allow the Lions to gain the upper hand in this game if they are to progress this season.

Whilst a win would see the Warriors distance themselves from ninth-placed Blackburn Hawks who do not have a league fixture this weekend, Nottingham will search for two points in their efforts to move away from the foot of the league table in the coming weeks. Likely to be another hard-fought battle between two tough teams, this game will no doubt prove to be another interesting match-up, not least because last season’s unpredictable encounters between these outfits showed that tenacity and a strong work ethic can get results, both of which these teams continue to exhibit in spite of their current league positions.

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