Match Preview: Dragons v Stars 150123
BILLINGHAM STARS return to National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division 1 action this evening with a first trip over to North Wales in a number of years to face Deeside Dragons.
Returning to the League after an enforced absence due to their Queensferry rink being used as part of the effort to tackle COVID-19, the Dragons were made to wait that little bit longer for a long-awaited homecoming when the opening of the rink was delayed until last month. Effectively now playing ‘catch up’ for the season, Deeside currently sit in seventh place on nine points, but having played only 11 games. Their useful-looking squad will look to climb the table as quickly as possible, however their results have been inconsistent - Stars fans will be more than aware that they are capable of pushing any team for 60 minutes after the dramatic overtime game at the Forum before Christmas, but last night’s 10-1 mauling at the hands of League leaders Solway Sharks show that the Dragons have a little way to go yet.
Billingham come into today’s game on a high, a derby win that will live long in the memory last Sunday booking the Stars a Moralee Cup final berth where they will play either Solway or Widnes Wild. A result that was a long time coming for the Forum faithful, who have had to endure nearly four years of derby misery, finally getting one over their local rivals is another ‘monkey off the back’ and shows how the side has progressed. It is important that the side do not become complacent in the wake of such an important win and they will need to be on their game to get a result this evening. The Stars remain without Patriks Grigors and Shaun Galloway for today’s game, although Grigors at least should return next week as he serves the last of his six-game suspension.
Weekend fixtures:
NIHL(N)1:
Solway Sharks 10 Deeside Dragons 1
Sheffield Scimitars 2 Solihull Barons 9 .
Whitley Warriors v Sheffield Scimitars, Sunday 5pm
Deeside Dragons v Billingham Stars, Sunday 5.15pm
Widnes Wild v Blackburn Hawks, Sunday 5.30pm
Solihull Barons v Nottingham Lions - cancelled