PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 25
BILLINGHAM STARS continue their quest for back-to-back National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 Championships with a home and home series with Nottingham Lions this weekend.
It is a different Nottingham Lions that visit the Forum later today before hosting the Stars at the National Ice Centre in a late face off tomorrow evening. The side has improved as the season has gone on and the results have been coming, as last Sunday’s 3-8 win on the road at Deeside Dragons illustrates. A young side committed to bringing players through the Nottingham junior system and into senior hockey, the Lions do have several older heads in the squad that bring experience and quality to the roster; none more so than Aleš Padělek who despite his 44 years is the top goalscorer and a threat that must be contained. A full bench is expected to travel today so the Lions will also have the numbers to roll with and make changes as necessary, and as such represent a dangerous opponent to get past if Billingham want those precious League points.
🔗 Nottingham Lions on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/3382/nottingham-lions
The Stars squeaked past Widnes Wild last Sunday whilst nearest challengers Blackburn Hawks tripped up at Solihull Barons, delivering a nine-point cushion going into this weekend. The tight game on Merseyside was a reminder – if one were needed – that there are no easy games in this League, and the Lions represent an extremely tough challenge. There will be roster changes and line juggling to cope with also as Billingham have several players unavailable for either one or both games over the course of the weekend, the ‘next man up’ mentality will be needed more than ever for these crucial ties.
The Stars host Nottingham Lions in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 later today, face off 5.30pm. They then travel to the National Ice Centre for the reverse fixture tomorrow evening, face off 7.20pm. Tickets for tonight’s game are priced at £14 adults, £10 concessions, £46 family [2+2].
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Nottingham Lions 🦁
🏹 Whitley Warriors 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 🆚 Deeside Dragons 🐉
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🏹 Whitley Warriors 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
⚜️ Solihull Barons 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Hull Jets ✈️
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫