PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 27
BILLINGHAM STARS return to National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 action this weekend with trips to Leeds Knights 2 and local rivals Whitley Warriors as they start a four-game stint on the road.
It’s been a debut season of consolidation for the Leeds Knights second team, and with six games left to play they are looking good for the final playoff spot. There is no doubting the talent in the side as Leeds look to build a credible pathway to the National League Knights, with Edgars Vengis, Owen Dell, Fritz Heinzle and Michael Danecko all catching the eye. Perhaps understandably their start-up season hasn’t been without its challenges and there have been some poor results along the way, but in the main the Knights management team must be pleased with how the campaign has shaped up and the way their young players are developing. Certainly the future looks bright indeed in Leeds.
🔗 Leeds Knights 2 on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/39756/leeds-knights-2
A season of mediocrity has been one to forget thus far for nearest neighbours Whitley Warriors. Languishing in mid-table, the playoffs now remains the only competition left for the Warriors to challenge for, but a realistic run at silverware would mean a significant upturn in fortunes is required for the Maroon and Gold. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they have suffered a recent spate of injuries that will see them ice without Shaun Kippin and Ethan Reid for the rest of the season, whilst a knee injury to Ross Douglass may keep him out of tomorrow’s game. A confusion over fixtures has also seen Whitley surrender three points to Solihull Barons without a puck being dropped, the game erroneously scheduled also for Sunday has been cancelled.
🔗 Whitley Warriors on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/2140/whitley-warriors
The Stars will go into this weekend’s games on a massive high after finally securing the Moralee Cup at the third attempt on Sunday. Still in the hunt for all five trophies on offer this season, the aim is to keep the momentum going all the way to the playoffs with the League title still not in the bag. Blackburn Hawks will have two games this weekend to keep the pressure on, so it is up to Billingham to ensure they keep the chasing pack at arms’ length. The Stars will have several players unavailable for one or both games this weekend, however the ‘next man up’ mentality means those gaps should be filled as the Stars go for all six points on offer.
Billingham are on the road in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 this weekend. First up they travel to Leeds Knights 2 later today for a 7.30pm face off, then it’s the Tyne-Tees derby at Hillheads tomorrow against Whitley Warriors, face off 5pm.
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Whitley Warriors 🏹
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🏹 Whitley Warriors 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Hull Jets ✈️
🐾 Widnes Wild 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅