PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 28
FOR BILLINGHAM Stars, the maths involved in retaining their National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 Championship is simple – one regulation time win is enough, with the first opportunity coming later this afternoon at Solihull Barons.
An unhappy hunting ground for Billingham historically, Hobs Moat Road is not a venue that many teams like visiting. This season has seen four home losses in the League for the Barons, so not an impossible task by any means, however Solihull’s form in the run-in to the playoffs cannot be ignored. Consistently around the upper echelons of the League year after year, the Barons looked to be struggling a little this campaign and even more so when they lost Phil Mulcahy from their prolific top line to a long-term injury, but the pre-deadline signing of Zach Yokoyama has galvanised Solihull and they will be serious contenders for post-season silverware.
🔗 Solihull Barons on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/1525/solihull-barons
Blackburn Hawks failure to get a regulation time win over Hull Jets last night means that just three points will make a back-to-back League title a mathematical certainty for the Stars. Whilst the ultimate aim is in sight, Billingham will take nothing for granted and will take each game as it comes for the remainder of the season as the League crown is just one of a potential four left on the table. To win the League today would be some achievement given the Stars record at Solihull, a ‘bogey’ rink that seems to deliver poor results regardless of which Billingham side visits. There will be a few gaps in the roster today, including Stuart Jackson who is on Great Britain Bandy Hockey duty in Sweden.
Billingham travel to the Midlands to take on Solihull Barons in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 later today, face off 5.30pm.
Weekend Fixtures/Results:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 4️⃣ - 🔟 Deeside Dragons 🐉
✈️ Hull Jets 4️⃣ - 5️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅 (after penalty shots)
🐾 Widnes Wild 8️⃣ - 4️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🏹 Whitley Warriors 🆚 Nottingham Lions 🦁
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
⚜️ Solihull Barons 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫