PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 6
BILLINGHAM STARS face their toughest weekend so far in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 with a double header against early League leaders Hull Jets this evening followed by the visit of Solihull Barons to the Forum tomorrow.
It’s been an almost perfect start for the Jets, just a single point dropped in their opening six games, but even that ‘lost point’ should be seen as two points gained as they came back from 2-0 down to defeat Whitley Warriors 2-3 in overtime last Sunday at Hillheads. That comeback was a signal to the rest of the League that Hull are the real deal this season, their near-invincible home form of last season now being translated to results on the road also. Whether they can keep up that pace as the early frontrunners remains to be seen, but they certainly have the squad to be considered serious contenders and nothing less than a complete 60 minute performance will be needed to get anything from today’s game. If he ices, former Sheffield Steeldog Vlads Vulkanovs poses a significant threat, whilst the Jets boast an incredibly strong netminding duo in Zack Brown and Brandon Stones.
🔗 Hull Jets on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/15817/hull-jets
Tomorrow gives Billingham the opportunity to avenge their only defeat of the season thus far when the Barons make the trip to Teesside. Solihull have had an up-and-down start to their campaign, the highlight undoubtably their win over the Stars at Hobs Moat Road a few weeks ago, but they’ve also suffered some losses – the latest being a road defeat at Blackburn Hawks last weekend. The Barons do rely on their top line of Niklas Ottosson and Dan and Phil Mulcahy to be firing on all cylinders, but if they are then Solihull are more than a match for any team in the League.
🔗 Solihull Barons on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/1525/solihull-barons
The Stars need to bring their ‘A’ game this weekend to take any points from two teams expecting to challenge on all fronts this season. Billingham know just how tough it can be to come away from Hull Ice Arena with a result, but will be buoyed by the fact that their last visit back in March yielded the victory that secured the League title. Tomorrow will provide a chance to put right the wrongs of a fortnight ago, but having had a taste of the |Barons top line strength, the Stars will need to nullify that threat. This is the last weekend for Darren Stattersfield to sit out, and the Stars should be approaching full strength otherwise for both games this weekend.
Billingham face Hull Jets in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 on Humberside this evening, face off 5.30pm. They are back at the Forum tomorrow evening to take on Solihull Barons, face off 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at £14 adults, £10 concessions, £46 family [2+2].
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 🆚 Deeside Dragons 🐉
✈️ Hull Jets 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️
🏹 Whitley Warriors 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Hull Jets ✈️