REPORT: MATCH WEEK 30
BILLINGHAM STARS final National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division game of the regular season turned into a party at the Forum as they ran out comfortable 8-2 victors in the big North East derby against Whitley Warriors before lifting the League trophy in front of their home crowd.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
The Stars were up against a somewhat depleted Whitley side, shorn of several key players largely due to injuries and suspensions. By contrast, Billingham were able to roll with four lines with only Joe Dowdle missing from the regular lineup. In front of an expectant home support the hosts were off the mark in the sixth minute, Lucas Dowdle grafting to take the puck back in the Warriors defensive zone and getting a shot off, the puck coming back out to Callum Wilkinson for the easy rebound score. It was the third line in the spotlight again in the 15th minute, Shaun Galloway getting the better of the Warriors defenceman on the left wing and squaring to the incoming Wilkinson who was free to lift the puck over Whitley netminder Ryan Wardell. A three-goal cushion at the break was facilitated by Chris Sykes in the 17th minute, the puck seemingly stuck in his skates for a few moments, but Sykes had the patience to wait and pick his spot.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Sykes turned provider in the 28th minute, pulling Wardell across his crease before feeding Iain Brown for the one-timer. Despite almost incessant pressure, that proved to be the only marker for the home side in the middle session whilst Jordan Barnes netted after a near post fumble to give the visitors and their fans something to cheer about in the 39th minute.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Wilkinson bagged his hat trick when he potted home on the power play in the 42nd minute before a purple patch for the fourth line saw Tom Wakefield net his first two senior Stars goals in the 49th and 56th minutes, the first a whole line tic-tac-toe move, then he capitalised on a Warriors defence all at sea to slot past a desperate Wardell who had been tripped by his own teammate. These two efforts sandwiched a consolation marker for Whitley, a nice low shot from Matty Betham beating Turnbull in the 53rd minute. The final word on the regular season went to Conner McNulty, who roofed the eighth in the 58th minute to get the celebrations started on another night to remember at the Forum.
Man-of-the-Match for Billingham was Callum Wilkinson.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Results elsewhere mean that the Stars now know that they will face Leeds Knights 2 in this coming weekend’s playoff quarterfinals. Watch our socials for details.
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Stars Stats:
Callum Wilkinson 3+0; Tom Wakefield 2+0; Chris Sykes 1+2; Conner McNulty 1+1; Iain Brown 1+1; Tommy Spraggon 0+2; Shaun Galloway 0+2; Lucas Dowdle 0+2; James Moss 0+1; Ben Greenhalgh 0+1; Sam Dowd 0+1; Rolands Gritāns 0+1; Michael Elder 0+1; Darren Stattersfield 0+1
SOG: Mark Turnbull 26 (8 / 9 / 9)
Warriors Stats:
Jordan Barnes 1+0; Matthew Betham 1+0; Liam Smedley 0+1; Lewis Crisp 0+1; Jamie Ord 0+1; Jay Lucas 0+1
SOG: Ryan Wardell 61 (22 / 19 / 20)
Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos
Weekend Results:
NIHL N1 Saturday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 6️⃣ - 2️⃣ Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
💫 Billingham Stars 8️⃣ - 2️⃣ Whitley Warriors 🏹
✈️ Hull Jets 7️⃣ - 2️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️
🐾 Widnes Wild 7️⃣ - 5️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁
NIHL N1 Sunday:
🏹 Whitley Warriors 2️⃣ - 5️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅
🐉 Deeside Dragons 9️⃣ - 8️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️ (after overtime)
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 4️⃣ - 3️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁 (after overtime)
⚜️ Solihull Barons 🔟 - 0️⃣ Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️