Weekend Preview: Match Week 22
BILLINGHAM STARS return to the bread-and-butter of National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 today with a resurgent Widnes Wild the visitors to the Forum.
Widnes certainly appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks and are not the side that has lost so miserably to the Stars on all three previous meetings between the two sides this season. The Wild have climbed away from the bottom two teams, and although the gap between themselves and sixth placed Hull Jets is considerable, they are making it their mission to try and bridge it before the playoffs. Widnes have used a number of two-way signings this season, and perhaps it is simply the case that it has taken the first half of the season to gel, regardless they are a potential banana skin that Billingham will need to be wary of.
Making the Cup final in such a comprehensive fashion last weekend is a boost for the Stars dressing room, but there were a few warning signs to heed going into the final few months of the season. The away leg on Humberside was a struggle of the Teessiders’ own making, however they made sure they did not repeat their mistakes back at the Forum and were ruthless in their despatch of a below-par Jets side, Once again the injury hoodoo that has haunted the team all season has struck however, today will see several players missing or facing late fitness tests. Thomas Brown is likely to miss today’s game, with Mark Turnbull stepping up between the pipes. Shaun Galloway is also a major doubt, whilst Stuart Jackson sustained an injury playing for the Buccaneers last night.
Billingham take on Widnes Wild in a National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 fixture later on today at the Forum, face off 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at £12.50 adults, £8 concessions, £38 family [2+2].
Weekend Fixtures/Results:
NIHL(N)1:
Sheffield Scimitars 2 Nottingham Lions 6
Hull Jets 3 Blackburn Hawks 8
Billingham Stars v Widnes Wild, Sunday 5.30pm
Solihull Barons v Deeside Dragons, Sunday 5.30pm
Blackburn Hawks v Hull Jets, Sunday 6pm
Nottingham Lions v Sheffield Scimitars, Sunday 7.20pm