Weekend Preview: Scimitars v Stars 170922 / Stars v Sharks 180922

IT’S ‘same again’ for Billingham Stars this weekend as they face the same two opponents as last weekend in National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1. The reverse fixtures see the Stars travel to Ice Sheffield today to take on the Scimitars, whilst Solway Sharks are the visitors to the Forum tomorrow evening.

It was a youthful Sheffield side that skated out against Billingham in last Sunday’s home opener, and whilst the Stars were missing a few key players, they still had too much for the Scimitars and bagged both points with a 4-1 win. The expansive surface at IceSheffield has seemed to favour the home side in the past, but coach Stephen Foster believes the new Billingham approach to game play should suit the larger pads and is confident of a result. Sheffield will be keen to get themselves on the board points-wise after drawing a blank last weekend, so the stage is set for an interesting return.

Despite looking a little weaker than last season on paper, Solway showed why they are the champions by grinding out a result over the Stars in a scrappy encounter last Saturday before putting Nottingham Lions to the sword in the Midlands the following evening. The Sharks remain the team to beat, and tonight’s clash with last season’s runners-up Whitley Warriors should give a good indication of how the League might shape up given both sides have lost what were important pieces of their respective jigsaws. Billingham haven’t had the measure of Solway on home ice for some time and will be looking to get closer to their visitors than they did north of the border last week.

Two points from four was a decent return for a short-benched Stars last weekend, they will be looking to improve with the return of all but Rolands Gritāns and Jack Emerson this weekend. The younger Stars continue to make progress, a first senior goal for Lucas Dowdle against the Sharks last Saturday and regular ice for Sam Dowd on Sunday testament to the faith that the coaches are giving to bringing the juniors through the ranks. This weekend should give a better indication of where Billingham are at in these early stages of the season, four points is the target to set the bar for the weeks to come.

The Stars are at IceSheffield later today for a National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 fixture against Sheffield Scimitars (face off 7.30pm). They are back at the Forum for a 5.30pm face off against Solway Sharks tomorrow, tickets priced at £12.50 adults, £8 concessions, £40 family [2+2].

Weekend Fixtures:

NIHL(N)1:

Solway Sharks v Whitley Warriors, Saturday 7pm

Sheffield Scimitars v Billingham Stars, Saturday 7.30pm

Whitley Warriors v Solihull Barons, Sunday 5pm

Billingham Stars v Solway Sharks, Sunday 5.30pm

Blackburn Hawks v Sheffield Scimitars, Sunday 6pm

Nottingham Lions v Widnes Wild, Sunday 7.15pm