Weekend Preview: Stars v Lions 280123 / Hawks v Stars 290123
BILLINGHAM STARS come up against two sides battling to climb from the lower reaches of National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 this weekend, welcoming Nottingham Lions to the Forum this evening before making the trip over the Pennines to Blackburn Hawks tomorrow evening.
Nottingham are returning from a long – and controversial – break away from their season having called off their three games post-Christmas due to lack of available players. The dust has yet to settle on this episode with a decision from the EIHA imminent, however it is likely that the Lions will point to having a group of players – including top scorer Zach Yokoyama – away in Lake Placid playing for the Great Britain Universities side. Getting back to the bread and butter of League hockey having not played since mid-December may prove tricky for Nottingham, but they will need to get some momentum quickly if they are to make an impact further up the table as the scramble for playoff positions gets underway.
Blackburn are a team in transition and improving week on week as they build towards their goal of recapturing their former glory days. They too need to find some rhythm having played just once since the festive break, their match up with the Lions last weekend one of the cancelled games. Their one game saw them blow a 0-3 lead on the road at Widnes Wild, the Wild coming back to snatch the tie in overtime, but the signs are there that the Hawks are indeed on the way back. They will be further boosted by the two-way signing of Tate Shudra with Leeds Knights, the 18-year-old having previously iced briefly for Sheffield Scimitars last season.
Billingham are in a positive frame of mind after their second successive derby victory last Sunday, and are mindful that they will need to keep up the pace as Solihull Barons breathe down their necks for third place in the table. The knocks are starting to tell on the squad however, Tommy Spraggon and Joe Walls are both out for this weekend at least whilst Shaun Galloway looks likely to miss the rest of the season. The Under 18s are in Bradford tomorrow afternoon which means some selection choices for the younger members of the roster. With the back line in particular looking stretched, the Stars were delighted to reveal yesterday that they have persuaded Andy Munroe to come out of retirement and provide not only defensive cover, but also a wealth of knowledge and experience that the younger players can learn from.
Billingham face Nottingham Lions in a National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 fixture at the Forum this evening, face off 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at £12.50 adults, £8 concessions, £40 family [2+2]. They then travel to Blackburn Hawks tomorrow, face off 6pm.
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL(N)1:
Deeside Dragons v Whitley Warriors, Saturday 5.15pm
Billingham Stars v Nottingham Lions, Saturday 5.30pm
Widnes Wild v Sheffield Scimitars, Saturday 5.30pm
Solway Sharks v Blackburn Hawks, Saturday 7pm
Sheffield Scimitars v Deeside Dragons, Sunday 1pm
Whitley Warriors v Widnes Wild, Sunday 5pm
Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars, Sunday 6pm
Nottingham Lions v Solihull Barons, Sunday 7.15pm