North East hockey unites to deliver title for Whitley

WHITLEY BAY, UK –  Whitley Warriors celebrated their first league title in eight years a fortnight ago, as they clinched the English National League North without stepping on the ice. With rivals Nottingham Lions suffering a shock loss against Blackburn Hawks, the Warriors celebrated their first league trophy since 2002.

 
The Warriors’ had essentially ended the Lions hopes of a title the previous weekend when they edged a seven goal thriller in front of a delighted Hillheads crowd of over 1200 fans. The 4-3 victory for the Whitley Bay outfit was capped by a goal in the final two minutes of the game by local boy Bryan Dunn.
 
The Warriors celebrated in style after last Sunday’s 10-0 demolition of Kingston Jets, with a firework display and trophy celebration in front of their fans.
 
With only four defeats all season in ENL North, the Warriors have undoubtedly benefitted from the closure of Billingham ice rink this season. A number of players from bitter rivals Billingham Bombers made the move from Teeside to Tyneside whilst their rink is refurbished, and have boosted an already talented team. Veteran centre man Paul Windridge has continued his good form as the league’s leading play maker with thirty one assists and his other former Bombers team mate James Flavell has proven solid in goal with a plus ninety percent save average. Mid season the Warriors were also boosted by the signing of Newcastle Vipers defence man Richie Thornton to see them over the finishing line.
 
Former Newcastle Viper Karl Culley has rediscovered his goal scoring form again with twenty four goals and is a real threat at ENL level. Culley has been assisted upfront by Shaun Kippin and Ryan Sample who have both hit double figures in goals for the team.
 
Surprisingly though it is a non local who has been the real revelation at Hillheads this year. Peterborough bred Adam Reynolds moved to the North East after playing in the English Premier League with Peterborough Phantoms and the East Anglian sniper is happy with how the switch has worked out:
 
“It’s great to win the league with a club like Whitley that has such a long history in ice hockey. It’s the first league trophy they have won in a number of years so it was nice to be part of it. What makes it even better is that we had a bad period where we dropped points where we should have won and it looked like we had lost our chance of the title, but we managed to pull together and get through it”
 
Reynolds has posted the best stats of his career this season finishing as the Warriors top goal scorer and second overall in the league.
 
“I think the main reason behind our success was the mixture of youth and experience we have within the team. Some of the guys have been around the British hockey scene for a long time so know how to step up to the plate when the going gets tough, and the youth on our team are very talented and should have a great future,
 
“Add the obvious talent to a great team spirit and a bunch of guys who all want to play for each other and you have a winning formula. Simon Leach has done a great job coaching the team this year and he makes sure we don’t lose sight of what is needed. He wants the team to do the business in the play offs now and we are ready for that challenge”
 
In a region that was once a hotbed of ice hockey, the ENL may seem far removed from the glories of the past. However with the likes of Sheffield and Nottingham reaping the rewards of excellent ice facilities, it is credit to the North East lads that their class has shown through adversity.
 
The Warriors now look towards the play-offs knowing a double could well be on the cards. In a year when former Warriors player Mike Babcock delivered gold as coach of Canada in the Olympics, Simon Leach has delivered more good news for the Hillhead’s faithful with this silverware. They will all be hoping (Mike included), that the trophy is not the last one Leach lifts in 2009/10.
 
Carrsy
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com