(Image permission: Linda Crabtree)
ENGLAND, UK – Billingham Stars booked their place in the semi-finals of the NIHL North Cup after recording a 9-6 home victory over Dundee Comets – James Moss (3) led their scoring.
Whitley Warriors are also through to the last four after securing a 5-3 win at home to Murrayfield Racers.
Jaakko Heiskanen weighed in with a couple of goals as unbeaten Solway Sharks triumphed 7-4 on home ice against Billingham.
The Sharks followed up with a stylish 9-5 victory at Blackburn Hawks that moved them to the top of Moralee D1.
Hull Jets cranked up the pressure on Laidler D2 leaders Bradford Bulldogs courtesy of two impressive victories over the weekend.
The Jets won 5-2 at Sheffield Senators and 2-1 after overtime at home to Bradford to move within a point of their title rivals.
The Bulldogs had better luck the previous day as they sealed a 6-3 home victory over Altrincham Aces – Matt Viney (2) was amongst their scorers.
Jordan Jolly and Filip Supa both bagged hat-tricks as Telford Tigers 2 raced to a comprehensive 10-4 home win over Deeside Dragons.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Blackburn Hawks 5-9 Solway Sharks
Laidler D2
Bradford Bulldogs 6-3 Altrincham Aces
Hull Jets 2-1 Bradford Bulldogs (OT)
Sheffield Senators 2-5 Hull Jets
Telford Tigers 2 10-4 Deeside Dragons
NIHL North Cup
Billingham Stars 9-6 Dundee Comets
Solway Sharks 7-4 Billingham Stars
Whitley Warriors 5-3 Murrayfield Racers
NIHL Midlands Cup
Nottingham Lions 6-5 Widnes Wild (SO)
Solihull Barons 7-5 Sutton Sting
PHN’s top two talking points
Gong show sours cup clash
Whitley and Murrayfield renewed acquaintances in a feisty NIHL North Cup encounter at Hillheads on Sunday.
The two sides went head-to-head in a largely entertaining match that was a throwback to some of the classic encounters of yesteryear.
However, Niall Ryder’s brainless cross-check on Callum Boyd late in the game after a ‘scrap’ between the Racers forward and Jordan Barnes was yet another low point for the NIHL.
No doubt those who advocate ‘old time hockey’ will think there was nothing wrong with the entire episode, but they’d be wrong.
When you factor in the behaviour from certain sections of the crowd – foul and abusive language and unsavoury hand gestures – the whole incident painted a pretty sorry picture.
Beware the fallout from above
Fans of NIHL North have had a difficult time of things over the past few seasons and it looks like things are unlikely to get any better anytime soon.
The changes in reclassification of ‘British’ players has sparked plenty of debate higher up the scale and that could have a knock-on effect lower down the ladder.
Rumour has it that some clubs in the newly-formed National League are unhappy with the changes and are already considering their future.
The Elite League’s announcement that they are welcoming applications from clubs is another development that could also have an impact.
A bit of joined-up thinking regarding the structure wouldn’t go amiss right now, but that seems as far away as it’s ever been.
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