(Image permission: David Morrison)
LANCASHIRE, UK – The Moralee D1 play-offs begin in NIHL North this weekend, with eight teams aiming to book their place in the semi-finals of the end-of-season showdown.
With the added incentive of a place at the Final Four Weekend in Coventry for the two finalists, there’s plenty to play for over the next few weeks.
Newly-crowned league champions Sheffield Steeldogs take on Billingham Stars in their quarter-final tie having recorded four victories over the Teessiders during the regular season campaign.
Sheffield secured the title with two wins over Hull Pirates last weekend and it’s difficult to see Billingham causing an upset in this one.
Hull will bid to bounce back from the disappointment of losing out on the league title when they face Blackburn Hawks in their last eight tie.
Blackburn defeated Hull 6-3 on home ice earlier in the season, but the Pirates have since recorded four victories in the league and cup against the Lancashire outfit.
The likes of Matty Davies and Bobby Chamberlain have racked up plenty of points between them this season and Hull should comfortably secure a semi-final spot.
A poor run during February cost Telford Tigers their chance of winning the title, but they’ll be eager to make amends in the play-offs.
They defeated quarter-final opponents Whitley Warriors four times during the regular season campaign, although the two games at Hillheads were close affairs.
However, Whitley have won just six out of 18 games on the road this season and crashed 7-0 and 8-0 on their two previous visits to Shropshire.
Tom Watkins’ side may find things difficult in the first leg, but they should have enough quality in their ranks to progress to the next stage.
The most difficult tie of the round to predict sees Solway Sharks take on Solihull Barons. Solway triumphed in three of their four league meetings, but there’s likely to be little to choose between them in the play-offs.
Solway lost five of their last seven league games, while Solihull won seven of their last nine, but if Martin Grubb’s side can build a two or three goal advantage in the first leg they may be difficult to peg back.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Billingham Stars v Sheffield Steeldogs
Hull Pirates v Blackburn Hawks
Solway Sharks v Solihull Barons
Whitley Warriors v Telford Tigers
Sunday
Blackburn Hawks v Hull Pirates
Sheffield Steeldogs v Billingham Stars
Solihull Barons v Solway Sharks
Telford Tigers v Whitley Warriors
Laidler D2
Saturday
Altrincham Aces v Widnes Wild
Blackburn Hawks 2 v Coventry Blaze NIHL
Sheffield Senators v Sutton Sting
Sunday
Coventry Blaze NIHL v Sheffield Senators
Deeside Dragons 2 v Blackburn Hawks 2
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