(Image permission: Colin Lawson – IceHockeyMedia)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Whitley Warriors visit Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday aiming to end their recent run of poor form in Moralee D1.
The Warriors started the season well, winning five out of their first eight games, but four defeats in their last five matches has seen them drop to 7th in the standings.
Despite their recent struggles forward Phil Edgar remains a man in form, with his goal at Solihull Barons last Sunday taking his tally to 15 for the season. He insists the team are capable of halting their slide down the table.
“I think we’ve done relatively well this season,” he said. “We know that if we come ready to play and stay focused for a full sixty minutes we are a very hard team to play against.
“The season is still quite early and we have a long way to go to get better in order to compete every game, but I think we are on the right track.
“I personally have never played Sheffield, but I think we all know it is going to be a tough test given their level of talent. We are going to have to bring our best to get the win.
“As for the rest of the season, right now I think we are taking it one game at a time. Our focus needs to be winning day in and day out and the best way to do that is focus on the task at hand. If we do this, all our goals for the season will fall into place.”
Billingham Stars face their final round of National Cup Group A matches this weekend with their hopes of qualifying for the next stage still alive.
The Stars visit Blackburn Hawks on Saturday, before returning to home ice to face Solway Sharks the following day, and two victories would give them a chance of reaching the last eight of the competition.
Sunday’s game also features Billingham’s annual charity teddy toss, with the club once again aiming to make a difference to children’s lives at Christmas.
Stars’ Director of Coaching Terry Ward says the team are eager to maintain an interest in the cup.
“These will be another two tough games but we are approaching them with confidence,” he said. “Last Sunday’s third period performance (against Deeside Dragons) is what I am looking for – high tempo, working hard, shooting accurately.
“We played well against Hull on Saturday also, but we just ran out of steam and that is something we must be wary of.
“We have a weekend off coming up next week, our only weekend off of the season, so we know we can give these two games everything with two weeks to recover.
“We may be outsiders to qualify but our chance hasn’t disappeared just yet, and we will keep fighting until it does.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Solway Sharks v Hull Pirates
Telford Tigers v Deeside Dragons
Sunday
Hull Pirates v Deeside Dragons
Nottingham Lions v Telford Tigers
Sheffield Steeldogs v Whitley Warriors
Solihull Barons v Blackburn Hawks
Laidler D2
Saturday
Deeside Dragons 2 v Blackburn Hawks 2
Hull Jets v Coventry Blaze NIHL
Sutton Sting v Altrincham Aces
Sunday
Blackburn Hawks 2 v Hull Jets
Coventry Blaze NIHL v Sheffield Senators
Telford Tigers 2 v Bradford Bulldogs
Widnes Wild v Deeside Dragons 2
NIHL National Cup
Saturday
Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars
Sunday
Billingham Stars v Solway Sharks
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