NIHL North round-up: Edgar at the double as Whitley Warriors get off to a flyer

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(Image permission: IceHockeyMedia)

ENGLAND, UK – Whitley Warriors kicked-off the new Moralee D1 season with a comprehensive 11-0 home victory over Nottingham Lions.

Harry Harley, David Longstaff and Phil Edgar all weighed in with a couple of goals for the North East side.

Cain Taylor (2), Rob Perks (2) and Mark Florence (2) were amongst the scorers as Hull Jets ran out 9-5 winners at Sheffield Senators in Laidler D2.

Altrincham Aces crashed 8-3 at Bradford Bulldogs in their season opener, but bounced back with a 9-2 home victory over Blackburn Hawks 2.

PHN’s top two talking points

Goodbye EPL three, hello lousy D1N

There is a new set-up in the NIHL this season and certain aspects of it are unappealing. Sure, the new national division is exciting, providing you’re not located north of Leeds.

However, while Sheffield Steeldogs, Telford Tigers and Hull Pirates are heading into a division that should be a better fit for them, D1 North has been left with just seven teams.

Flower it up any way you like, but a seven-team division, half-baked cup competitions and a messy play-off structure isn’t the best of outcomes.

It has been suggested that there is a longer-term game in play regarding the league system in the UK – let’s hope that gets sorted out sooner rather than later.

Whitley off to a flyer

Whitley have assembled a strong-looking roster for the new campaign and they kicked things off with a comfortable victory over Nottingham on Sunday.

The Warriors look capable of challenging for the title this term and it would be a big surprise if they aren’t in the mix as the season progresses.

Solway Sharks are likely to be provide their biggest challenge, despite losing a hefty number of key players over the summer.

With free-scoring forward Peter Gapa remaining in Dumfries and a batch of promising youngsters eager to impress, the Sharks will have a big say in the destination of the title.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Moralee D1

Whitley Warriors 11-0 Nottingham Lions

Laidler D2

Altrincham Aces 9-2 Blackburn Hawks 2
Bradford Bulldogs 8-3 Altrincham Aces
Sheffield Senators 5-9 Hull Jets