(Image permission: David Strover)
ENGLAND, UK – There is no change at the top of Moralee D1, with the three title challengers each collecting four points over the weekend.
Leaders Telford Tigers triumphed 7-2 at Billingham Stars and followed up with an 8-2 home victory over Solway Sharks.
Sheffield Steeldogs recorded two home wins, beating Solihull Barons 9-0 and Billingham 5-1.
Hull Pirates twice hit double figures, winning 15-3 at home to Blackburn Hawks and 11-3 at Whitley Warriors.
Stanislav Lascek (2) and Dominic Martin (2) topped the scoring for Sutton Sting in their comprehensive 9-0 home victory over Nottingham Lions.
Sutton couldn’t add a second victory the following day at Solihull as the Barons secured a 5-0 win.
Blackburn picked up just their second win from their last nine games with a 7-1 success at Nottingham.
Widnes Wild still lead the way in Laidler D2 after securing a comfortable 8-3 win at Sheffield Senators – Jakub Hajek (3) led their scoring.
Telford Tigers 2 collected four points, winning 9-0 at home to Coventry Blaze NIHL and 3-2 after a shoot-out at Hull Jets.
Joe Greaves grabbed the deciding goal as Altrincham Aces snatched a 5-4 overtime victory at Blackburn Hawks 2.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Billingham Stars 2-7 Telford Tigers
Hull Pirates 15-3 Blackburn Hawks
Nottingham Lions 1-7 Blackburn Hawks
Sheffield Steeldogs 5-1 Billingham Stars
Sheffield Steeldogs 9-0 Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons 5-0 Sutton Sting
Sutton Sting 9-0 Nottingham Lions
Telford Tigers 8-2 Solway Sharks
Whitley Warriors 3-11 Hull Pirates
Laidler D2
Blackburn Hawks 2 4-5 Altrincham Aces (OT)
Hull Jets 2-3 Telford Tigers 2 (SO)
Sheffield Senators 3-8 Widnes Wild
Telford Tigers 2 9-0 Coventry Blaze NIHL
PHN’s TOP TWO TALKING POINTS
Petulant Telford forward embarrasses club
Andrew McKinney embarrassed himself and his club with his petulant behaviour during a post-match interview with Billingham Stars TV on Saturday.
McKinney’s antics showed a complete lack of respect for volunteers who work hard to promote a league that the Telford forward obviously thinks is beneath him.
Given that Telford is a club that understands the importance of presenting themselves in a positive light in order to attract sponsors, it was hugely disappointing to see one of their senior players behaving like a two-year-old when asked to perform media duties.
Quite what possessed McKinney to produce his ‘Billy Big Bollocks’ act in front of the cameras is anyone’s guess – hopefully the Tigers’ management will ensure it doesn’t happen again.
EIHA confirms play-off weekend
The English Ice Hockey Association has released ticket details for the NIHL Final Four Weekend at Coventry.
The event will see the regional finalists from D1 (Moralee and Britton) playing crossover semi-finals on Saturday, 13th April.
Sunday sees the respective winners of D2 (Laidler and Wilkinson) playing for the NIHL2 National Championship, followed by the NIHL Final Four Championship match.
At £40 for an adult ticket for four games, the event is pitched at the right level. Hopefully fans across the league, regardless of whether their team qualifies, will head to the Skydome and make the weekend a big success.
THE WEEKEND AHEAD
The undoubted highlight of the weekend ahead is the D1 double-header between Telford and Hull.
Just two points separates the top three sides with nine games to play, highlighting the importance of the two games.
The two teams have faced each other three times this season in the league and cup, with Telford winning two of those meetings.
If either side can record a four-point weekend it would be a major boost to their respective title hopes, although a split series is the more likely outcome.
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