Image permission: David Morrison
LANCASHIRE, UK – A new NIHL North season is upon us and the league has made a welcome return to Pro Hockey News for the 2017/18 campaign.
Following a difficult summer, ties have been severed with British Ice Hockey and, after a five-year gap, I’m back alongside NIHL South’s correspondent Dave Carr at PHN.
In the spirit of disruption (copyright Wayne Scholes), the NIHL has also undergone significant change during the close season following the demise of the EPL.
Moralee D1 now features ten teams, with Hull Pirates, Telford Tigers and Sheffield Steeldogs added to the division.
Nottingham Lions have moved up from D2, while Solway Sharks, Billingham Stars, Blackburn Hawks, Solihull Barons, Whitley Warriors and Deeside Dragons complete the line-up.
There’s been plenty of debate about the new set-up, with all three former EPL teams expected to dominate this season.
Predicting who will come out on top isn’t easy, as the trio have all retained a fair number of their players from last season.
The stand-out signing of the summer appears to be Hull’s acquisition of Matty Davies.
Davies bagged 98 points for Telford in the EPL last term and he can be expected to do some serious damage in the NIHL.
It’s certainly not doom and gloom for the Tigers though, with the likes of Jonathan Weaver, Jason Silverthorn and Rick Plant lending their valuable experience to a roster containing some promising youngsters.
Telford’s 14-1 aggregate victory over Billingham during pre-season certainly sends out an ominous warning to the rest of the league.
The Steeldogs have also assembled an impressive-looking squad including two potentially high-scoring import forwards.
Milan Kolena and Adrian Palak will both be a handful this season and the Sheffield side shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Solway swept to the title last term and they’ll be relishing the opportunity of testing themselves against the league’s new boys.
James Hutchinson is back for another year on the Sharks’ blueline and he’ll be relied upon to provide leadership to the club’s exciting crop of youngsters.
Import ‘D’ man Marek Charvat looks a useful addition and the Dumfries outfit can be expected to challenge for at least a play-off spot.
Billingham finished second last year and their squad has a familiar look to it once again.
Jack Watkins’ departure to Telford is a blow, but Latvian duo Deniss Baskatovs and Arturs Ozols look solid additions to their roster.
Stars have been capable of mixing it with the best in NIHL over recent seasons, although inconsistency and injuries haven’t helped their cause.
The result against Telford suggests they may struggle against the ex-EPL teams, but the Stars should be strong against the rest of the division.
With a sizeable fanbase, Blackburn Hawks have the potential and finances to be the biggest club in NIHL North.
The signings of ex-Manchester Phoenix trio Stephen Fone, Luke Boothroyd and James Neil were an early statement of intent, but the momentum appears to have quickly been lost.
Hawks’ squad looks decidedly threadbare and heavy defeats in their pre-season games against Solihull are a worrying sign.
The team has proved in recent seasons that it’s dangerous to write them off, but without a few more quality additions the Hawks could find things difficult.
Solihull have retained the bulk of their roster from last season, with new boss Daniel MacKriel introducing just a handful of new faces.
Defender Marcus Maynard will boost the Barons’ defensive options and forward Luke Brittle is a proven performer in this division. MacKriel’s team performed well against the Hawks and they look set for a solid campaign.
Whitley missed out on the play-offs last season and will be keen to put that right this term.
Import forward Philip Edgar looks an interesting signing, while former Great Britain junior Adam Finlinson is a shrewd addition. The Warriors are generally strong on home ice, although their away form has been an issue over recent seasons.
Deeside narrowly missed relegation last year, but the club is confident it can kick on.
Experienced French forward Mike Brodin has a CV that suggests he’ll be a major asset in the NIHL, while player/coach Scott McKenzie can be relied on to rack up plenty of points.
Chris Jones has returned to the club after a successful spell with last year’s D2 champions Blackburn Eagles and he should flourish under McKenzie’s leadership.
Nottingham Lions have stepped up from D2 following the Eagles’ demise and they’ve been busy improving their squad for the upcoming campaign.
Experienced forward Warren Tait has returned to the club after a couple of seasons in the EPL, while Richard Slater has joined from Solihull.
Former Steeldogs netminder James Hadfield should shine in NIHL North and returning forward Ondrej Pniok will be eager to prove he can perform in D1 after two decent seasons in the lower division.
Make sure you keep an eye on Pro Hockey News this season for the best regular coverage of NIHL North and South.
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