Billingham Stars head to Dumfries for the biggest weekend of the season as they attempt to win the National Ice Hockey League (North) Conference Play-offs
Billingham Stars head to Dumfries for the biggest weekend of the season as they attempt to win the National Ice Hockey League (North) Conference Play-offs.
Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks and Whitley Warriors join the Ultimate Windows-sponsored Stars in Scotland for the right to call themselves this season’s play-off champions.
In a change of format to the usual home-and-away competition, this weekend sees the entire play-off series hosted at Dumfries Ice Bowl, with two semi-finals today and the final tomorrow afternoon.
Billingham’s director of coaching Terry Ward has only one thing on his agenda and that is winning the play-off crown.
He said: “We’re as fit and ready as we can be. Make no mistake, we are not going to Dumfries to make up the numbers, we are going with every intention of winning that trophy.
“We’ve had the chance to give our long-term injured guys some ice time ahead of the weekend, and everyone is prepared to lay their bodies on the line if that’s what it takes.
“The lads are really fired up for this one. We know what a good team Blackburn are but we also know that on our day we are a match for anybody.
“We owe the Hawks for two heavy defeats this season, and there’s no better time or place to get our revenge.”
The first semi-final at 1pm today pits fourth-placed Whitley Warriors against league champions Solway Sharks. Solway are the favourites to add the play-off crown to their league and cup double.
They finished 15 points ahead of Whitley over the course of the regular season, and with home ice advantage the Warriors will need to pull something special out of the bag to stand any chance against the Scots.”
“We will have one eye on the other semi-final,” added Ward. “It would be fantastic for the North-east if both ourselves and Whitley could make the final.
“But we will only worry about that once we have taken care of the Hawks. We know we will have a large number of fans from Billingham cheering us on and we want to make sure it’s a great weekend for everybody travelling.”
The Stars general manager Allen Flavell is looking forward to the weekend and its new format, adding: “It is sure to be a brilliant advert for ice hockey and our league in particular.
“We’re expecting a full house up in Dumfries; a noisy atmosphere and three fantastic games of hockey to look forward to.
“We know our fans will be cheering us on loud and proud and it will give the lads a massive boost.
“We campaigned for the play-offs to be held over a weekend and now it is here we’re sure our fans will take their part in making it a great success.”
Today’s second semi-final (4.30pm) promises to be a hard-fought affair, with Billingham taking on Blackburn Hawks in the play-offs for the third time in as many years.
The previous two meetings have been in the final, the Stars coming out on top in 2012, and Blackburn getting their revenge to claim their only trophy in their 24-year history in 2013.
Just three points separated the two sides in the league, however the Hawks hold the psychological advantage with comprehensive wins over the Teessiders in the last two outings.
After a dismal second half to the season plagued by injuries, Billingham will head to Dumfries with a full bench. Only Dave Thomas, Will Robson (both ineligible) and Jamie Pattison will be missing from the Stars line-up, meaning Billingham will have the chance to face the Hawks at full strength for the first time in four attempts.
The final takes place at 2pm tomorrow and tickets for the weekend can be purchased via <a href = 'www.ticketweb.co.uk'>http://ift.tt/1glU3q7;
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