Injuries take their toll as Billingham Stars sunk by play-off rivals Sutton Sting

Billingham Stars’ injury-hit squad were put to the sword on Sunday as they were beaten 6-1 by fellow play-off chasers Sutton Sting.

Missing key players from every position, the Ultimate Windows-sponsored Stars moved youngster Jack Emerson up to the first line to replace Thomas Stuart-Dant, while Luke Brown got the nod on the second with James Moss also out.

Injuries took their toll as the Stars were sunk in the National Ice Hockey League (n) Moralee Division One clash, and afterwards director of coaching Terry Ward bemoaned the team’s selection crisis.

“We knew coming into the game that we’d be under pressure straight away,” Ward said.

“We had injury problems and guys who were unavailable. In every department we were short. We had guys who were injured but came out and played anyway.

“Then we lost Paul Windridge and Jack Emerson took one to the ankle – it’s a shame because he’d taken his chance on the first line really well up until then.

“Sutton are a good side, let’s take nothing away from that. You’ve got to play what’s in front of you and they did that.

“I thought Sutton played really well. They were intense on their own ice and adapted their game to the poor ice conditions better than we did.”

Billingham got off to the worst possible start on three minutes when Slovakian defenseman Ivo Celar’s speculative shot from just inside the blue line trickled between netminder Mark Watson’s pads.

The Stars came back with an immediate response, but Sting netminder Dmitri Zimozdra produced a fine snap save. Penalties littered the second half of the period but neither side capitalised and the session closed at 1-0.

Billingham got themselves back into the game when Michael Elder shot straight through Zimozdra to bring the sides level in the 25th minute.

But the visitors’ joy was short-lived as Sutton were back in front a minute later when Celar beat Watson on his stick side.

Just before the halfway point, a defensive error in front of the Billingham net saw the puck fall to the unmarked James Spurr, who shot past Watson from point-blank range.

The Sting eventually extended their lead 44 seconds before the interval buzzer when Spurr tipped the puck past Watson’s glove for 4-1.

The Stars saw their short bench get even smaller in the final session as first captain Paul Windridge (hand) and then Emerson (ankle) were forced to retire injured. With their guests struggling, the Sting put their foot back on the gas and scored two quick goals through Vjaleslavs Mokvo in the 49th minute, followed by Mark Turner putting the puck past Watson’s outstretched glove and into the top corner a minute later.

The result puts Sutton above Billingham in second place, with the two teams tied on points but the Stars with a game in hand.

Billingham face a double header this weekend as they travel to Manchester on Saturday take on the Minotaurs (face off 5pm), followed by the visit of Solway Sharks to the Forum on Sunday (face off 6.30pm).