Warriors player/coach David Longstaff has stated that he will use his full roster of players this weekend against the Sheffield Senators in a NIHL North Division 1 match up as he looks to establish just what his best forward lines and defensive pairings are ahead of the end of season championship play offs that will be held down at Ice Sheffield in mid April following the end of the regular campaign.
Longstaff himself and senior goaltender Richie Lawson will both not dress for Warriors on Sunday evening which will see some of the younger members of the Whitley squad see their ice time increased during the 60 minutes of action. It is anticipated that valued squad players such as Alan Yarrow and Phil Pritchard will feature prominently in the game this weekend while young goaltenders Mark Turnbull and Jordan Boyle could both also face some shots when the Senators come to visit Tyneside.
Warriors will also be without young forward Callum Queenan who is currently out of action with a broken collar bone and d man Stu Tomlinson who has been ruled out for the remainder of the current season. Tomlinson has just had an operation on his anterior cruciate ligament after a collision in training and he will not return to the ice this season and will also have to undergo a lengthy period of rehabilitation following the operation.
Warriors game on Sunday against Senators gets underway at the normal face off time of 5pm at Hillheads Ice Rink in Whitley Bay. Tickets are priced at £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for children while a family ticket can be purchased for £24. This weekend’s match night programme includes an interview with Warriors Scott Cooper who shares his views on Whitley’s season to date on both a personal and team level as well as all the usual features you expect in your Warriors programme.