Whitley Warriors will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday when Simon Leach’s side take on the Manchester Minotaurs in NIHL North Division 1 action on home ice at Hillheads. Warriors narrowly lost their last league contest when Sheffield defeated Whitley by 4 goals to 3 on Tyneside.
Last weekend Warriors forward trio of Jordan Barnes, Callum Queenan and Ben Richards all picked up injuries out on the ice. Callum and Ben both trained during the week and should be fit for the Manchester game on Sunday unfortunately Jordan will be out of action for a significant period of time as he is currently on crutches due to the knee injury he sustained in the warm up period before the St Andrews cup tie up in Scotland last Saturday.
Warriors are also still without last season’s top scorer Adam Reynolds who is recovering from a broken ankle while veteran d man Rob Wilson is still struggling with a back problem which has prevented him from icing in recent weeks.
So far this campaign Manchester are yet to pick up a positive result as Minotaurs have tasted defeat in all of their 5 league games to date and they also lost out in the one challenge game they played against the Sheffield Senators who operate in the NIHL North Division 2.
Manchester’s last two results have been encouraging though as Kevin Cassidy’s side have tested both the NIHL North champions the Solway Sharks and the well regarded Sutton Sting. Minotaurs captain Brian Worrall has been in good form so far this campaign and Warriors defence will have to be at their best if they are to keep the experienced forward quiet on Sunday evening.
Supporters are encourage to come along to Hillheads this Sunday for what should be a great game of hockey between 2 competitive sides in NIHL North league action in a match that will get underway at Warriors normal 5pm face off time.