Warriors skipper Jamie Tinsley and the experienced blue liner Dan Harris are both set to ice for Whitley this weekend after being ruled out of recent match ups due to a hand injury and concussion respectively. The versatile Alex Lawson will also be in the back in the Warriors line up on Sunday evening after missing the Blackburn game last Saturday.
Whitley will be looking to get back to winning ways against the Sutton Sting at Hillheads on Sunday (5pm face off) in their NIHL North Division 1 fixture after last weekend’s loss away from home against the runaway league leaders the Blackburn Hawks. Warriors are likely to be without a few of the younger members of their squad as Whitley under 18’s also have a fixture scheduled on the same day.
Warriors have faced Sutton on 3 occasions so far this campaign, Simon Leach’s side currently lead the head to head record as the Tynesiders have 2 victories to their name while Sting have been able to come out on top on 1 occasion to date. The last time the 2 sides met back in January Sutton edged a tight game by 4 goals to 3 at Ice Sheffield however it does to be remembered that Warriors only had 1 senior defenceman in Rob Wilson available for that game.
Both Warriors and Sutton are battling it out to end the season in the top 4 places in the NIHL North Division 1 standings which would see qualification for the end of season play offs in Dumfries, Scotland in April. Given both clubs only have around half a dozen games remaining this term each and every match between now and the end of campaign are absolutely crucial to each sides post season prospects.
Warriors fans are encouraged to come along to the game on Sunday evening and get behind their local team, tickets are priced at £8 for adults, £6 for children while a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) can be bought for £23. Door open at 4.30pm with the game facing off 30 minutes later.