Whitley Warriors play their last regular game of the 2014/15 season this weekend when their local rivals the Billingham Stars make the short journey up the A19 to Tyneside. Warriors are without Callum Queenan who is away on GB under 18 duty and Dean Holland who is unable to play due to a hand injury he suffered in last weekend’s victory over the Manchester Minotaurs.
Warriors senior netminder Richie Lawson will also not take part in the Billingham game due to injury however it is thought that both Dean and Richie will be fit to play in Whitley’s relegation play off games against the Widnes Wild which take place on the 11th and 12th of April.
Billingham currently sit in 3rd position in the NIHL North standings with a total of 29 points from the 23 games they have played and Stars need to pick up a positive result against Warriors to secure the runners up slot in the table. Billingham are involved in the end of season championships play offs that will take place up in Dumfries in April and the Teessiders will no doubt be aiming to go into their play off semi final on the back of a victory in the Tyne Tees derby.
Warriors and Stars have played each other on 3 occasions this term with Billingham claiming victories on their own ice on 2 occasions while the 2 sides played out a 1-1 draw the last time they met at Hillheads back in mid December last year.
Supporters are reminded that this Sunday’s match up is ‘Vintage Shirts Night’ where fans are encouraged to wear their favourite classic hockey shirt whether that be a Warriors jersey or a shirt of another organisation. It would be great to see jerseys of other north east teams (both past and present) such as the Stars, Bombers, Chiefs, Wasps, Vipers, Cobras, Riverkings and Jesters at Hillheads on Sunday evening for the final north east derby of the 2014/15 season.