Whitley Warriors are pleased to confirm that Niall Simpson will be part of their roster for the 2017/18 campaign. Niall joined the Warriors organisation last summer after making a positive impression in the trials the club had held.
Niall was initially signed as a d man however over the course of the season the youngster showed his versatility as he operated up front for Warriors on a number of occasions to great effect. His passion for his team and his willingness to learn are two of the qualities that makes him a popular figure in the Warriors dressing room.
Niall shared his thoughts on the new look NIHL North and his role on the team.
“Obviously as all the fans know the league has significantly improved and this will undoubtedly challenge us. However I think we will definitely still compete with all the teams as a result of our new players and our hard work in pre-season and thus I urge the fans to get behind us this year. As for my role in the team, as a player who is still developing I see myself in the role of a 3rd/4th line player who is used to provide the lads with a rest during games and to fill into any position the team needs me too.”
Niall went to talk about what he had learnt from Lobby and Dave Holland during his time with Warriors and the areas of his game he’s looking to improve on.
“I have learnt a lot from both of my coaches over the year I have been with the Warriors. They constantly provide pointers to me which is critical for my development at this stage. However the main thing I have taken away from the 2 coaches has been their work ethic. They constantly strive to make sure the team are working hard in training and off ice training. Area’s I’m looking to improve on are similar to last year I am looking to improve my skating and fitness. I have been working throughout summer with Lobby and Andre Payette doing skating drills to improve that aspect of my game. I have also been doing pre-season fitness training with Lobby and his two sons [Matthew and Sean Longstaff] which has been extremely beneficial.”
Niall then went on chat about his life away from the rink and asked if any fans knew of any opportunities that might be available to him.
“I am currently studying for my master’s degree in disaster management which means that I will still make appearances for Northumbria Kings throughout the season when I can. It also means I can utilise long bus journeys for studying. I am looking for someone to sponsor a new pair of skates for me as being a student means it is hard to spend that much money on skates and that any amount would help. Also if anybody knows of some part time work (1-2 days a week) I would be more than happy to apply.”
If any individual or company would like more information about potentially sponsoring Niall they are invited to make contact through the contact page on Warriors website and then they can be put in touch with the player himself or Warriors General Manager/Assistant Coach Dave Holland.