Following some changes to the National Ice Hockey League North organisation Warriors will be icing in the Moralee Conference of NIHL North during the 2013/14 season rather than in the 1st Division of the set up.
The new structure of NIHL North hockey sees 2 Conferences come into place with 8 sides operating in both the Moralee and Laidler sections.
All of Whitley’s main rivals such as Billingham Stars, Solway Sharks, Sutton Sting and Blackburn Hawks will all still be playing Warriors on a regular basis in the Moralee conference. The main difference from a Whitley point of view is that Warriors will no longer take on the midlands outfit Coventry Blaze in league action.
Moralee Conference
Whitley Warriors, Billingham Stars, Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks, Sheffield Spartans, Trafford Metros, Telford Titans and Sutton Sting
Laidler Conference
Nottingham Lions, Sheffield Senators, Hull Stingrays, Coventry Blaze, Deeside Dragons, Solihull Barons, Blackburn Eagles and Widnes
Warriors Coach Simon Leach was at the meeting where the changes to NIHL North league structure were discussed and he shares his views on the restructure of the league.
“The league has structured itself so clubs can afford the travel costs though it is disappointing that clubs who could have been promoted have opted not to be.
“I hope that the lack of promotion/relegation won’t lead to sides having little to play for towards the end of the season if they are out of the play off picture.
“I must commend Telford Titans though as they could have opted to play in the other Conference which is more local to them but they chose to take a place in our section (meaning each Conference had 8 sides) despite them struggling with the travel at times last season.
“The Conference set up will be reviewed next summer so if it’s not working we can look at ways round it.”
It has also been announced that an end of season play off weekend for the Moralee Conference in NIHL North will take place at Solway Sharks Dumfries Ice Bowl over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of April next year in which the top 4 teams in the conference will battle it out for the play off championships over the course of the weekend.
Simon shared his thoughts on the Play Off weekend.
“Solway put in a bid for the play offs and were successful. Their venue will host 2 World Championships in the near future so I think we can be confident that they will do a fine job hosting the event.
“Also having a set weekend for the play offs means that problems where teams are struggling to agree fixtures can be eliminated as all the clubs know everything has to be completed by play off weekend.
“Other UK league have their play off weekends in Coventry and Nottingham for example and we hope to establish ours as well though it is proposed that the NIHL North play offs could change venue each year.”
A cross conference cup also looks set to be introduced though after only 6 out of the 16 teams in NIHL North set up opted to take part in the cup last season it remains to be seen just how many sides will be able to secure the necessary ice time to allow them to take part in the cup this coming term.
Simon gave his views on the possible cup competition.
“It was agreed that this is something teams would look at over the summer. Last year it was split into east/west sections and that worked quite well so we’ll see how it shapes up.
“It’s something we’ll be looking at to get some extra games in. Some people will say cups are meaningless but it’s another trophy at the end of the season and if you’ve won a cup you’ve had a good campaign.”