Whitley Warriors are pleased to announce that they will take on the NIHL North Division 1 Champions Solway Sharks in two pre-season games. The first game between Warriors and Sharks will take place on the 31st August at Solway’s Dumfries Ice Bowl with Whitley hosting Martin Grubbs’ side the following evening at Hillheads.
Warriors Head Coach Simon Leach shared his views on his side’s pre-season programme.
“We had been looking at various different options in regards to pre-season games. We were in talks with a Scottish National League team, Kirkcaldy Kestrels, about the possibility of playing two games against them but due to the dates required we struggled to get the games on. We have not ruled out the possibility of arranging games north of the border with them in the future.
“I have been in contact a lot recently with Martin Grubb [head coach] at Solway and we both found that we could accommodate each other on the required dates. We had looked also at other options but I believe this would be the most beneficial to us as part of our preparations.”
Simon went onto speak of how Warriors’ blue liner Simon Hehir has been progressing as he recovers from a serious injury suffered towards the end of the last campaign.
“Simon is looking to take things week by week at the minute so we are giving him the time he needs to get fit at his own pace. We are not putting any pressure on him but he has skated twice now so things are moving in the right direction.”
It has also been confirmed that two of Warriors 2012/13 squad will be icing for Billingham next season as Garry Dowd and Anthony Price have both signed for Stars for the duration of the coming campaign.
Warriors Pre Season Fixtures
Solway Sharks v Whitley Warriors – 31st August
Whitley Warriors v Solway Sharks – 1st September
A fixture meeting for NIHL North is due to take place at the weekend, so Warriors’ NIHL North fixtures should be available shortly afterwards.