Whitley Warriors are aiming to get back to winning ways this weekend to get their play off bid back on track after losing 7-2 away from home against the Blackburn Hawks last Sunday evening. Warriors currently sit in 5th position in the NIHL North Moralee standings 1 place and 2 points below the play off places.
Warriors have a double header of games this weekend to look forward to as Simon Leach’s side head to the Scottish borders to take on the league leaders and reigning Champions the Solway Sharks on Saturday evening before facing fellow play off hopefuls the Sutton Sting on home ice at Hillheads Ice Rink in Whitley Bay.
Warriors look set to be at full strength for their trip to Dumfries on Saturday night and given Simon Leach’s side drew 2-2 last time out against the title favourites Solway, Whitley will be looking to get the better of the high flying Sharks in their own rink. To add extra spice to the fixture Warriors forwards Adam Reynolds and Daniel Murdy have both played for Solway last season and both players will be eager to come out on top against their former club.
Sunday evening’s game sees Warriors take on the Sutton Sting with Sting currently just above Whitley in the NIHL North Moralee Conference table this match up is crucial for both sides post season aspirations. Warriors have faced Sutton on 3 occasions so far this term the sides appear to be well matched as each club has been able to claim a victory in the series with the third game being a 5-5 draw at the Sting’s Ice Sheffield home back in late October last year.
Warriors skipper DJ Good shared his views on this weekend’s games and also the squads determination to get back to winning ways after a poor display against Blackburn in their last match up.
“If we don’t win on Sunday against Sutton it’ll be difficult for us to qualify for the playoffs. Sutton are a good team so it’s going be a tough close battle.
“The Blackburn game last weekend was disappointing, they are one of the best in the league but we just weren’t fit and fast enough and it showed.
“We will put that behind us because everyone is going to drop points in a league that is this tight and what’s more important is how we bounce back from that defeat and put things right and the best way to do that is by getting a win/s this weekend to keep our playoff chances alive.”
Warriors fans are encouraged to come along to the rink for this Sunday’s home game (face off 5pm) against Sutton and get behind the players from the opening face off for what is one of the biggest games of Whitley’s season to date.