Whitley Warriors have 2 games this weekend as Simon Leach’s side take on Sutton Sting away from home on Saturday (4.15pm face off)before facing the Sheffield Spartans at home on Sunday evening (5pm face off)at Hillheads. Warriors and both of their opponents this weekend are battling to make the end of season play offs and given just how tight NIHL North Division 1 is this season each and every game against a side close to you in the table is an absolutely crucial match up.
Warriors have 2 victories over Sutton so far this campaign a narrow 4-2 victory on home ice and a 4-0 success away from home at Sting’s Ice Sheffield base. Sutton are currently just 1 place and 2 points behind Warriors in the NIHL North Division 1 standings and with players such as Dmitri Zimzodra, James Goodman and Jamie Spurr on the Sting roster Whitley will have to be at their best to come away from South Yorkshire with a victory.
Sunday evening’s opponents the Sheffield Spartans are currently level on points with Warriors as both sides have taken 13 points from their opening 13 games of the season. So far this term Sheffield have 1 victory over Warriors while the 2 sides have also shared the spoils on 2 occasions. Spartans stand out player this season has been their young netminder Brandon Stones who has been in superb form for Sheffield all season long. Sunday’s match up could be the last game between Spartans and Warriors this term unless the 2 sides face were to face each other in the end of season play offs.
Warriors Coach Simon Leach made his playing comeback last weekend and the 40 year old who has played in both the Elite League and the now defunct British National League in the past will once again be patrolling Whitley’s blue line this weekend as Warriors are likely to be without defencemen Paul Matthews and Scott Cooper who are struggling with knee and shoulder injuries respectively.
Whitley will be able to call upon their top scorer from the 2013/14 season though as Adam Reynolds has had no adverse reaction since he has resumed playing after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to the broken ankle he suffered in Warriors 2nd game of the current campaign. Harry Harley is also set to be included on Whitley’s roster and his versatility will give Warriors coaching team a great deal of tactical flexibility in this weekend’s match up.
Doors will open at 4.30pm on Sunday for the NIHL North Division 1 home game against the Sheffield Spartans which will face off half an hour later. Warriors supporters are encouraged to come along to Hillheads and get behind their team as Whitley look to get the better of Martin White’s Sheffield Spartans organisation.