Callum Queenan screens the net. Photo by Ice Hockey Media - Colin Lawson
Whitley Warriors are set to host the Sutton Sting in a NIHL North Division 1 match up this weekend at Hillheads Ice Rink in Whitley Bay. Warriors go into the game having won their last 5 match ups including a 4-3 victory over the Sting last weekend at their Ice Sheffield base.
Warriors player/coach David Longstaff will make use of his large squad of players this weekend as Whitley look set to be without the services of blue liners Joe Stamp, Harry Harley, Liam Smedley and Scott Cooper when Sutton make the trip up to Tyneside while forward Ben Richards also looks set to miss the game.
With 4 d men likely to be missing from the roster this weekend Warriors look set to be move a number of forwards back into defence to ease the workload on regular blue liners such as Josh Maddock, Dan Pye and Craig Johnson. Recent recruit Adam Reynolds who had played a number of shifts in defence since rejoining the club could well help out back on the blue line while alternate captain Jordan Barnes may also revert to a defensive role this weekend.
Sutton are currently 8th in the NIHL North Division 1 table with a total of 17 points from the 24 games they have played. Despite sitting 2nd off bottom in the standings Sting have proven that they match any side in the league on their day as they have drawn with league leaders the Blackburn Hawks and have also beaten the likes of the Solihull Barons, Telford Tigers, Sheffield Spartans and Billingham Stars who are all battling to make the end of season championship play offs.
Tickets for Sunday’s game are priced at £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for juniors while a family ticket can be bought for £24 which allows 2 adults and up 2 children admission to the game. It would be great to see a large crowd in attendance as Warriors look to consolidate their play off position and move closer to the Blackburn Hawks who currently lead the standings.