PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 32
THE STEEL City Showdown awaits the victor of this weekend’s National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division playoff semi-final as Billingham Stars do battle with Deeside Dragons to decide who will face either Blackburn Hawks or Solihull Barons in Sheffield next week.
After a rollercoaster of a season, it was perhaps inevitable that Deeside’s quarterfinal tie against Hull Jets would be anything but straightforward. Three goals behind after the first leg on Humberside, that gap remained until the final period in Queensferry when goals from Jakub Hajek, James Parsons and – in the last minute – Brodie Jesson sent the tie into overtime. Against the backdrop of a noisy home crowd, it was Ross Kennedy who finally sealed the deal almost three minutes into the extra session to book the Dragons’ place in this weekend’s semi-final. Coming up against the Stars will mean that Deeside will have to make the final the hard way, and especially with a leaky defence that conceded 204 goals over the course of the regular season. Offensively however, the Dragons pose a considerable threat and will look to the immensely talented Jake Witkowski to lead the line and score the goals that will take them to the big dance next week.
🔗 Deeside Dragons on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/5129/deeside-dragons
Billingham got the expected win over eighth seed Leeds Knights 2 in their quarterfinal in dominant fashion, a 22-5 aggregate score line testament to the one-sided nature of the tie. The Stars know that they face a far tougher challenge this weekend, but with four regular season wins already against the Dragons, they are well-placed to meet that challenge. They will need to nullify the Deeside forward threat if they are to progress, whilst exploiting the Dragons defensive frailties in order to get to the final. Sunday’s second leg is a last chance for the Forum faithful to see their heroes on home ice this season, and Billingham will want to go out on a winning note.
The Stars are at Deeside Dragons in the National Ice Hockey League Moralee playoff semi-final first leg later today, face off 5.15pm. The second leg is back at the Forum tomorrow afternoon, face off 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at £14 adults, £10 concessions, £46 family [2+2].
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL Moralee Playoff Semi-Finals Saturday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️
NIHL Moralee Playoff Semi-Finals Sunday:
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Deeside Dragons 🐉
⚜️ Solihull Barons 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅