2010-07-23 11:06:23
The EIHA and SIH Ltd are pleased to bring you the "NEW" Northern League - this 8 team league consisting of Solway Sharks - Fife Flyers - Whitley Bay Warriors - Blackburn Hawks - Northern Stars - Sheffield Spartans - Bradford Bulldogs - Flintshire Freeze.Saturday 28th August & Sunday 29th AugustMetro Radio Arena NewcastleSaturday Time: 10.00am – 10.00pm and Sunday Time: 10.00am – 8.00pmTickets on Sale from Saturday 17th July 2010The League has been assembled in such away that is sustainable and has a great future to grow - remember the days when the mighty Fife Flyers crossed over the border into England to take on many an English team, well those days are back.A great deal of effort has gone into bringing this league together and to start the season off we have all teams taking part in an opening tournament "Northern League - The Face Off" it takes place at the Metro Radio Arena Newcastle on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August, some epic battles are about to commence so why not make sure you don't miss out on the first encounters of the season.Not only will you see some fast and furious hockey you will see current GB, England and Scotland players along side some well known faces and young guns looking to make their mark and stake a claim on their placeSports Fan - Hockey Fan - Never seen Hockey Fan - it does not matter get yourself down to the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena and watch things unfold it will be a great weekend out and fantastic value for money including a reduction for a 2 day weekend ticket.Schedule of matches to be released early August.Pre Booked Specials available Till Thursday 26th August 2010Weekend Ticket £15.00 Adult £5.00 Child/OAP/StudentDay Tickets Purchased on the dayAdults £10.00 and Child £5.00Available NOW from Newcastle Metro Arena Box Office – Open Mon – Fri 10.00am – 4.00pm & Sat 10am – 1.00pmCash – NO CHARGEDebit Card/Credit Card Fee per ticket appliesOnline via www.metroradioarena.co.ukTicket Master Fee AppliesOr By Post Send Payment payable to EIHATickets required To: Northern League THE FACE OFF, 88 Mowbray Road, South Shields, NE33 3AX Tickets will be dispatched within 48 hours
2010-07-23 11:03:07
Whitley Warriors coach Simon Leach last night pulled off the surprise signing of former player Kevin Bucas and the no-nonsense defender will be back on the ice when the squad begins pre-season early next month.“Kevin contacted me a couple of weeks ago,” confirmed Leach, “and after a couple of chats, he has made the decision to return to the Warriors after a couple of seasons out of the game.“Having lost six players over the summer, to add such an experienced local player to the side is a huge boost to us,” added the coach.“He may have been out of the game for a while, but Kevin is in very good physical condition and it shouldn’t take him long to get back up to speed.”The Warriors defence certainly has a very experienced look about it with the addition of the former GB junior and Leach is confident they will have a big say in the club’s defence of the two titles they won last season.“We built our success, in the second half of the season especially, on being very difficult to break down and having Kevin join us as the big physical presence he is, can only add to that,” the coach continued.For his own part, Bucas is delighted at the prospect of pulling on a Whitley shirt again: “I had started to miss hockey and as the kids are now getting a little older, felt the time was right to return,” he said.“Now I just can’t wait to get back in the dressing room with the lads and get ready for that first training session.“We certainly seem to have a very decent squad and I’m looking forward to helping the Warriors defend those titles; and also see if we can make a good go at winning the Northern League as well.”Whitley fans will remember his physical style, but any fears that his time away from the game might have mellowed him, were allayed when Bucas declared: “I don’t know any other way to play!
2010-06-14 11:00:48
Whitley Warriors coach Simon Leach last night confirmed that a quartet of up-and-coming youngsters put the finishing touches to his squad for the 2010/11 campaign and all will be given a chance to shine throughout the season.“Nathan Ryder is well known to Warriors fans already,” he said, “but he is now 18 and will be moving up to senior hockey full time.“He certainly has the talent to make his mark,” Leach added, “and I will be looking to him to work hard and continue to develop, so that he is pushing for a place on one of our top three lines.“We will also have defender Josh Maddock and forward Jordan Barnes available to us when Under 18 commitments allow,” the coach continued.“The both made encouraging debuts for the Warriors last season and again I will be looking for them to make progress when they get ice time for the senior team.”One new name in the squad is that of defender Andrew Cook, who was the England Under 16 captain last season.“We will certainly have Andrew training with the Warriors,” Leach confirmed, “and it will be my intention to see how he progresses and slot him into the team when the time is right.”
2010-06-11 10:59:34
Whitley Warriors coach Simon Leach last night completed the signing of 25-year-old Andy Thornton and he will now join older brother Ritchie at Hillheads for the 2010/11 campaign.Teesside born Thornton, 5’ 11” and 180lbs, was with Billingham Bombers until the Forum closed for refurbishments last summer and spent time with in the ENL with Newcastle last season; he has also played in the English Premier League with Hull and for Newcastle Vipers when they were in the old British National League.“He is a very good addition to the Warriors and we know the qualities he brings to the side,” said Leach.“I have signed him as defender, but he can play up front if required,” the coach added, “which gives us more options in the team.“He did spend some time with Newcastle last season, but Andy is now keen to make his mark at Hillheads and looking forward to linking up again with his brother; as well as the other former Billingham players we have at Whitley.“We now have six senior D at the Warriors this coming season and, even though we have lost some players, that should give us a good base for the defence of the two titles we won in the previous campaign.”Meanwhile, as the deadline for entries to become the Warriors headline sponsor for the coming season is now just a month away, the coach reminded companies and fans that tickets for the draw were still available.“We have 100 tickets priced at £50 each available and though we have had a good response so far, there are still plenty remaining” said Leach. “We are encouraging Whitley fans to get involved as well,” he added, “with the supporter who ‘sells’ the winning ticket awarded a 2010/11 Warriors season ticket for their efforts.”Full details are available via the club website (whitleywarriors.net) or further information – and tickets – can be obtained by emailing the club at management@whitleywarriors.net or by using any of the numbers on the sponsorship package.
2010-05-26 10:56:01
Whitley Warriors player/coach Simon Leach added another player to his squad for the 2010/11 campaign last night; and also confirmed that one of the stalwarts of the side had decided to hang up his skates.After 291 games for the club, Andrew Tindale - who collected 452 points (181 goals and 271 assists) during his eight seasons with Whitley - confirmed to the coach that he was bowing out.“Andrew has been a fantastic player for Whitley,” said Leach, when paying tribute to the former Durham junior, “he was a very skilful puck handler and a very unselfish player; and it will certainly seem a strange Warriors dressing room without him next season.”However, the coach was able to confirm that Ryan Sample will be in the side when they set off in defence of the two trophies own last season.“Ryan is a match-winner, “said Leach, “a very unpredictable player - which is a good thing - who scores goals at important times and has bags of ability.“For a tall player he also has very good puck skill, but –like everyone in the squad – we will be asking him to raise his game again next season, as we look to build on our success.”After launching a scheme that could see a local business become the 2010/11 title sponsor of the Warriors, Simon Leach has given details of how a supporter will benefit from the Prize Draw on July 14th, when the winner will be announced at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.“We have 100 tickets priced at £50 each available and though we have had a good response so far, there are still plenty remaining” said Leach. “We are encouraging Whitley fans to get involved as well,” he added, and the supporter who ‘sells’ the winning ticket will be awarded a 2010/11 Warriors season ticket for their efforts.”Full details are available via the club website (whitleywarriors.net) or further information – and tickets – can be obtained by emailing the club at management@whitleywarriors.net or by using any of the numbers on the sponsorship package.
