Season 26/27: Week 2 Preview
A TRICKY WEEKEND ahead for Billingham Stars in National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division as a weakened side takes on reigning League champions Blackburn Hawks, first later today in Lancashire and then tomorrow’s home opener at the Forum.
Already a very strong side, Blackburn have strengthened again during the summer in an attempt to secure all trophies on offer this season. There has been a change on the bench as Dominic Osman stepped away in the summer, the coaching team now Ollie Lomax and Andy McKinney in a player/coach role. On the ice the Hawks should be putting out at least three lines of talent every week, with scoring spread across the lines and consequently opponents will need to find ways to contain them for the full sixty. They are clear favourites for a clean sweep of silverware and as such will be a tough challenge for Stars over the weekend.
Still without the suspended Darren Stattersfield today, there will be more gaps in the lineup as Billingham travel without six key players. New signing Rowan Mills will go straight into the lineup this evening, and Stuart Jackson will stay on the roster.
Fixtures:
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
🏆 NIHL Moralee Division
📍 Blackburn Ice Arena
📅 Saturday 12th September 2026
🕕 Face off 6pm
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
🏆 NIHL Moralee Division
📍 Billingham Forum Ice Arena
📅 Sunday 13th September 2026
🕠 Face off 5.30pm
Blackburn Hawks:
2025-26 Moralee Division: Champions
2025-26 Moralee Cup: Runners-Up
Squad changes from 2025-26:
Players out: Harrison Walker (G – Leeds Knights), Jakub Hájek (F – Widnes Wild), Luke Watson (F – Widnes Wild), Cade King (D – Widnes Wild)
Players in: Dmitri Zimozdra (G – Sheffield Steeldogs), Owen Dell (F – Leeds Knights 2), Regan Kidd (D – Nottingham Lions), Elmeri Hällfors (F – KeuPa HT), Joshua Milnes (F – Altrincham Aces), Garry Simpson (F – Edinburgh Capitals), Luca Maiuri (F – Western Connecticut State University)
In charge:
Coach – Ollie Lomax
Player/Coach – Andy McKinney
🔗 Blackburn Hawks on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/2114/blackburn-hawks
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL Moralee Saturday:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
🐯 Telford Tigers 2 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾
NIHL Moralee Sunday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️ (L/C)
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
✈️ Hull Jets 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️ (L/C)
🐾 Widnes Wild 🆚 Telford Tigers 2 🐯
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️