Season 26/27: Week 4 Preview
A DOUBLE HEADER weekend awaits Billingham Stars in National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division, a trip to Ice Sheffield to take on Sheffield Scimitars this evening followed by the visit of Widnes Wild to the Forum tomorrow.
The fabled Sheffield pathway attracts young prospects from far and wide, but the end product was somewhat lacking in North 1 last season as Scimitars limped in last. The Titans fared much better in North 2, now rebranded as Scimitars 2, and the hope will be to get the chemistry right to put out two competitive sides. The early signs haven’t been great for the Scimitars however, with heavy defeats looking horribly familiar to their last campaign.
By comparison tomorrow’s visitors Widnes have set their stall out to get amongst the League’s movers and shakers with a series of excellent summer signings, including the capture of Alex Rushby. A statement overtime win at Solihull Barons last time out shows the Wild mean business and could yet add more depth to their squad.
Finally off and running with a win at home to Hull Jets last Sunday, Stars have been boosted further this week with the signings of Stuart Jackson and Andy Finn to bolster what had been looking like a very thin blue line. Neither are exactly strangers to the Billingham faithful, and the coaches are delighted to welcome them back into the fold.
Fixtures:
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
🏆 NIHL Moralee Division
📍 Ice Sheffield
📅 Saturday 26th September 2026
🕢 Face off 7.30pm
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾
🏆 NIHL Moralee Division/Moralee Cup
📍 Billingham Forum Ice Arena
📅 Sunday 27th September 2026
🕠 Face off 5.30pm
Sheffield Scimitars:
2025-26 Moralee Division: Tenth
2025-26 Moralee Cup: n/a
Squad changes from 2025-26:
Players out: James White (F - Peterborough Phantoms 2); Jake Scott (F - Kirkcaldy Kestrels); Jordan Wright (D - Sheffield Scimitars 2); George Crawshaw (F - Nottingham Lions)
Players in: Andras Kehl (F - Sheffield Steeldogs); Oliver Wagg (F - Leeds Knights 2); Andrew Heath (F - Invicta Dynamos); Nathan Bennett (D - Widnes Wild); Sebastian Shillito (F - Sheffield Bears); Dominic Rae (G - Streatham Redhawks); Finn Ogden (G - Deeside Dragons 2); Finn Wilson (G - Sheffield Steelhawks); Joshua Minns (G - Telford Tigers 2); Lewis Ball (F - CIHA Voyageurs U18 Prep); Albie Phillips (D - Sheffield Steelhawks); Riley-Drew Douglas (D - Sheffield Steelhawks); Darren Tuuling (F - Nottingham Lions 2); Evan Chard (F - Invicta Dynamos)
In charge:
Head Coach – Mark Illingworth
Assistant Coach - Jonathan Weaver
Player/Assistant Coach – Euan Williams
🔗 Sheffield Scimitars on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/8137/sheffield-scimitars
Widnes Wild:
2025-26 Moralee Division: Seventh
2025-26 Moralee Cup: n/a
Squad changes from 2025-26:
Players out: Nathan Bennett (D - Sheffield Scimitars); Dani Haid (F - retired); Oliver Howells (D - Deeside Dragons 2); Luca Tessadri (G - Telford Tigers 2)
Players in: Jakub Hájek (F - Blackburn Hawks); Alex Rushby (F - Nottingham Lions); Oliver Thomasson (G); Luke Watson (F - Blackburn Hawks); Oliver Booth (G - Leeds Knights); Cade King (D - Blackburn Hawks); Cody Ogden (F - Deeside Dragons)
In charge:
Head Coach – Thomas Jackson
Assistant Coach - Gary Eddlestone
🔗 Widnes Wild on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/14039/widnes-wild
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL Moralee Saturday:
✈️ Hull Jets 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅
🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫
NIHL Moralee Sunday:
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Hull Jets ✈️
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Widnes Wild 🐾 (L/C)
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️
🐯 Telford Tigers 2 🆚 Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️ (L/C)
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️