The NIHL North Moralee Division 1 Playoff Weekend returns for a second outing at Dumfries Ice Bowl this coming April and supporters of all seven teams in the division are invited to join the English Ice Hockey Association and Dumfries & Galloway Council for the showpiece conclusion to the season.
The top four sides in the division, headed by League champions Blackburn Hawks, will battle for playoff supremacy over the weekend of 11/12 April with two semi finals on the Saturday and the grand final on the Sunday. Last year Solway Sharks defeated Blackburn Hawks in the Final to complete a trophy treble.
Saturday’s semi finals will see Blackburn Hawks’ quest for a League and Playoff double in their 25th anniversary season begin with a game against the fourth placed side at 1pm, while the teams who end the season in second and third place will meet in the second semi final at 5pm.
Following the Saturday games, ProHockeyNews will once again present their NIHL Moralee Player of the Year awards in the rink bar with voting currently underway among club players, management and media representatives.
On Sunday morning it is still hoped to repeat the u10 Jamboree which royally entertained the fans last year, with teams from all NIHL Moralee clubs.
The main event of the weekend sees the two winning semi finalists face off at 3pm for the Playoff Championship.
Tickets for the Moralee Playoff Weekend are now on sale with advance online sales just £20 for adults (plus a booking fee) for all three games. Admission for U16s is free. On the day ticket sales will be priced at £25 for the weekend. Supporters booking online should state the name of their club when making their reservation.
The online link for tickets is: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/moralee-conference-play-off-weekend-ticket-tickets/167071
Currently only the Hawks are assured of their position, while remaining League fixtures suggest the final qualification and ranking will go to the last games at the end of March. Billingham Stars, Solway Sharks and Sutton Sting currently hold the important places in the standings, but with the teams playing each other in the run-in only Manchester are mathematically out of the equation at the moment.
