The YKK sponsored Widnes Wild have a busy weekend ahead of them with a trip away to Blackburn on Saturday 26th November – 6pm face off - and then a game at home to Billingham Stars on Sunday at Planet Ice Widnes (5.30pm).
The trip to East Lancashire is the first game in a two-legged tie that will decide the winners of the newly launched North West Cup.
This was originally going to be the 3-team M56 Cup featuring Widnes, Blackburn and Deeside but, following ongoing concerns about ice time availability at the Dragons’ Queensferry rink, it has now been re-branded as the “North West Cup” and will now be contested between the YKK Widnes Wild and Blackburn Hawks only.
The return game will be played on Saturday 10th December at Planet Ice Widnes and the team with the highest aggregate score after the two legs will win the North West Cup.
Widnes have only played Blackburn once this season so far – notching up a very close 4-3 win in the Moralee Division at Planet Ice Widnes a couple of weeks ago. Encounters between these two near neighbours are always very passionate affairs and Saturday’s game should be no different.
The Wild will have a point to prove on Sunday when they welcome Billingham Stars to Planet Ice Widnes in the league.
The Stars have had a really good start to the season - with 10 wins from their 14 games to date – two of those coming over the Wild, who they beat 6-3 away in the North East and 1-5 at home on Merseyside. Billingham are currently in 3rd place in the Moralee Division table, 6 points ahead of the 4th place Wild, although the Stars have played more games.
The game on Sunday faces off at 5.30pm and doors open at 4.45
As usual, after the game, two Wild players will be available to meet with supporters for photos and autographs. Please note that this is now taking place in a new location in the corner of the rink by the entrance to the changing rooms - and not down by the café as was the case in previous years.
For anybody who is not able to attend Sunday’s game, the Wild’s broadcasting partners BASN are livestreaming all home league games this season over the internet. Online viewing tickets can be booked to watch the game HERE
WIDNES WILD LADIES TEAM
Following on from last Sunday’s spectacular 1-9 win away to Leeds, the Widnes Ladies have another away game this Sunday 27th November when they make the long trip to the north east to take on Whitley Bay Beacons, 5pm face off.
The Beacons were the champions in this division last season but have had a slow start to the new campaign with 1 win and 1 defeat from their 2 games so far.
The Wild women beat them 9-0 in their first game in Widnes but the Whitley team had been short-benched on that occasion and will be sure to present much tougher opposition on home ice.
Following Sunday’s game, the Wild women have a break from matches until Sunday 8th January when they will be at home to Telford Wrekin Raiders at Planet Ice Widnes.
WILD JUNIOR ACADEMY
On Sunday 27th November the Wild Under 10 team have a cross ice tournament away at Bradford featuring the host team plus Blackburn and Manchester, starting at 5pm.
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