Still all to play for

There’s unfinished business in the English National Ice Hockey League and the ENL Blaze face-off against the Whitley Warriors this weekend for the crown of ENL North 1 playoff champions. The two sides were separated by 20 points in the regular season with the Warriors amassing a league winning 52 points in total. The Blaze finished third, just a point behind the Nottingham Lions who they dispatched in the playoff semi-finals.

But it was just as tight in the playoff semi as it had been in the league, as the two sides could not be separated after six periods of closely fought hockey. After a 1-1 draw in Coventry, the Blaze were able to hold the Lions at bay on Nottingham Ice, to secure a 4-4 draw at the end of regulation. The teams still couldn’t be separated after a period of 4 on 4 OT, and the game went to a shootout and the Blaze took the spoils.

The ENL Blaze are clearly underdogs going in to the game against Whitley, but they showed a lot of character to finish the job against the Lions, and will be looking to cause an upset over two-legs. The Warriors only lost four games out of 52 in the regular season having beaten the Blaze on three occassions. However, the Coventry side managed to hold the Warriors to a 0-0 draw in one league encounter, and they were only beaten by the odd goal in a 3-2 scoreline in another. So the playoff really is up for grabs on Saturday and Sunday.

If your team have hung up their skates, and you need a fix, then the first-leg of the playoff takes place at the Coventry Sky Dome on 7 May at 7:30pm. There is sure to be a good atmosphere, as the Blaze’s Elite League fans should come out in force to support their ENL outfit. The second-leg takes place on Sunday night at what is a rescheduled time of 6:30pm at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.