Rivalry is set to be renewed
THE Widnes Wild ice hockey team have learned who they will be playing in next season’s league competition following a meeting of all the National Ice Hockey League clubs over the weekend.
The Wild will once again play in the Laidler Division which is the second level of competition in the National Ice Hockey League Northern Section, and part of the third tier overall of British ice hockey.
Last season’s Laidler Division champions Sutton Sting are promoted to the Moralee Division for the 2018-19 campaign with the Moralee’s bottom team Deeside Dragons coming the other way. ●
This means that the Wild will be able to renew the fierce rivalry that they have always enjoyed with the North Wales-based team.
With the Dragons’ first-team dropping down to the Laidler Division, the Dragons’ second string will not be competing next season.
There will be nine teams in the division with sides playing each other twice home and twice away for a 32-game regular season. ● The full list of teams in the Laidler Division for the 2018-19 season is: Altrincham Aces, Blackburn Hawks 2, Bradford Bulldogs, Coventry Blaze, Deeside Dragons, Hull Jets, Sheffield Senators, Telford Tigers 2, Widnes Wild. ● The top four sides in the league will qualify for a PlayOff Finals Weekend at a central venue, which will be announced later. It is expected that the Wild’s league fixtures will be published at the end of July. ● The Riverside Raiders are back in competitive action this Sunday when they entertain the Sheffield Ice Tigers in the Summer Classic Cup at Planet Ice Widnes. The game faces-off at 4.30pm and admission is free.