The alternate captains for home games will be Canadian import Andre Payette and local enforcer Jordan Barnes.
* Payette is an obvious choice given his vast hockey experience on both sides of the pond. He was recently coach of the Sheffield Steeldogs in the English Premier League.
* Barnes, although only 22, has made more than 100 appearances for the Warriors in 6 seasons. The defenseman, a locally born player brings enthusiasm and positivity to the role.
* Road games will see separate players wearing the 'A'. New signing Joe Stamp and giant defenseman Dan Pye have been given the task.
* Defenseman, Stamp signed during the off-season after spending the previous decade in the armed forces.
“I was a little shocked when Dave (Holland) and Lobby (David Longstaff) told me about the role, just purely because I’m new with the team. I already know the majority of the players but have only played with a handful of them in the past. Since we’ve played two games now I feel more at home and I’m proud about my new role with the team. Fingers crossed I’ll do a good job.”
Warriors are next in action on Sunday September 6th at Hillheads when Whitley take on the Solway Sharks in the 1st game of the NIHL North regular season programme in what promises to be an end to end game of hockey between two of the divisions best sides.
* Fresh off the back of announcing the SEGA sponsorship last month, Whitley have agreed terms with Car Dealers, Evans Halshaw as main title sponsors.
* The partnership with Evans Halshaw is heading into a third successive season, and they are not the only company to do this. Clusters Jewellers, Foxhunters Tyres & Alloys, Dave Holland Motor Engineers and 42nd Street Bar have also agreed to stay onboard for a third term. Whitley realise they are in a privileged position having built long lasting relationships with each of these partners. This shows the hard work both Simon Leach and Paul Matthews are putting into this venture is paying off.
* There were some new names announced as corporate partners for this season though. Frontier Group, Dawson and Sanderson Travel Agents, Glitz Hair Design and HB Clark all join SEGA in teaming up with the Warriors.
Dave Banks, Dealer Principle, Evans Halshaw Vauxhall: “On behalf of all of the four Evans Halshaw Vauxhall dealerships at Shiremoor, Gateshead, Cramlington and Blaydon, we are all incredibly proud to be continuing sponsoring the Whitley Warriors Ice Hockey team. It is important to all of us to support clubs in the local community and we are glad to be able to provide support to a team that is so close to home in more ways than one. We’re all excited to start cheering on the players again and look forward to the beginning of the new season in September! I must also mention and thank Paul Matthews and Simon Leach who were instrumental again in setting our partnership up”.
Dawn Gardner, Glitz Hair Design: “For many years now we have been going as a family to watch the team on Sunday nights. When the opportunity came up to sponsor them I jumped at the chance. We are a local business with hair salons in Tynemouth and North shields and have recently opened our North Shields one, Glitz Hair Design II at the bottom of the Coast Road at Billy Mill. It is great to sponsor on a local level, and I look forward to welcoming any ice hockey players and supporters to our Billy Mill Salon.”
Tony Breeze, Senior Branch Manager, Dawson and Sanderson: “We are delighted to be involved with Whitley Warriors this year. A local business supporting a local team! We wish everyone a successful season. Good luck!”
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