Sixteen teams from across the NIHL will be hoping to move a step closer to securing silverware this weekend, as the regional NIHL cup semi-finals prepare to take centre stage.

The fixtures which fell under both league and cup competitions determined the positions of clubs in a mini-league, with the top two sides progressing.

The side atop each group will face the side in second in the corresponding group over two legs, with the winners progressing to their respective finals.

Below, we’ve compiled everything you need to know ahead of the weekend’s action.

NIHL North 1 – Moralee Cup

Billingham Stars come into the Moralee Cup semi-finals as strong favourites, sitting atop the NIHL North 1 table having lost just three games all season. They also won all eight in the group stage phase of the cup.

Their opponents, Hull Jets, sit fifth in the division and have lost each of their four meetings to Billingham this season.

On the opposing side of the draw, Blackburn Hawks also come into their semi-final match-up with an unbeaten record in the cup to partner an impressive league record, winning 18 of their 23 matches this season.

They take on Deeside Dragons, who sit just nine points behind the Hawks in the NIHL North 1 table. Deeside have boasted a win over their semi-final opponents this season, running out 5-3 winners at home back in October.

Fixtures – Moralee Cup semi-finals

• Saturday 18th January 5:30pm Billingham Stars vs Hull Jets
• Saturday 18th January 6:00pm Deeside Dragons vs Blackburn Hawks
• Sunday 19th January 5:30pm Hull Jets vs Billingham Stars
• Sunday 19th January 6:00pm Blackburn Hawks vs Deeside Dragons

NIHL South 1 – Britton Cup

Streatham Redhawks are facing some challenges this season in their quest to remain the dominant side in the NIHL South 1, despite only losing twice in 24 games so far this season.

The current third-placed side in the division, Streatham take on Chelmsford Chieftains, who sit directly above them in the league standings having played two games more.

Slough Jets are the only side in the final four to have come through the group stage phase with an unbeaten record – an overtime win over Chelmsford the closest they came to defeat.

They take on Solent Devils, who inflicted cup defeat on Streatham in December. They’ll be aiming to cause a similar upset over two legs this weekend.

Fixtures – Britton Cup semi-finals

• Saturday 18th January 5:00pm Solent Devils vs Slough Jets
• Saturday 18th January 5:30pm Chelmsford Chieftains vs Streatham Redhawks
• Sunday 19th January 5:45pm Slough Jets vs Solent Devils
• Sunday 19th January 6:45pm Streatham Redhawks vs Chelmsford Chieftains

North 2 – Laidler Cup

Telford Tigers NIHL 2 are looking to win the Laidler Cup yet again after their dramatic win in the second leg against Sutton Sting last season.

That final could repeat itself again this year, with both Telford and Sutton on separate sides of the draw.

First, the Tigers will have to overcome Billingham Buccaneers. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, with both league games between the pair taking place in February.

Sutton come into their semi-final tie against Altrincham Aces without a loss on their record for the entire season, winning every one of their 20 games – in regulation, no less.

Altrincham scraped a place in the top two in their group, finishing on the same points as Coventry NIHL Blaze, and the Aces know it’ll be a tall task to down the dominant league leaders.

Fans of Sutton and Altrincham will have to wait until February for their semi-final tie to be complete.

Fixtures – Laidler Cup semi-finals

• Saturday 18th January 5:15pm Altrincham Aces vs Sutton Sting
• Saturday 18th January 6:00pm Telford Tigers NIHL 2 vs Billingham Buccaneers
• Sunday 19th January 5:30pm Billingham Buccanneers vs Telford Tigers NIHL 2
• Saturday 8th February 4:40pm Sutton Sting vs Altrincham Aces

South 2 – Wilkinson Cup

With only two games remaining of their league season, Peterborough Phantoms NIHL 2 come into their semi-final against Invicta Mustangs top of the NIHL South 2 standings.

Peterborough’s only meeting with Invicta so far this season resulted in an 8-5 win for the table-toppers, who will be aiming to produce something similar and make the final.

The other semi-final features Guildford Phoenix, who sit 13 points behind Peterborough in second, albeit with five games in hand.

They take on Haringey Huskies – a team they have beaten twice already this season – as they look to continue their unbeaten run in the cup.

Fixtures – Wilkinson Cup semi-finals

Saturday 18th January 5:30pm Haringey Huskies vs Guildford Phoenix
Saturday 18th January 6:30pm Peterborough Phantoms NIHL 2 vs Invicta Mustangs
Sunday 19th January 5:30pm Guildford Phoenix vs Haringey Huskies
Sunday 19th January 5:45pm Invicta Mustangs vs Peterborough Phantoms

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