Billingham Stars Junior Ice Hockey Club have announced that their U16 Girls WNIHL team will play their first-ever game on Saturday 6 September.

The brand-new team will welcome Caledonia Iron Maidens to the Billingham Forum for a 4pm face-off.

The club say the fixture will be a “huge and historic milestone”, enabling them to facilitate a massive step forward for girls’ and women’s hockey in Billingham.

To mark the occasion, Abi McCourt (Great Britain Ice Hockey & Billingham Buccaneers) will be in attendance to perform the ceremonial opening puck drop. 

Ian Watson [pictured right] will act as a supporting coach of the U16 Girls WNIHL team next season.

WNIHL general manager Faye Andrews said: “The growth of women’s and girls’ hockey in Great Britain has exploded over the last couple of seasons. 

“To see a female team back in Billingham after a few years away from the sport is incredible, especially since Billingham was home to one of our top female senior women’s teams for many years. 

“The north-east historically has been a hub for hockey, and has produced some of our most talented female players over the years. 

“Hopefully, this is the first step in bringing a sustainable women’s hockey programme back to Billingham, and I look forward to seeing them progress.”

This coming season, Billingham’s new female team will compete in the WNIHL U16 North. Click here for the full structure of the WNIHL divisions.