Billingham Ice Hockey Club held their annual presentation night at the Billingham Social Club last weekend before players, families and friends. A well attended awards night saw several players receive two awards apiece.

Vanessa Hill picked up two trophies in the women's category and Jamie Pattison doing likewise at U19 level.

Callum Clark was the third recipient who went home with a brace of trophies. However Callum's awards came in two different age groups. He was player of the year for the U10s and most improved player in the U12s.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Gerard Crinnion, manager of the Billingham Bombers senior team.

Award winners

Billingham Coyotes U10s

Most improved player - Luke Brown

Player of the year - Callum Clark.

Billingham Pumas U12s

Most improved player - Callum Clark

Player of the year - James Moss

Players' player of the year - Thomas Bence.

Billingham Falcons U14s

Most improved player - David Marsden

Player of the year - Alex Atkinson

Players' player of the year - Andrew Finn

Billingham Bears U16

Most improved player - Anthony Price

Player of the year - James Flavell

Players' player of the year - Michael Farn.

Billingham Wolves U19

Most improved player - Stuart Gibbon

Player of the year - Jamie Pattison

Players' player of the year - Jamie Pattison

Most dedicated player - Daniel McConnell

Billingham Wildcats women

Most improved player - Lindsay Amos

Player of the year - Vanessa Hill

Players' player of the year - Vanessa Hill

Billingham Bombers Seniors

Player of the year - Martin Lewis.

Newcastle Vipers are involved in a war of words with the Ice Hockey Players Association after an email from the IHPA was sent out to its members and players' agents by secretary Joanne Collins.

"What is of interest to me here," said Collins, "is that I issued not a statement but a protected email sent to members and agents on our list to advise them of a potential situation. It was a cautionary note. I did not specifically state that the club was in difficulty. It did not specifically state that any winding up petition or any legal action was outstanding against Newcastle and it did specifically suggest to players and agents that if they wanted to know more they could contact the club direct or indeed, they could go to the league and talk about it.

"What players and agents do acting on information is down to them. If they choose to go ahead and contact then at least going ahead on the basis that they know a little bit more. But I am sorry but if any club that tries to negotiate and keep players and agents in the dark of the true situation of what is going on as far as I am concerned, that is deceitful deception.

"The function of the IHPA as I see it and like I have been told my many other people and other players associations is that they keep players and agents informed and that is what I have been doing to the best of my ability."

Collins was commenting after Newcastle Vipers issued a statement: "Newcastle Vipers have today instructed their solicitors to take legal action against the Ice Hockey Players' Association for issuing a defamatory statement to players and agents regarding the viability of the Vipers as a business. The club cannot make any further statement on this matter. The Vipers look forward to taking their place in the British National League at the start of the next season."

Since this came out it was reported that two of Vipers targets have been broken off negotiations with Newcastle.

Collins said: "I cannot see where any damage is lying with the club merely because a player has broken off negotiations. There have been no contract signed, no money paid, no specific performance of the contract by the player or the club. Where is the loss?

"All that has happened is two players have exercised their options and said in the circumstances we don't want to sign for Newcastle. There are plenty of other players out there who probably will.

"I have no reason at all to not want Newcastle Vipers to operate soundly and efficiently from this season onwards and settle out matters. If there are any outstanding matters to get it sorted. Go forward, have a successful season because we have had five or six years of ice hockey teams in Newcastle failing to establish themselves both within the community and financially for all sorts of reasons.

"More than anybody I want to see a successful ice hockey team in the BNL or wherever. I look forward to seeing that happen and it isn't going to stop me from advising players and agents where appropriate if I am aware or if I think there are any possibilities of problems occurring."