News

Phoenix out to stop Lightning striking twice

Tweet

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix play Milton Keynes Lightning at the Dome on Sunday, face off 1730hrs.

Phoenix will be looking to avenge their early season defeat by the Buckinghamshire outfit and retain their place at the top of the league.

Lightning coach Nick Poole has made a lot of changes to his squad this season, including losing Michael Wales and Matt Towalski to the Jets, Tom Norton to Peterborough (now Nottingham), Jamie Line to Peterborough and top netminder Baz Hollyhead to retirement. Only one change of import though. Tuomas Tikkanen was released and the influential Adam Calder has signed from the Jets. A mixture of experience and youth has been brought in with Nicky Chinn and tough guy Chris Wiggins from Bison joining the ranks. Adam Calder has been a top scorer in every league he has played in and is thought by many as still Elite League standard.

Phoenix, however, are on a 6-game winning streak, with all departments gelling together to form a formidable team. Michal Psurny is getting among the goals and Joachim Flaten’s tireless energy is causing problems for every team. The second and third lines are also contributing to the team’s fine run and the defence is looking tighter with every game.

An added incentive for this weekend is the fact that they face the only two teams to get the better of them so far this season. Phoenix went down heavily in Milton Keynes and were extremely unlucky to lose to Saturday’s opponents, Basingstoke Bison.

Coach Hand commented: “It is another tough weekend of hockey with the long trip to Basingstoke followed by the visit of Nick Poole’s side. We are playing well and will be looking to avenge our earlier losses and win the points. Confidence is high in the locker room and we want a good performance in front of our fans.”

Sunday’s game is sure to be another thrilling, exciting encounter between two teams who will be in the reckoning in March/April when the silverware is dished out.

This game is certainly one not to be missed as the home side strive to keep their excellent run of results going and Lightning look for crucial away points to maintain their challenge.

There is only one place to be at 5.30 this Sunday and that is Altrincham Ice Dome to watch Manchester’s fastest and most exciting sports team, Manchester Phoenix.

You know you want to!