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Another tough weekend for Phoenix

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J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix have another tough weekend against in-form teams in the EPL.

On Saturday they travel to Berkshire to take on Slough Jets.

The Jets are putting a good run together and will be on a high after upsetting the odds and making the cup final after a penalty shot win over high flying Basingstoke Bison.

Slough, coached by ex Phoenix forward Slava Koulikov, have had an up and down season but are now challenging for the third spot in the league, currently held by Phoenix.

Greg Rockman is having a good season and with Pavel Gomeniuk and Adam Greener in front of him, the defence is starting to look more solid than earlier in the season. Goal scoring has come from top import Frantisek Bakrlik who has hit 39 goals so far this season. He is supported by Darius Pliskauskas on 28 goals and hot shot D-man Mindy Kieras, who is the top scoring defenceman in the league with 14 goals.

Phoenix have the edge in the head to head series with 4 wins and a penalty shot defeat in the five games played so far and will be looking to consolidate with another victory at the Hangar to add to their previous 7-5 and 4-3 wins.

On Sunday, Swindon Wildcats visit the Dome for the last time in the regular season. The two previous games have both ended 5-4 to the home side and another end to end match is forecast.

Dean Skinns has taken full advantage of starting netminder Tom Murdy’s injury problems this season to have a very successful time between the pipes. Huge Czech Republic defenceman Tomas Fojtik has slotted in well on the blue line, giving the Wildcats a solid defensive corps. However, it is up front that everybody is taking notice of around the league with top British forward Aaron Nell heading for the All Star team on the back of 98 points so far this season. Linemate Jonas Hoog is no less of a threat as he, too, has 98 points in the season. Add new import forward Henri Sandvick with 10 goals in just 9 games and defences around the league are taking notice.

Phoenix are having a tough time of it at the moment but Coach Hand remains positive and will have the team fired up for the weekend and, hopefully, pick up the points to maintain their challenge at the top end of the league.

Coach Hand said of the upcoming weekend games: “It will be tough again with us still missing Foney. We will work hard as always but my main aim is to get the guys fit for the cup semi final and the play offs, whilst finishing as high up the league as we can. I am hoping to have Stephen back for the quarter finals. I spoke to him today and it is just time to heal that is needed now.”