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The final countdown

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J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix will wrap up regular season play this weekend with a mission to complete.

First up will be the War of the Roses 2013 final chapter on Friday night when Phoenix travel across the Pennines for the sixth and final meeting with bitter rivals Sheffield Steeldogs. The last encounter was a bruising 3-2 win for Phoenix and the Dogs’ player coach Andre Payette has already promised the usual brand of Steeldogs hockey.

The Dogs players will need no introduction but a couple to look out for on Friday will be Czech forward Lubomir Korhon. Not just for his white gloves but for his 18 goals and 27 assists in 30 games. Greg Wood, no stranger to the faithful, has hit the twine 25 times in an ever present season and the third of a trio to watch will be Edgars Bebris, the Latvian who has hit 21 goals. Import netminder Dalibor Sedlar impressed many with his performance last week at the Dome and he will be one to beat if Phoenix are to take the points.

The second part of the mission is – revenge.  Phoenix will take on the Telford Tigers in the final home game of the regular season on Sunday night with the usual 1730hrs face off.

Last week in Telford, Phoenix had a poor night and a fired-up Tigers beat them 8-2 with a fine display.

When looking at ones to watch in the Telford side, we have to look at ex Phoenix forward Scott McKenzie. Scott, very popular at the Dome, never really gelled but he has certainly found his old form now he is back in Shropshire. Two hat tricks last weekend, unfortunately one against Phoenix, showed that his dip in form in Altrincham was temporary. He has hit 17 goals in 29 games back at Telford and is well supported by Tim Burrows, who has scored 21 times. Fling in Czech forward Tomas Karpov, with his 12 in 21 games, and you can see where Telford’s new found form has come from.

Phoenix will be pumped up for this one, determined to avenge a really bad day at the office last Saturday evening.

So, if you are one of the many faithful making the trip across to Sheffield on Friday, take extra care as the weather forecast is not too bright. But make sure you do not miss Sunday night’s Telford game. Phoenix need just one point to confirm third place in the league and they will be determined to take good form into next week’s play off quarter finals.