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Phoenix prepare for home double header

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Phoenix have the luxury of a home double header this weekend as they welcome the Peterborough Phantoms and Hull Pirates to Deeside.

Phoenix were edged out 6-4 by the MK Lightning on Wednesday evening despite two goals from Robin Kovar and will be looking to return to winning ways.

Peterborough are the visitors on Saturday night with a 7pm face-off, and the Phantoms promise to be a tough opponent after a strong start to the season.  Peterborough sit second in the table, only two points behind rivals Milton Keynes and with two games in hand.

Former Phoenix favourite Slava Koulikov has forged a squad blended with promising young players and experienced imports.  Latvian goaltender Janis Auzins has again impressed in the early part of the season, with Craig Scott (12), Ales Padalek (10) and Edgars Bebris (10) leading the team in points.

Peterborough made three major acquisitions over the summer, with veteran Czech forward Padalek arriving from the Sydney Bears, Canadian forward Scott from the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League and Lloyd Gibson making a shorter trip from Sheffield.

Phoenix will then face-off at 6:30pm on Sunday evening against the Hull Pirates, who are still adapting to life during their first season in the EPL.  Hull have only managed to pick up two points from their first eight games; a shootout defeat in Basingstoke and an overtime loss at home to Swindon.

Hull appointed American player-coach Dominic Osman to lead the new organisation, and brought in experienced EPL players James Hutchinson and Warren Tait to help support a young group of players, which also included former Hull Stingrays forward Sam Towner.  American forward Mario Mjelleli, goaltender Jon Baston and experienced Czech defenceman Jan Platil also arrived over the summer.

However in a twist of fate, the Pirates released Platil after only four games to allow them to sign another forward, Finn Tommi Laine, and Platil then immediately made the move to Phoenix on a short-term basis.

Phoenix claimed a 4-1 win in the opening game of the season in Hull, with goals from Robin Kovar, Michal Satek, James Archer and Nico Aaltonen, and will be looking for a repeat performance on Sunday evening.