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News
Phoenix aiming for giant Friday date
Manchester Phoenix will travel to Belfast on Friday hoping to repeat the outcome of their last visit to the province when they posted a first-ever win over the Giants on their home ice.
On that occasion, a brace of goals from David Kozier and a maiden strike from Jason Hewitt edged the Phoenix past their hosts. And with the last three meetings between the two teams all decided by the odd goal in five, seven and nine respectively – can the fans on Friday expect an eleven-goal feast?
“We like to play entertaining hockey, but that would be expecting a little too much from either team,” quipped Phoenix coach Rick Brebant. “We’ve won three of our last four games against the Giants so, maybe we have some momentum building against them. Right now, I don’t care what the score line is on Friday just as long as we get the win and the vital points on offer.”
The Phoenix cause is likely to be boosted by the return of forward Mark Bultje – out of the line-up with a wrist injury since January 11th. The Dutch international commented, “It’s easing up with every day that passes. I’ve been skating all the time to keep my legs in shape and now I’m able to put more pressure on the wrist, I’m a lot happier. It’s still sore, but I’m determined to play on Friday. I’ve helped out behind the bench and that has been a challenge that I’ve enjoyed, but I’m not ready for coaching just yet – I wanna play and help the team on the ice.”
Sunday sees the Basingstoke Bison the visitors to the MEN Arena and Phoenix are desperate to put one over on the Hampshire outfit in Manchester. Brebant noted, “We’ve beaten them twice on their ice, but not here yet. Now is the time to put that right. A four-point weekend would be an enormous boost for the club and that is our goal. We’ve had a few long chats in the locker room and all the players understand and appreciate what’s required from now till the end of the season. Qualification for the playoffs is vital, because anything can happen in the post-season.”
