Aldridge bids for MK upset (From Swindon Advertiser)

Aldridge bids for MK upset

7:30am Friday 5th February 2010 in

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SWINDON Wildcats travel to league leaders MK Lightning tomorrow in the English Premier League, with player-coach Ryan Aldridge confident that the sizeable rink at the Planet Ice Arena will enhance his side’s chances of stealing two crucial points.

The Cats ran MK close when the two teams squared up to each other last week at the Link Centre and that, coupled with Swindon’s on-the-road victory at Peterborough last Sunday, has persuaded Aldridge that his squad have the potential to cause an upset tomorrow.

“We went to Peterborough and played so well that we know we can do it,” he said.

“Obviously we’re looking for a repeat, and I think we’ve got a decent chance of doing it.

“MK are probably better on a smaller rink like ours in Swindon, but at their place such a big rink may well benefit us.

“We are definitely going there with the aim to go out and get the two points.”

In midweek the Wildcats entertained a British Universities side which included young Cats starlet Sam Bullas, with the game giving Aldridge an opportunity to watch some of the youth and fringe players make a case for first-team inclusion.

And whilst Aldridge was not impressed by some of the performances in the home side’s 4-2 win, he did pull out certain names for specific praise.

“I thought Josh Oliver, Michael Whillock and Stevie Whitfield were all excellent,” he said.

“The game gave us a chance to look at some of the younger guys who don’t often get much game time, and I was really pleased with some of them.

“We rolled three lines throughout the game and it was a decent chance for the backup to have a game.”

The Cats senior starters will return to duty tomorrow evening, however, with Aldridge determined to secure the points needed to make a later push for the final post-season play-off spot.

“We’re fighting for that place in the play-offs,” he said.

“That’s what we’re focused on getting and tomorrow is one game of many still to go.”