ICE HOCKEY: It's time for action (From Swindon Advertiser)

ICE HOCKEY: It's time for action

8:00am Friday 23rd December 2011 in Ice Hockey By Andrew Warren

SWINDON Wildcats need to put a run of wins together over the festive period if they are going to achieve their aim of a top four finish in the English Premier League according to head coach Ryan Aldridge.

Wildcats start their festive programme with a home game against Basingstoke Bison on December 27, and Aldridge is expecting a victory to set the tone as his side face five games in 10 days.

“Last time we played Basingstoke we stood off and let them take control of the game, we don’t want that to happen again and we will be all out to claim the win.

“If we can win the first game we want to start putting a run of wins together, pretty much every team in the league has done that so far this season apart from us, and if we can do it now we can force ourselves into the top four.

“Bison are a big strong team, and our defence are all quite short, so we will require good team defence as always, with some of our attacking players coming back to help out.”

Wildcats have been without a game since their trip to Telford on December 18, and Aldridge has given his players the week off to prepare for the run of games.

“We hope they are all feeling refreshed now after their week off, although they did have their own assignments in the gym to do while they were away.

“We let our foreign imports go home as well, as it is good for them to be able to see their families and spend some time back home during the season. We hope they will come back fresh.”

All but one of Cats’ next six games are at home at the Link Centre, and Aldridge knows his side will need to make home advantage count.

“We are happy not to be travelling so much, because that can take it out of you,” he said.

“The players are comfortable on our ice, given that it is a lot smaller than some of the Olympic sized rinks we play on, and it is always good to be in front of your own fans.

“We need to take advantage of this because home wins are vital for us.”