ICE HOCKEY: Show some Steel (From Swindon Advertiser)

ICE HOCKEY: Show some Steel

9:40am Friday 27th January 2012 in Ice Hockey By Andy Warren

SWINDON Wildcats face a vital double header with Sheffield Steeldogs this weekend as they look to move up the English Premier Division table.

Wildcats host the opening game at the Link Centre tomorrow night before travelling to IceSheffield the following evening (both face-off 5.45pm), knowing they need to pick up four points as clubs jockey for position in time for the play-offs.

The Steeldogs currently sit two places and eight points ahead of Wildcats in the league table, and head coach Ryan Aldridge knows they need to pick up two wins to keep the pressure on.

“I think it is vital we pick up four points this weekend, particularly after letting the points slip last weekend against Basingstoke,” he told the Advertiser.

“It is going to be a very tough weekend, though, because Sheffield are a very good side, but they are all points we know we have to take.

“It will be hard to catch Sheffield up in the table if they take some points from us, and our aim is to be moving up the table before the start of the play offs.

“It is important we take wins in games like this because we don’t want to be relying on other people, we want to do it ourselves.”

Aldridge is expecting a physical game against the Yorkshire side, and wants his side to match them.

“If we do not match them physically then we do not give ourselves much of a chance,” he said. They are a good side with some good imports and we need to be strong.

“We played well in our last game but just couldn’t take our chances, so we need to find a way of getting the best out of our players every week, and that comes down to the coaches.”

Netminder Thomas Murdy was set to return to training last night having missed the last few weeks through injury, but Aldridge is not going to push him into a quick return.

“We need to make sure he is right,” he said.

“He was due back on the ice last night but we don’t want to rush him. He is a fit kid and looks after himself so I am sure he will be ok, but he needs a couple of weeks.”