Dogs reign over depleted Wildcats (From Swindon Advertiser)

Dogs reign over depleted Wildcats

6:30am Monday 30th January 2012 in Ice Hockey By Andrew Warren

SWINDON Wildcats suffered back to back defeats against the Sheffield Steeldogs as they failed to make ground on the teams above them in the English Premier League table.

The two sides were separated by only two places going into the weekend, but it was the Yorkshiremen who came out on top, first with a shootout win following a 3-3 draw after overtime at the Link Centre on Saturday night, before winning 4-2 on their own ice last night.

Wildcats went into the games short benched, and their task became even harder when Nicky Watt was injured in the opening game, forcing him to miss the return match.

In his absence at iceSheffield, Wildcats were always on the back foot after going 2-0 by the end of the first period. Both sides scored twice in the second to make it 4-2, and the goalless final session saw the Steeldogs come out with the win.

Head coach Ryan Aldridge blamed the defeat on his side’s inability to take their chances, but was focused on the positives.

“They scored a couple of their goals on a powerplay, and they took their chances while I don’t think we put ours away well enough,” he told the Advertiser.

“Saying that Aaron (Nell) and Jaro (Cesky) did score goals and that is good for them because I think they really needed that.

“I think Dean Skinns (netminder) might have a couple of goals he wishes he could take back, but that is in the past now.

“It is tough right now and it is easy to be very negative about our results, but we have to take the positives from the games. We were short benched and a few of the guys really stepped up out there, and that will stand us in good stead.”

In the game at the Link Centre, Cats were pegged back to draw after leading 3-1, and eventually lost out in a shootout.

“I think we were perhaps guilty of thinking the game was won when we were 3-1 up, but it wasn’t,” Aldridge said.

“After doing so well to be leading we were pegged back, and in the end I think it was probably a point gained for us, even though it should have been more.”