ICE HOCKEY: Can Cats skin the Bison? (From Swindon Advertiser)

ICE HOCKEY: Can Cats skin the Bison?

8:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Local By Andy Warren

SWINDON Wildcats will have to overcome bogey team Basingstoke Bison if they are to pick up their first four-point weekend of the season.

Wildcats travel to Manchester Phoenix on Sunday night (face-off 5.30pm), but first visit Planet Ice to face a Bison side they have not beaten in four attempts so far this season (face-off 6.30pm).

Forward Aaron Nell is puzzled as to why his side have been unable to get the better of them, but is convinced a victory against the side immediately above them in the league is not too far away.

“Basingstoke are the only team we have not beaten this season, and we need to put that right after losing to them four times. They are a bit of a bogey team, but I really do not know why.

“The last time we played them at home we went ahead and they scored a few lucky goals to come back to win.

“I think they raise their game against us, because I have watched them on a couple of occasions and they were not anything special, and then we went to their place and lost 7-2 and they played really well.

“If we play well we can beat anyone, and we have showed that, but for some reason it has just not happened against Basingstoke this season.”

Wildcats have not faced Phoenix since October, and Nell knows his side are going to be in for a tough test on Sunday night at the Altrincham Ice Dome.

“It is a little strange we have not played them for a while, but they are doing very well in the league at the moment. I imagine if you look at a form table from the last ten games then you will find they are top of it.

“We beat Guildford who are top of the league, so there is no reason we can’t get one over on Manchester.”

The two away victories would be Wildcats’ first four point weekend of the season, and Nell knows Swindon need to be more consistent if they are going to make their mark on the end of season play-offs.

“I think we are probably the only team who has not gone on a good run of wins so far this season, and that has to change,” he said.

“We have played well in a lot of games and not come away with wins, and we need to be a lot more consistent if we are going to move up the league.”