ICE HOCKEY: Bullas out for season with broken ankle

Forward Bullas sustained the injury in the 7-0 English Premier League defeat at home to Slough on Saturday and was forced out of the second encounter of the weekend with the Jets 24 hours later, as he tried to play through the pain.

A trip to the hospital confirmed the bad news on Monday as Wildcats’ journey towards the EPL play-offs continues to be hampered by injury concerns.

“Sam Bullas broke his ankle on Saturday,” confirmed Aldridge.

“He tried playing (on Sunday) and was in so much pain that he went for an X-ray and found out he’s got a broken ankle, so he’s probably going to be done for the rest of the season.”

Forward James Knight and wing Loris Taylor are also on the injured list and look set to miss out on the visit of Telford on Thursday, the former emerging from a virus that confined him to his house for a week, while the latter has a knee problem.

“We’ll see how he is,” said Aldridge on Knight.

“I think he’s planning on it (playing on Thursday), but I’m probably going to say no, we’ll maybe save him for the weekend if we can.

“It’s touch and go, he might not even be ready by then.

“He’s hoping he will be because of the way he feels right now, but it’s a long way off as well.

“To have Knightsy back in the line-up would be massive for us, we definitely miss him.”

Seventeen-year-old Taylor, one of five reserves for the Great Britain Under 18s squad that will compete in the Under 18 World Championships in April, will be sidelined for the Tigers contest and the odds are against a return for the double-header against Bracknell and Sheffield this weekend.

“He tried skating this week but he’s still not strong enough and is still feeling the pain,” said Aldridge. “He’s just got to take longer about it, maybe another week or two.”

The player-coach added he was hopeful that defenceman Nick Compton would shake off a knee injury in time to face the Tigers on Thursday.