Spring Cup Week 2 - 20/02/21 and 21/02/21
By Lauryn Fuller
Swindon Wildcats play their third game in the Spring Cup, this time they host the Bracknell Bee’s in the next instalment of this series.
Last season these two teams met 8 times, with The Wildcats winning 5 of the meetings and the Bee’s the other 3.
This is Bracknell’s first fixture of the series and their first game since March last year. Unlike Swindon, they did not participate in the streaming series back in November. Having not played in so long, it will be interesting to see the Bee’s back on the Ice.
Like most teams they have been adding to their roasters in the last week ahead of these games. Here’s some new additions for Bracknell to watch out for -
- Captain Stuart Mogg was confirmed to play in this series and the third season for the Bee’s.
- Josh Waller, who has been at the Guildford Flames since 2018, has joined Bracknell for this Series.
- Bobby Chamberlain became available for the Spring Cup after he signed for Milton Keynes Lightning, who opted out of this competition.
- Vanya Antonov is another new addition. Russian born but has played most of his hockey seasons in the UK.
- Another Elite League player has inked for the Bee’s. Coming to Bracknell from the Belfast Giants, Lewis Hook is boasting a successful career at multiple EIHL and NIHL teams.
- Finally, Ciaran Long, a fellow Belfast Giants player, is one of the last players to ink for Bracknell.
Swindon will be looking to make amends for the two loses that they suffered at the hands of the Sheffield Steeldogs. On the other hand, Bracknell will be looking to get of the mark and start strong.
If last weekend’s fixtures were anything to go by, this series is going to be full of action, goals and rivalries.
Sunday will see these teams face each other once again, this time the Wildcats will travel to Bracknell in the second instalment of this fixture.
Sat Feb-20 Telford v Raiders
Telford Tigers and IHC Raiders are Saturday’s second fixture. This fixture was the last fixture both teams played in the shortened 2019/20 season, almost a full year ago. Neither team participated in the streaming series and will be eager to get going once again.
Both teams have been confirming rosters over the past week, ahead of their first mixtures.
Raiders -
- Milton Keynes Lightning star Liam Stewart has joined the Raiders for the Cup.
- EIHL player Zach Sullivan joins the Raiders from Manchester Storm.
- Ben Solder has played much of his hockey in the United states and Canada and is another addition for the Raiders.
- They also welcome back Juraj Huska, for his sixth season with the club. In his past seasons with the Raiders he has scored 33 hat-tricks.
Telford -
- Thomas McKinnon will not be taking to the Ice during this competition. He was a member of the Cup winning Telford side last season.
- Defenseman Sam Jones was expecting to splay for the Sheffield Steelers before the Elite League was cancelled. He hits the ice with the Raiders during this cup.
- Cole Shudra has played for both the Sheffield Steelers and Steeldogs, He brings many years of experience within him.
- Youngster Kieran Brown was secured by the Raiders after the Leeds Chiefs opted out of the Spring Cup. Brown played for the Sheffield Steelers last season.
The Tigers and Raiders met four times in the 2019/20 season. Telford were leading the series, before the season being cut short due to Covid, with three wins for Telford and the Raiders winning just once.
The Raiders will make the 242-mile round trip on Sunday, before Telford make the journey down to Romford the following day.