Spring Cup Week 5 Previews
By Lauryn Fuller
Fri Mar-12 Bees v Raiders
Friday evenings fixture sees the Raiders travel to Slough to face the Bee’s in the reverse fixture from last weekend.
The Bee’s had a mixed weekend of results in game week 4. They started off on Friday with their first win of the series against the Raiders. They travelled to Sheffield on Saturday to face the Steeldogs and fell to a heavy 7-0 defeat. In the following fixture on Sunday, the Steeldogs managed an incredible 10-4 win.
The Raiders having only played one fixture last weekend, will be fully prepared to face off against the Bee’s once again. Whether home ice advantage comes into play this season without the fans at the rinks, the bees will want to make up for their poor result last weekend.
The Raiders will go on to play the Swindon Wildcats in the weekends other fixtures and the Bees will be able to rest and prepare for their match up against the Sheffield Steeldogs.
Sat Mar-13 Telford v Sheffield
Saturdays first fixture see’s two teams that had very similar results last weekend. The Telford Tigers managed back-to-back victories against the Swindon Wildcats. The Steeldogs posted to equally impressive victories over the Bracknell Bee’s.
Both of these teams have been on top form so far in the Spring Cup and many have hyped this weekend’s faceoff to be the match up of the series.
In terms of players to look out for, the Steeldogs have a young forward, Liam Kirk, who has played in all six fixtures so far and has scored and impressive 12 goals, including 2 hattricks. Kirk has been the star of the Steeldogs in this Spring cup.
Scott McKenzie and Captain Jason Silverthorn were in fine form for the Tigers last weekend, scoring in both of their teams’ victories.
With such a close match up, these could be important points either won or lost and could make a big difference when it comes to the end of the series and who will be crowned the Spring Cup winner. The fixtures is going to provide the fans with some truly competitive hockey.
Sat Mar-13 Swindon v Raiders
The Raiders second fixture of the Weekend will be an away trip to Swindon to face the Wildcats. Swindon had a disappointing weekend of results in game week 4. They faced two weighty defeats at the hands of the Telford Tigers.
With the Raiders still yet to win a fixture in the Spring Cup, the Wildcats will be eager to take advantage of their opponent’s poor form.
The Raiders announced on their Twitter on Thursday morning, that they have a new singing announcement to follow in the following hours. The possibility of this being a player that was available for the Elite League draft is the most likely outcome. The reason behind this will be due to the Raiders poor form in this Series and a new signing could bring that little spark that the team need to start getting some results.
As usual, both teams will play again on Sunday, which could be a crucial fixture for the Raiders in defining their form for the remaining fixtures.