NIHL Week 9 Preview
Saturday 9th November:
The first game of the weekend sees the Swindon Wildcats return back home to face the Hull Seahawks for the first time this season. Both teams got 2/4 points last weekend and will be looking to kick this weekend off with a bang. Lee Haywood will miss the weekend due to an injury released by Hull during the week.
The two teams at the bottom will battle it out. The Berkshire Bees welcome the Tigers Tigers to Slough where both teams desperately need the points. The Tigers come off a double defeat to Leeds last weekend where they put up a very big fight. The Bees fell to a 5-4 overtime loss to the Raiders. Dean Skinns returns to the Bees on injury cover duty.
The Bristol Pitbulls will look to carry on their recent home form as they face the Solway Sharks. The Sharks haven’t won on the road for over three weeks and will be looking to change that in their only game of the weekend. Nolan Gardiner failed to score last weekend, so expect him to come out firing. The Pitbulls will look to avoid taking it to penalty shots after losing 3/4 this season in the shootout.
The MK Lightning welcome their rivals the Peterborough Phantoms to planet ice MK. The Lightning will look to carry on their home streak and get revenge on the Phantoms after Slava’s side beat them a few weeks ago back in Peterborough. Jordan Cownie will look to carry on his fine form after scoring a hattrick last weekend.
The final game on Saturday sees the Northen derby between the Sheffield Steeldogs and Leeds Knights. Jordan Buesa will serve his final game ban. Both teams come off the back of securing four point weekend in their double headers last weekend. The Steeldogs will also look to put in a better performance after losing 7-0 to the Knights two weeks ago in Leeds.
Sunday 10th November:
The early game on Sunday sees the Leeds Knights face the Swindon Wildcats. This is the second meeting between the two sides after the Wildcats beat the Knights 6-3 back in Swindon. Jordan Buesa will return to the lineup having served his ban. The Wildcats have had a pretty good record in Leeds the last few seasons so it’s set to be a great matchup.
The Hull Seahawks will look to maintain their 100% record at home as they welcome the MK Lightning. Last time out the Lighting comfortable beat the Seahawks 8-3 in Milton Keynes. But this game should be different with the Seahawks being a very difficult team to play at home.
The Peterborough Phantoms will also look to keep their home winning streak alive as they welcome the Bristol Pitbulls. It was a corker the last time these two sides met with the game going to penalty shots in Bristol. Nick Pryce is coming into this weekend having scored five last weekend so the Phantoms will have to try keep him quiet.
And finally the second of the double header between the Telford Tigers and Berkshire Bees. Last time out the Bees defeat the Tigers in Telford 6-4 but since then the Tigers have made some changes and look much stronger. Henderson and Thomson have started their Telford season very well.
Photo Credit: Tony Sargent
