Individual News
5th of October 2007
It is a double header of action for the Basingstoke Bison this weekend, as they face the Nottingham Panthers at home on Saturday and then away 24 hours later.
The Herd will look to build on their excellent result of last weekend over the Sheffield Steelers.
Nottingham arrive in Hampshire on the back of a three game winning streak, but last season the Basingstoke Arena was not a happy hunting ground for the Lace City team as they lost on all three visits.
The match is also being filmed by Sky for transmission on Thursday next week, while added spice to the encounter is the fact that former Bracknell Bees coaching team Mike Ellis and Ryan Aldridge will do battle against each other for the first time. Ellis at the helm of the Panthers, while Aldridge is in charge of the Bison.
Tickets for what should be an all-action packed league encounter are still available from the box office on (01256) 355266. The match starts at 6.30pm
Looking ahead to the weekend, Bison head coach Aldridge said: "Against Sheffield the guys were awesome and we have had a good week of training so we want to carry on from there. I think we will match up well against them so I am expecting two close games."
The Herd defence will certainly have to be on its toes as the Panthers' have the league's top goal scorer in Sean McAslan and are also hopeful that Johan Molin will be back from injury for the game.
Ellis talking on the Nottingham website expects his side to be one import light and they still look to secure a replacement for former Bison Jim Shepherd, who was axed from the line-up after picking up an eight game suspension for spearing to the head.
After Saturday's league encounter, the game on Sunday is a Challenge Cup match and the Panthers already have one skate in the semi-finals having won their opening two games in the group stage. Victory on Sunday would book a final four place and leave the Bison staring elimination in the face as it would be their second defeat.
Herd boss Aldridge said: "We will go there looking to win, as this is a competition we would like to do well in, but our first aim is to pick up two league points on Saturday."
The Herd will look to build on their excellent result of last weekend over the Sheffield Steelers.
Nottingham arrive in Hampshire on the back of a three game winning streak, but last season the Basingstoke Arena was not a happy hunting ground for the Lace City team as they lost on all three visits.
The match is also being filmed by Sky for transmission on Thursday next week, while added spice to the encounter is the fact that former Bracknell Bees coaching team Mike Ellis and Ryan Aldridge will do battle against each other for the first time. Ellis at the helm of the Panthers, while Aldridge is in charge of the Bison.
Tickets for what should be an all-action packed league encounter are still available from the box office on (01256) 355266. The match starts at 6.30pm
Looking ahead to the weekend, Bison head coach Aldridge said: "Against Sheffield the guys were awesome and we have had a good week of training so we want to carry on from there. I think we will match up well against them so I am expecting two close games."
The Herd defence will certainly have to be on its toes as the Panthers' have the league's top goal scorer in Sean McAslan and are also hopeful that Johan Molin will be back from injury for the game.
Ellis talking on the Nottingham website expects his side to be one import light and they still look to secure a replacement for former Bison Jim Shepherd, who was axed from the line-up after picking up an eight game suspension for spearing to the head.
After Saturday's league encounter, the game on Sunday is a Challenge Cup match and the Panthers already have one skate in the semi-finals having won their opening two games in the group stage. Victory on Sunday would book a final four place and leave the Bison staring elimination in the face as it would be their second defeat.
Herd boss Aldridge said: "We will go there looking to win, as this is a competition we would like to do well in, but our first aim is to pick up two league points on Saturday."