Individual News
11th of March 2008
Cup final fever hits the Basingstoke Arena on Wednesday night, as the Bison face the Coventry Blaze in the first-leg of the British Knockout Cup.
The Herd last won silverware in 2000 and are keen to once again stampede off with a trophy, but they face a Blaze outfit fresh from securing the bmibaby Elite League title on Sunday and still looking for a trophy treble.
The Bison are expected to welcome back many of the players rested from last night's 7-0 league defeat at the hands of the Nottingham Panthers.
Now all eyes are focussing on the cup final clash and the Herd will be keen to repeat their great 5-2 semi victory in Hull. When like tonight the odds looked stacked against the short staffed Bison, but guts and determination found a way to make things happen.
The visiting Blaze are not unbeatable and in fact lost on their last visit to Basingstoke 5-3, when Greg Owen twice, Steve Thornton, Greg Chambers and Danny Stewart all found a way past Coventry goalie Trevor Koenig
Also the British Knockout Cup has proved to be a jinxed competition for the Blaze as they have lost in ever final they have played in so far.
Basingstoke head coach Ryan Aldridge said: "This is the biggest game of our season and we intend to throw everything at them. We will be giving it our all to get a result to take into the second leg."
Club captain Brad Cruikshank is keen to lift his first cup for the Herd and said: "After the year, the players and the fans have had, we deserve some silverware. We as players just have to make that happen and you can be sure we will be trying our best."
Tickets for the biggest ice hockey night in Basingstoke this decade are still on sale and can purchased from the box office on (01256) 355266 for a match which has a 7.30pm face off.
The Herd last won silverware in 2000 and are keen to once again stampede off with a trophy, but they face a Blaze outfit fresh from securing the bmibaby Elite League title on Sunday and still looking for a trophy treble.
The Bison are expected to welcome back many of the players rested from last night's 7-0 league defeat at the hands of the Nottingham Panthers.
Now all eyes are focussing on the cup final clash and the Herd will be keen to repeat their great 5-2 semi victory in Hull. When like tonight the odds looked stacked against the short staffed Bison, but guts and determination found a way to make things happen.
The visiting Blaze are not unbeatable and in fact lost on their last visit to Basingstoke 5-3, when Greg Owen twice, Steve Thornton, Greg Chambers and Danny Stewart all found a way past Coventry goalie Trevor Koenig
Also the British Knockout Cup has proved to be a jinxed competition for the Blaze as they have lost in ever final they have played in so far.
Basingstoke head coach Ryan Aldridge said: "This is the biggest game of our season and we intend to throw everything at them. We will be giving it our all to get a result to take into the second leg."
Club captain Brad Cruikshank is keen to lift his first cup for the Herd and said: "After the year, the players and the fans have had, we deserve some silverware. We as players just have to make that happen and you can be sure we will be trying our best."
Tickets for the biggest ice hockey night in Basingstoke this decade are still on sale and can purchased from the box office on (01256) 355266 for a match which has a 7.30pm face off.