Individual News
3rd of October 2008
I'm not sure how well-judged my responses were to the questions asked in the BBC interview straight after the defeat on Sunday but I think they did reflect how angry and disappointed I felt. Fronting up to the media is a part of my job that's becoming increasingly important as more national attention is being paid to ice-hockey. I've had to do more interviews this month than I had to all last season.
Our home fans have not seen the best of the team yet, and we know how important it is for them - and us - to look forward to Saturday night hockey in Basingstoke. We need to restore the atmosphere we had last season.
We are up against it at the moment but I still see no reason why we can't turn things round. Meeting top four teams so often and so early in the season has not been easy. We've got a tough weekend of us, too, with Coventry, again, and then Sheffield who aren't too pleased to see their rivals, Nottingham, ahead of them in the League.
Mid-week fixtures have disrupted the practice we need to make everyone secure in the systems we are using. The guys came in today, Tuesday, still tired from the weekend and we trained without Eric Braff and Kevin Reiter who began their courses at Winchester University. We wish them both success in their studies and are grateful to Winchester for so generously supporting Bison.
Braffer was a big signing for us in the summer and the opportunity to study played a large part in his decision to return to us. He hadn't missed a game for four years before he picked up his ankle injury. Right now we're missing the way he can block shots and the way he never loses out in a one on one. He's never caught out of position and seems to suck up the pressure opponents put on us.
Kurt Reynolds has the potential to develop into an outstanding player and I was pleased to see him awarded man of the match.
Brad has explained how he felt about his ban, and it's time to move on. As I've said before, what players want more than anything is consistency. I wonder if this would be a good time for referees and coaches to sit down together to clarify those areas that appear contentious.
I hope to see you all on Saturday
Our home fans have not seen the best of the team yet, and we know how important it is for them - and us - to look forward to Saturday night hockey in Basingstoke. We need to restore the atmosphere we had last season.
We are up against it at the moment but I still see no reason why we can't turn things round. Meeting top four teams so often and so early in the season has not been easy. We've got a tough weekend of us, too, with Coventry, again, and then Sheffield who aren't too pleased to see their rivals, Nottingham, ahead of them in the League.
Mid-week fixtures have disrupted the practice we need to make everyone secure in the systems we are using. The guys came in today, Tuesday, still tired from the weekend and we trained without Eric Braff and Kevin Reiter who began their courses at Winchester University. We wish them both success in their studies and are grateful to Winchester for so generously supporting Bison.
Braffer was a big signing for us in the summer and the opportunity to study played a large part in his decision to return to us. He hadn't missed a game for four years before he picked up his ankle injury. Right now we're missing the way he can block shots and the way he never loses out in a one on one. He's never caught out of position and seems to suck up the pressure opponents put on us.
Kurt Reynolds has the potential to develop into an outstanding player and I was pleased to see him awarded man of the match.
Brad has explained how he felt about his ban, and it's time to move on. As I've said before, what players want more than anything is consistency. I wonder if this would be a good time for referees and coaches to sit down together to clarify those areas that appear contentious.
I hope to see you all on Saturday