Individual News
4th of December 2008
Every game is vital and they do not come more so, than double header against the Hull Stingrays this weekend.
On Saturday night at the Basingstoke Arena the action starts at 6.30pm as the two teams battle it out in an Elite League basement battle, as both look to get themselves into a play-off spot.
The Herd hope to have Richard Thornton and Warren Tait once again in their line-up, but at this present time they are still waiting on work permits for their recently signed imports.
On Sunday night, this time in Hull, the Stingrays stand between the Herd and their first ever appearance in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.
These teams are used to meeting in back-to-back weekends, as they did in October, when the Bison won the home game 4-1, thanks to goals from Brent Hughes, Shaun Thompson, Trevor Read and Danny Stewart. The lone 'Rays reply came from Matt Reynolds.
The same forward then inspired his team the following night back in Hull, with a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory. British forward Lee Mitchell got the other Stingray's goal. The Bison strikes came from Greg Chambers and Kurt Reynolds.
Since these game, Hull have added import forward Jamie Thompson to their line-up, and have also welcomed back former Bison forward Slava Koulikov back from a broken collarbone.
On the minus side, experienced defenceman Troy Neumeier will miss the contest because of injury.
Hull come into the contest after a narrow 1-0 defeat in Cardiff only because they pulled the netminder needing a win the Challenge Cup. Last Sunday they turned the form book upset down as they beat title challengers the Belfast Giants 4-3.
Bison player/coach Eric Braff said: "This is a huge weekend for us, but we will take it one game at a time. We will focus on the league game first as we want to start moving up the standings. They may be bottom, but they had a big win last weekend which has got to have given them a lot of confidence."
Tickets for what should be another great night at the Basingstoke Arena, are still available for Saturday game from the box office on (01256) 355266.
On Sunday night in Hull, the Bison can book a final four place in the Challenge Cup, as long as the do not lose by more than two goals, otherwise the Cardiff Devils will go through.
Even better on Sunday night would be a Basingstoke victory which would win them Group B and see them face Manchester Phoenix in the semi-finals. Any other result booking a semi-place place, earns Basingstoke a match-up against the Belfast Giants.
Braff said: "We know what we have to do and we want to make the semi-final. It is in our hands and up to us to make it happen."
On Saturday night at the Basingstoke Arena the action starts at 6.30pm as the two teams battle it out in an Elite League basement battle, as both look to get themselves into a play-off spot.
The Herd hope to have Richard Thornton and Warren Tait once again in their line-up, but at this present time they are still waiting on work permits for their recently signed imports.
On Sunday night, this time in Hull, the Stingrays stand between the Herd and their first ever appearance in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.
These teams are used to meeting in back-to-back weekends, as they did in October, when the Bison won the home game 4-1, thanks to goals from Brent Hughes, Shaun Thompson, Trevor Read and Danny Stewart. The lone 'Rays reply came from Matt Reynolds.
The same forward then inspired his team the following night back in Hull, with a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory. British forward Lee Mitchell got the other Stingray's goal. The Bison strikes came from Greg Chambers and Kurt Reynolds.
Since these game, Hull have added import forward Jamie Thompson to their line-up, and have also welcomed back former Bison forward Slava Koulikov back from a broken collarbone.
On the minus side, experienced defenceman Troy Neumeier will miss the contest because of injury.
Hull come into the contest after a narrow 1-0 defeat in Cardiff only because they pulled the netminder needing a win the Challenge Cup. Last Sunday they turned the form book upset down as they beat title challengers the Belfast Giants 4-3.
Bison player/coach Eric Braff said: "This is a huge weekend for us, but we will take it one game at a time. We will focus on the league game first as we want to start moving up the standings. They may be bottom, but they had a big win last weekend which has got to have given them a lot of confidence."
Tickets for what should be another great night at the Basingstoke Arena, are still available for Saturday game from the box office on (01256) 355266.
On Sunday night in Hull, the Bison can book a final four place in the Challenge Cup, as long as the do not lose by more than two goals, otherwise the Cardiff Devils will go through.
Even better on Sunday night would be a Basingstoke victory which would win them Group B and see them face Manchester Phoenix in the semi-finals. Any other result booking a semi-place place, earns Basingstoke a match-up against the Belfast Giants.
Braff said: "We know what we have to do and we want to make the semi-final. It is in our hands and up to us to make it happen."