Individual News
14th of February 2008
After a superb penalty-shot victory in Nottingham on Wednesday night, the Basingstoke Bison will hope to continue their winning road form in Newcastle on Friday.
This is the final game in the bmibaby Elite League series between these teams and the Herd are still looking to chalk up their first win in the Vipers nest this season.
The Basingstoke line-up with just be minus injured Steve Thornton and talking about the game Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge said: "We know what they can throw at us, but like in Nottingham it would be great to pick up another two points."
The Vipers match is the first of three games in three days for the Herd. Following hot on the heels on that encounter, the team will return home to face the Belfast Giants in a game which has a 6.30pm face-off.
Earlier in the month the Giants who included former Bison stars Peter Campbell and Stevie Lyle were in red hot form, but now have gone off the boil a little.
When these side's last met in Basingstoke in November, the game went all the way to the wire with the visitors winning in a penalty shoot out - thanks to Scott Cameron.
One player with an impressive scoring record against the Giants this year is club captain Brad Cruikshank with a goal in all last four of this season's bmibaby Elite League encounters.
Aldridge said: "We have beaten the Giants before this season and hopefully in front of a big home crowd we can do again."
Last Saturday, the Herd returned to winning ways on home ice with a 3-1 victory over the Manchester Phoenix a game which saw a season high 1,362 packed into the Arena. A repeat on both fronts would do very nicely.
On Sunday, the Bison are at home once more, this time against Nottingham, a game which starts at 6pm. The Lace City side will no doubt still be smarting from that penalty shot loss on Wednesday night.
When last in action in Basingstoke, the Panthers ran out 5-4 winners with two late goals from Corey Neilson and Ryan Shmyr.
Nottingham head coach and former Bison man Mike Ellis is set to mix up his forward lines, as he looks for a morale boosting win ahead of the club's Challenge Cup final second-leg next week.
While the Bison will hope to complete a quick double over their midland rivals, but it is going to be tough being their third game in as many days.
Aldridge said: "It was a great win by the boys in Nottingham on Wednesday and we will hope to repeat that in front of our fans. But that is not going to be easy as I know the Panthers will be out for revenge."
Tickets for both home games and a great family night out at the Basingstoke Arena, are still available from the box office on (01256) 355266.
This is the final game in the bmibaby Elite League series between these teams and the Herd are still looking to chalk up their first win in the Vipers nest this season.
The Basingstoke line-up with just be minus injured Steve Thornton and talking about the game Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge said: "We know what they can throw at us, but like in Nottingham it would be great to pick up another two points."
The Vipers match is the first of three games in three days for the Herd. Following hot on the heels on that encounter, the team will return home to face the Belfast Giants in a game which has a 6.30pm face-off.
Earlier in the month the Giants who included former Bison stars Peter Campbell and Stevie Lyle were in red hot form, but now have gone off the boil a little.
When these side's last met in Basingstoke in November, the game went all the way to the wire with the visitors winning in a penalty shoot out - thanks to Scott Cameron.
One player with an impressive scoring record against the Giants this year is club captain Brad Cruikshank with a goal in all last four of this season's bmibaby Elite League encounters.
Aldridge said: "We have beaten the Giants before this season and hopefully in front of a big home crowd we can do again."
Last Saturday, the Herd returned to winning ways on home ice with a 3-1 victory over the Manchester Phoenix a game which saw a season high 1,362 packed into the Arena. A repeat on both fronts would do very nicely.
On Sunday, the Bison are at home once more, this time against Nottingham, a game which starts at 6pm. The Lace City side will no doubt still be smarting from that penalty shot loss on Wednesday night.
When last in action in Basingstoke, the Panthers ran out 5-4 winners with two late goals from Corey Neilson and Ryan Shmyr.
Nottingham head coach and former Bison man Mike Ellis is set to mix up his forward lines, as he looks for a morale boosting win ahead of the club's Challenge Cup final second-leg next week.
While the Bison will hope to complete a quick double over their midland rivals, but it is going to be tough being their third game in as many days.
Aldridge said: "It was a great win by the boys in Nottingham on Wednesday and we will hope to repeat that in front of our fans. But that is not going to be easy as I know the Panthers will be out for revenge."
Tickets for both home games and a great family night out at the Basingstoke Arena, are still available from the box office on (01256) 355266.