V
Saturday 10th January: Coventry Blaze (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) @ Coventry Skydome, F/O 7pm Sunday 11th January: Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) v Newcastle Vipers (7th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm
Form
Stingrays- L L OTL OTL W
Coventry- L L W L OTL
Newcastle- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Coventry
12/10/08 3-7 L A
12/11/08 1-6 L A
20/12/08 7-9 L H
v Newcastle
09/03/08 1-3 L A
25/10/08 4-3 PSW H
21/12/08 1-6 L A
Season Series
v Coventry: 0-4 11GF 24GA
v Newcastle: 1-1 5GF 9GA
Player Watch
Stingrays- Matt Reynolds (37GP 19+24)- Recorded three goals and an assist last weekend, including two goals against the Sheffield Steelers. Has now scored eight goals in the Stingrays last ten games and sits in 12th place in league points.
Coventry- Jonathan Weaver (32GP 13+26)- Former Newcastle defenceman scored two goals and an assist in the loss against the Sheffield Steelers last weekend and is fourth on the Blaze in points.
Newcastle- Rob Wilson (30GP 6+20)- Scored a goal in each leg of the Vipers British Knockout Cup victory over Edinburgh, has gone pointless in just eight of his 30 games this season.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn knee ligament), Stuart Kerr (knee strain), Paul Moran (shoulder)
Coventry- Full Strength
Newcastle- Todd Griffith (quit the team), Burt Henderson (broken wrist), Derek Campbell (awaiting suspension)
Other news
-Paul Moran became the third Stingray defenceman after Stuart Kerr and Troy Neumeier to possibly have his season cut short by injury. Whilst it remains to be seen whether Neumeier or Kerr will make a re-appearance this season Moran has officially been ruled out with a shoulder injury that will be operated on in the upcoming months
-After signing on a two-way contract in mid-Decemeber Richie Thornton may make his second debut for the Stingrays this weekend with the Stingrays down to just two regular defencemen.
-Newcastle have been rocked by the departure of forward Todd Griffith who quit the club earlier in the week to return to the ECHL in North America.
-In a similar way Coventry have learnt that defenceman Jon Coleman will not re-new his short term contract after it expires this month. The Blaze had initially released Corey LeClair to make room for Coleman however they will now join the Stingrays in a search for defenceman after Coleman signed a deal in Europe.
Predicitons
Coventry 5-4 Stingrays
Stingrays 3-2 Newcastle
