V
Saturday 3rd January: Sheffield Steelers (1st) v Excel Hull Stingrays (10th) @ Ice Sheffield, F/O 7PMSunday 4th January: Excel Hull Stingrays (10th) v Basingstoke Bison (9th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6PM
Form
Stingrays- L L L L L
Sheffield- W W W W W
Basingstoke- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
27/09/08 3-7 L A
04/10/08 2-5 L H
02/11/08 1-2 L H
v Basingstoke
06/12/08 5-1 W A
07/12/08 6-8 L H
27/12/08 4-5 L A
Player Watch
Stingrays- Steve Slonina (35GP 5+22)- Scored a goal from defence in each of the Stingrays goals last weekend. Since scoreless streak in his first six games has scored 27 points in 29 games.
Sheffield- Joey Talbot (32GP 22+14)- Leads the team in scoring and sits joint second in the league in goalscoring. Is on a point streak of ten games whilst he also scored goals in each of the Steelers crunch clashes against Nottingham last week.
Basingstoke- Danny Stewart (33GP 22+16)- Has scored six goals and four assists in five games against the Stingrays and is on a current point streak of five games.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn ligament), Stuart Kerr (doubtful;knee)
Sheffield- Nathan Gillies (elbow)
Basingstoke- Kevin Reiter (ankle)
Other News
- The Stingrays face the Bison for the sixth time out of seven this season on Sunday with the series currently at 3-2 to the Bison after a 5-4 victory last weekend.
- The Stingrays injruy worries are beginning to subside with speculation in the Hull Daily Mail that they would be up to full strength within a number of weeks. Stuart Kerr is awaiting the results of an MRI to see if he will play again this season whilst Troy Neumeiers torn knee ligament is not likely to be season ending as once he returns he will be available to skate but not train with the team.
- Meanwhile coach Rick Strachan has confirmed that should either player be ruled out for the rest of the season he would sign a replacement defenceman and not forward as speculated, meaning Steve Slonina will revert back from defence, where he has been flawless, to forward.
- Whilst the Bison have signed defenceman Robert Pospisil and forward Mike Olynck the Bison are still three imports below the allowed 11. With standout netminder Kevin Reiter out injured the Bison will be down to seven imports for this weekends fixtures.
Predictions
Sheffield 4-1 Stingrays
Stingrays 5-2 Basingstoke
Stingrays- L L L L L
Sheffield- W W W W W
Basingstoke- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
27/09/08 3-7 L A
04/10/08 2-5 L H
02/11/08 1-2 L H
v Basingstoke
06/12/08 5-1 W A
07/12/08 6-8 L H
27/12/08 4-5 L A
Player Watch
Stingrays- Steve Slonina (35GP 5+22)- Scored a goal from defence in each of the Stingrays goals last weekend. Since scoreless streak in his first six games has scored 27 points in 29 games.
Sheffield- Joey Talbot (32GP 22+14)- Leads the team in scoring and sits joint second in the league in goalscoring. Is on a point streak of ten games whilst he also scored goals in each of the Steelers crunch clashes against Nottingham last week.
Basingstoke- Danny Stewart (33GP 22+16)- Has scored six goals and four assists in five games against the Stingrays and is on a current point streak of five games.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn ligament), Stuart Kerr (doubtful;knee)
Sheffield- Nathan Gillies (elbow)
Basingstoke- Kevin Reiter (ankle)
Other News
- The Stingrays face the Bison for the sixth time out of seven this season on Sunday with the series currently at 3-2 to the Bison after a 5-4 victory last weekend.
- The Stingrays injruy worries are beginning to subside with speculation in the Hull Daily Mail that they would be up to full strength within a number of weeks. Stuart Kerr is awaiting the results of an MRI to see if he will play again this season whilst Troy Neumeiers torn knee ligament is not likely to be season ending as once he returns he will be available to skate but not train with the team.
- Meanwhile coach Rick Strachan has confirmed that should either player be ruled out for the rest of the season he would sign a replacement defenceman and not forward as speculated, meaning Steve Slonina will revert back from defence, where he has been flawless, to forward.
- Whilst the Bison have signed defenceman Robert Pospisil and forward Mike Olynck the Bison are still three imports below the allowed 11. With standout netminder Kevin Reiter out injured the Bison will be down to seven imports for this weekends fixtures.
Predictions
Sheffield 4-1 Stingrays
Stingrays 5-2 Basingstoke
