P&O Channel Cup
Saturday 29th August: Hull Stingrays v Tilburg Trappers, F/O 5.30pm
Sunday 30th August: Nottingham Panthers v Tilburg Trappers, F/O 3.30pm
Monday 31st August: Hull Stingrays v Nottingham Panthers, F/O 5.30pm
Last 3 Meetings
v Nottingham
18/01/09 2-3 W A
08/02/09 1-5 L H
01/03/09 6-4 W H
v Tilburg
N/A
Last Season
Stingrays (9th, EIHL) PLD 54 W 13 L 33 D 3 OTL 5 PTS 37
Tilburg (1st, Dutch Eredivise) PLD 25 W 18 L 5 OTW 1 OTL 0 PTS 56
Nottingham (3rd, EIHL) PLD 54 W 33 L 13 OTW 4 OTL 4 PTS 78
Players to Watch
See for Nottingham and Tilburg HERE
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl- The Swede produced a solid shutout in his Stingrays debut against the Sheffield Scimitars on Wednesday and looked unfazed by most of what the EPL side had to throw at him. This weekend, however, will be a different challenge altogether. Games against Tilburg and Nottingham should test him further and good displays in both games will set him up for what could be a very good season.
Absentees
Stingrays- Konstantin Kalmikov (doubtful; VISA issues), Lee Mitchell (knee)
Nottingham- None
Tilburg- Brian McGarry (late arrival)
News
- The Stingrays are the only team to have already opened their season after fighting out a difficult 2-0 win in Sheffield over the EPL's Scimitars, their third win in pre-season in Rays four year Elite League stay.
- Saturday's game with Tilburg will mark a first in the history of the Stingrays as it will be the first time the team has played an opponent from overseas.
-The Tilburg Trappers have not had idea preparations for the weekend tournament. With many of their players arriving early this week, their first training session was Wednesday night, leaving them a a week or so behind the Stingrays and Panthers in preparations.
- Following Sunday's Tilburg-Nottingham game, fans will be given a chance to 'Skate with the Stingrays' in which they will be able to take photos and have autographs with the players.
- Tilburg are certain to not have a full squad for this weekends double header. Whilst Canadian forward Brian McGarry will miss the weekend, as he arrives later on September 1, they also have a number of players lined up to sign on a try-out basis prior to their league campaign which, due to budgeting issues, could not join the team in Hull. The players include Swede David Brome, Norweigan junior international Hendrik Skouen, and Americans Jeff Kaspar and Paul Smyth.
Predictions
Stingrays 3-2 Tilburg
Nottingham 5-2 Tilburg
Stinggrays 1-4 Nottingham
