Bison's crunch clash (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Bison's crunch clash

1:00pm Thursday 4th February 2010

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BASINGSTOKE Bison player/coach Steve Moria still believes his side can make it into the top four this season – but they need to keep up their push with a double success over local rivals Slough Jets this weekend.

Success against the jets would boost the Bison and dent the Berkshire side’s hopes of the league crown, as they are currently hot on the heels of leaders Milton Keynes.

The Bison will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after MK ended their six-game winning streak last Sunday. In their own building, the Herd have not been beaten in regulation time since middle November – but that was by Slough.

Basingstoke travel to the Hanger first on Saturday for a game which starts at 6.30pm, with the return on home ice on Sunday at the earlier face-off time of 5.30pm.

The very tasty encounters are sure to see big crowds at both venues with the Bison keen to maintain their 1,100-plus attendance of recent weeks at the Basingstoke Arena.

Adding extra spice to the local derby is the fact that a crop of former Jets players moved to the Herd in the summer, including Moria himself.

When the sides last met in the middle of November in Basingstoke, Slough edged the game 4-2.

Talking ahead of the weekend’s games, Moria said: “When we last played them, we were minus a number of players due to injuries, but this time we will be at full strength.

“I expect a battle and playing back-to-back games, both teams will try to establish themselves early on, so I think it will certainly be physical to start with in Slough.”

Returning to the Bison line-up is British power forward Chris Wiggins, who missed last weekend due to a groin injury, and his physical presence is sure to help the team, especially in the smaller Slough rink.

New signing Shaun Thompson, who returned to the Herd last weekend, played all his junior career in Slough and will be keen to get on the scoresheet against the Jets.

This week, the Herd have signed another player in big British defenceman Andrew Sande. The 6ft 3ins blue liner is no stranger to Basingstoke, having played for the club in both the Superleague and Elite League, but he has been away from the game for the last couple of years.

Sande, who has just returned to the UK, said: “I am looking forward to playing again, but I have not skated for two years, so we will have to see how it goes once I get back on the ice.”

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