Bison aim to peak at right time (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Bison aim to peak at right time

1:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Ice Hockey By Graham Merry

THE Basingstoke Bison may be currently sixth in the English Premier League, but player/coach Steve Moria believes his side are capable of finishing a lot higher.

Last weekend, they collected four points with victories over sides above them in the standings, Milton Keynes and Slough.

Moria said: “It is still very tight and we are in touch.

“I feel we could still finish as high as second or third.”

Slough are currently second, five points ahead of the Herd, but the sides still have to meet three times more this season and the next encounter is in Berkshire on Sunday night.

Before that the Bison will be looking to make it five wins out of five over the seventh placed Swindon Wildcats, who are the visitors on Saturday night to the Basingstoke Arena.

The Herd look set to be minus British defenceman Dan Harris, who took a knock to the head in last Sunday’s game against Slough and will not be rushed back into the line-up.

Moria said: “Dan is a big doubt for the weekend, which is a shame as he is having a great season.”

The Swindon game will see the first return of former Bison shot stopper Dean Skinns to Basingstoke since his departure in December.

The Basingstoke-born goalie played in the last game in Swindon, in which the Bison came back from 3-1 down to win 5-3.

Talking ahead of the Wildcats game, Moria said: “They made it tough for us last time for sure and will want to beat us this time.

“It is rare to beat a side so near you in the standings in every game, but that is what we want to do.

“They have some guys on their team if, given the chance, will win them the game, so we have to make sure we play a good defensive game.”

The action gets under way on Saturday night at 6.30pm and the start time is the same in Slough on Sunday.

It is the second game of a home double header for the Jets at the Hangar, as they face league leaders Guildford the previous night in a top-of-the-table clash. The Berkshire side are hoping their leading scorer Canadian hot-shot Adam Calder will be back in their line-up this weekend, while the Herd will be looking to make it eight away wins on the trot.

Moria said: “We are playing well on the road at the moment and want to continue that.

“I expect a physical game in Slough, but we will be ready for that and hope to grind out another result like we did at home last weekend.”