SWINDON, UK –
Monday 29th March 2010, and following the weekend’s games the end of season awards took place and perhaps unexpectedly Aaron Nell picked up the Dave Richardson Award for the Best British Player plus the Coach’s Player of the Year. Jan Krajicek was voted the Defenceman Of The Year by the fans, and Jason Cassells was voted the Forward Of The Year, also by the fans. But James Griffin, at just sixteen, scored a hat-trick with Most Improved Player voted by fans, Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player Of The Year.
Coach Ryan Aldridge commented: “Griff’s been outstanding for us from start to finish. He’s stepped into professional hockey and is the first one to listen. Both on and off the ice he’s been a professional.”
Tuesday, and with the forthcoming game against the Lightning in the playoffs, Coach Ryan ALDRIDGE told the Swindon Advertiser “It’s a great time for us to go in there. Out of the top four teams we’ve probably run Milton Keynes the closest and maybe it’s our turn right now to turn them over. I can’t think of a better time to play them”. He could be right with two games settled in overtime, only once losing by three goals and a close final game. Also, apart from Sheffield the Wildcats have a goal difference against the Lightning at the end of the season of only five goals, less than an average of a goal a game and tighter than most opponents, as Aldridge pointed out. It is also noteworthy that other than the Jets, the Wildcats have conceded fewer goals against the Lightning than any other team.
On Wednesday, when asked about the Phoenix 10-2 defeat by the Wildcats last weekend, player-coach Tony Hand said “It was just one of those games” Nuff said, as we all know of those games. Meanwhile, Bees boss Claude Dumas said his side didn’t so much lose the fight for the last playoff place as the Wildcats won it. He explained that he felt Swindon couldn’t really afford to make a mistake in their last games, and they didn’t.
On Friday the Under-18 GB squad was announced for forthcoming world championships in Poland starting April 11th and included Wildcats’ Loris Taylor and James Griffin.
And so on to Saturday and the first leg of the playoffs quarter-finals. The Wildcats’ record against the Lightning is sadly six losses, but all close encounters with two of those going beyond regular time so the feeling generated by these results is one of great potential. And that lived up to expectation with a 3-3 conclusion, so things look like they are improving. The Wildcats came from behind twice, and it showed great determination that they were able to overcome that setback and actually take the lead at 3-2. It is significant that two of the Lightning’s goals were on the powerplay, while for the Wildcats it was one, and that when the equaliser came it was actually a game-saver for Milton Keynes.
Sunday, and what can you say? With another nail-biting game it was with the Wildcats coming from behind again and then taking the lead minutes from time. Again an improvement in the result at the right time, and again interesting that three of the Lightning’s goals were on powerplays while all of the Wildcats’ goals were even-handed. There was a staggering ninety-seven combined shots on goal and perhaps more unbelievably fifty-four of them on Lightning’s netminder Barry Hollyhead. Aaron Nell, with his fifth hat-trick of the season plus the empty netter was a worthy man-of-the-match so you have to ask yourself if his days are numbered at Swindon.
But, more immediately you have to ask yourself if the Wildcats peaking at the right time in view of weekend’s results and recent wins against the other semi-finalists Manchester, Slough and Guildford?
For more Wildcats stats and news take a look at my website – www.swindonwildcats.me.uk
Contact the author Bill.Collins@Prohockeynews,com
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