BASINGSTOKE UK: For the first time since 2008 when the side were in the Elite League, the Bison suffered a blank weekend to open their defence of their EPL crown.
Last Saturday night, they found it hard to get going against a Telford Tigers team who looked to have recruited el l in the summer as they won 4-1.
Two of their new signings man of the match Michal Satek and Matty Davies caused all sorts of problems and combined for the opening two goals as both players scored.
Rick Plant then made it 3-1 at the first buzzer on the powerplay after Ciaran Long had scored with their first man advantage.
It could be said the Herd had more possession in the second session, but their fate was sealed after Macauley Heywood scored to make it 4-1.
The following night in Hull, the Bison soon found themselves 3-0 down in the middle period after Nathan Salem, after goals from Andrej Themar and Lee Heywood.
The Herd hit back as Rene Jarolin and Long again on the powerplay made it a one goal game with 10 minutes left.
The visitors pulled their netminder, but Hull netted a fourth into the empty net thanks to Ugnius Cizas.
“It was a disappointing way to start our title defence and I will be looking for us to work a lot harder this weekend,” said Bison head coach Doug Sheppard.
This weekend, the Bison face Bracknell at home on Saturday and then on Sunday are away at Peterborough.
The club has lost British defenceman Sam Turner this week, after he was released by the club due to week commitments outside hockey. He was a summer signing from Bracknell and gave the Herd a very solid six man core on the blue line.
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