MILTON KEYNES, UK – After a mixed pre-season, the Milton Keynes Lightning are ready to begin their league campaign with a home game against Guildford Flames. A great attacking display last weekend saw MK win 7-2 and 5-2 against Romford Raiders, but those wins will not hide the disappointment of losing the Ashes to local rivals Peterborough Phantoms. The 7-2 aggregate defeat, also saw Lightning’s Matt Towalski pick up a match penalty for roughing, meaning the forward will miss the season-opener. The Flames have been signing some big names this season, including former MK captain, Gary Clarke. It will be Clarke’s first return to Planet Ice with Guildford, and Lightning will need to up their game and put the Ashes defeat behind them. The Lightning themselves have added several new faces to their roster this season. The arrivals of Mike Farn from Swindon and the return of Leigh Jamieson have helped strengthen a defence that let in the second least amount of goals last term. Up front, Nick Poole’s side will feel the loss of not just Clarke but also Swedish forward Joakim Wiklander, who scored 11 goals and 50 points in 25 league games last season. The player-coach has brought in another Swede, former AIK Stockholm Centre Monir Kalgoum, Adam Brittle from Isle of Wight and Ross Bowers, who returns to Milton Keynes after stints at Slough and Basingstoke. With the addition of Basingstoke and Manchester, this season is looking to be the toughest yet. This is something that Poole and his team are looking forward to, and the aims for the season remain the same for Lightning to finish in the top four, reach the play-off finals weekend and win some silverware. Silverware is something that has eluded the Buckinghamshire side for three years, although they came close last season finishing league runners up and reaching the play-off final. A feat which surprised many onlookers. “We did punch above our weight, last year,” Poole said. “We will have to do the same again as Manchester and Guildford look very strong. But, that is on paper, and as us and Peterborough showed last season the game is isn’t played on paper.” So despite their mixed fortunes in pre-season, the Lightning are ready for the league to start. Determined to go one step better and improve on last season’s effort.
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