Tigers coach Tom Watkins will continue to give youth a chance to play this season – but he insisted any new additions must earn a spot with the English Premier League leaders.
Telford round off their pre-Christmas programme with the visit of Hull Pirates to Shropshire tomorrow night (6pm), before a trip to face Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday.
Watkins has promoted a string of promising youngsters to the EPL squad in recent weeks, as he grapples with the loss of senior players to others teams and an injury to Jonathan Weaver.
But with Telford’s eight-point lead at the top of the standings under continual pressure, the Tigers chief will demand a competitive edge from those young players.
He said: “We’ve always been keen to give chances to young guys at practice. I’m not a fan of just giving away opportunities to play. It helps to have bodies, but the kids have got to earn it and know what it takes to play EPL hockey and win.
“It is easy to go out and play the game, because there are many different things that go into that. But winning is paramount in sport and in life in general, you’ve got to have that competitive edge.
“They have to bring that to the table. It starts at practice, and it must be maintained at practice, before you’re going to even get a look-in from anyone.”
Youngsters Corey Goodison, Joe Aston, Brodie Jesson and Ted Thompson have all filled roles for the Tigers in recent weeks.
Watkins will, however, continue to scour the British game for additions to his squad, following the arrival of former Sheffield forward Lubomir Korhon last week.
He added: “There is so much we can do, and so much we can’t do, so I think now we’ve got add some young depth and get to the other side of Christmas and the new year, and probably re-evaluate then.
“It’s only three games away, but it’s still a couple of weeks. We’ll come back with a fresh approach, hopefully clear up a few injuries and niggles that have been here long term.
“The key thing right now is staying healthy over the next couple of weeks, to give ourselves an opportunity.”
Watkins is also awaiting news about the return of talismanic defenceman Jonathan Weaver, who has been out of action since he was hit in the face by a puck last month.
“I would love to think he is able to come back, but he’s got a scan at the hospital today and we’ll know more after that,” he said.
“It’s more complicated than just his teeth, with things like concussion, so we have to wait to see what happens. Unfortunately, it is one of those things that happens in hockey.”
Saturday’s game at home to Hull Pirates is a special ‘teddy toss’ game. Fans are invited to throw teddy bears onto the ice (brand new and wrapped in plastic bags) after the first goal, in aid of Hope House and the Princess Royal Hospital.
That game, at Telford Ice Rink, starts at 6pm. For tickets, go to www.tigershockeyuk.com. Sunday’s game in Peterborough, meanwhile, faces off at 5.30pm.
Photos courtesy of Steve Brodie
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