Manchester Phoenix face the Telford Tigers in back-to-back matches this weekend in the first of their Red Hockey Cup matches.
The matches will be the last of their pre-season challenges before the team’s English Premier League campaign gets under way on September 12 away to the Hull Pirates.
The Manchester Phoenix, Telford Tigers and Bracknell Bees battle for the Red Hockey Cup, which will run alongside the EPL through regular season matches as well as separate Cup games.
Manchester Phoenix owner Neil Morris talked to MM about the value of the Cup: “We are coming up against quality competition before the wheels touch down for the season and we know that we’re playing against teams that want to stamp their mark on this Cup.”
The Cup began last weekend and saw Telford triumph over Bracknell both home and away, winning 4-2 and 4-1 respectively.
Phoenix travel to Telford on Saturday, September 5 and return to face the side at the Deeside Ice Dome on Sunday 6.
Tony Hand’s Manchester side have started the season well with a draw away to Swindon Wildcats followed by a win at home.
However, they face a Telford side that comfortably emerged from last season as EPL champions.
The side won 39 out of 48 games and finished 17 points above second place, Guildford Flames.
Morris said: “We’ve got two big games this weekend. Telford were the best team on the ice last year so it’s a big challenge. This weekend’s games will be hard, gritty and exciting.
“Things are good at Deeside. Our defence is stronger because we have Boothroyd back from injury and one of our first year players, Mark Thomas.
“We’ve got an exciting team. When our players rush forward they go like absolute jets.”
The Manchester side will be based at the rink in North Wales until a permanent rink in the city centre is complete.
Morris added: “The goal for the season, is a strange one. We want to make sure we’ve got a home back in Manchester.”
“We want to leave a legacy in Deeside. We’re getting into schools, getting more people into hockey and when we leave we want to know we’ve made a difference.”
Image courtesy of Official Phoenix via YouTube, with thanks.