Manchester Phoenix face Hull Pirates and Milton Keynes Lightning this weekend as they kick-start their English Premier League campaign.
Phoenix go into the weekend following back-to-back Red Hockey Cup matches against the Telford Tigers, last year’s League Champions.
The Manchester side secured a 4-3 win over the Tigers in Shropshire however couldn’t replicate their success when the Tigers visited Deeside the following day, losing 3-9.
Phoenix owner, Neil Morris, reflected on last weekend’s matches, saying: “We’ve brought a lot of new members into the team, they understood how big the Telford game was and they went in with the right attitude.
“To beat last year’s champions away from home was a great result. On Sunday Telford took it up two gears, they came out of the traps so quick and they caught us napping.
“They made us make mistakes and when you’re chasing the game it makes the task so much harder.”
Phoenix travel to Hull on Saturday to play the Hull Pirates, a new addition to the EPL before they host Milton Keynes Lightning in their first league game at their new home, Deeside Ice Rink.
Lightning finished below Phoenix in last year’s EPL however the side have brought in Peter Russell, the Great Britain Senior Head Coach, as their Director of Hockey and Head Coach.
Morris told MM what he makes of the challenges that face the team this weekend.
“We don’t know much about Hull so Saturday night is going to be a big learning curve. We respect the fact that they’ve got a determined coach and we know they’re capable of winning.
“The Milton Keynes game will be tough. Russell is a good coach and he sets his stall out well.
“He comes to us with a strong squad and I think Sunday marks the start of a difficult few games for us.
“Everyone is taking it up a gear this season. The pre-season has been fantastic but there are no easy wins.”
Image courtesy of Official Phoenix via YouTube, with thanks.