IT’S ANOTHER double game weekend for the Berkshire Cycles Bracknell Bees as they start on Saturday night at Romford before a Sunday home game.
Saturday night is at Sapphire Ice where the Bees take on the Raiders (5.15pm). Raiders were one of the Bees’ pre-season opponents with wins coming both home and away for Doug Sheppard’s men as well as a win in the league earlier in the season.
Raiders finished fourth last season in the NIHL and have added Brit quality over the summer as well as bringing in a new non-EIHA trained player in Martin Jakubek. They head into the game on the back of an 8-0 win over Milton Keynes last Sunday.
Sunday night’s opponents at the Hive are Milton Keynes Thunder (6pm). Their roster boasts a lot of talent and experience with players who spent many years plying their trade in the former EPL.
Names to look out for include Jamie Line, Grant McPherson, Ross Green, Tom Carlon, Gareth O’Flaherty and Ross Bowers as well as the veteran Greg Randall. Netminding for the Thunder is taken care of by former Bees shot-stopper Tom Annetts.
Bees will once again be without Ryan Watt who continues his recovery and Danny Milton isn’t a certainty but Niko Suoraniemi will finally make his home debut this Sunday night.
“Last weekend we suffered our first defeat of the regular season and it’s important that we respond with a good week of training,” said Bees head coach Sheppard.
“I don’t want to dwell on it, but at the same time, I want us to learn from it.
“Saturday we take on a strong Raiders team who we are familiar with, playing them twice in the pre-season, and we had success against them on our home opener three weeks ago.
“We know they’ll be a tough opponent especially in their own building.”
He added: “Sunday we’re looking forward to another good turn out at the Hive as we see Milton Keynes for the first time this season.”
