Deeside Dragons’ Player/Coach Scott McKenzie says last weekend’s 8-2 defeat at Billingham Stars was a “massive lesson” for the newly-promoted team.

A four-game unbeaten run in NIHL North had helped the Dragons into second place in the Moralee D1 table, but they came down to earth with a bump against the rampant Teessiders.

The Dragons travel to face Sutton Sting on Sunday and McKenzie (above left) hopes his team produces an improved performance.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way we’ve started the season, but we learnt a massive lesson on Sunday evening and I’m glad we lost the way we did,” said McKenzie.

“This will ignite the fire that we need to win hockey games in this league. We are like a wounded animal right now – we are ready to fight and make sure that we maintain our position.

“Credit to Billingham though, it wasn’t that we were overly bad, they were just way better and forced us into mistakes.

“Every game is tough in this league, so we need to bounce back this weekend against a strong Sutton side.

“As the season goes on it is going to be tough to stay at the top half of the league, but we will do our best.

“We don’t fear anyone but know that in order to win games we have to be ready to play every single night, otherwise you get embarrassed like we did on Sunday.

“We are already facing injury problems but other teams will come across that as it’s a long season – we just need to manage those injuries correctly and get other guys to play above their abilities.

“As a club we are in a really good position right now and it feels good to be a Dragon.”

(Image permission: PSD-Images)