Phantoms keen feel their way back in

Peterborough Phantoms coach Slava Koulikov says his team won’t be doing anything too rash as they play their first preseason game tonight (Wednesday).

The NIHL National side are warming up for the new league as they host Milton Keynes Thunder from NIHL South 1, their first on-ice challenge of the new campaign.

But Koulikov is mindful that it’s been a long break for his players and insists the focus is on feeling their way back into action.

“It was a long break and we know the guys will be rusty,” Koulikov told the Phantoms website.  “It’s our first game back together so we just need to get used to the systems and playing competitively again. 

“We’re expecting to have a lot of puck possession, so we’ll be telling the guys to just manage the puck and make the right decisions on the puck. 

“The guys have had a long time off so we need to manage the team as best we can and make smart decisions on the puck. That’s the main thing we will be focussing on.”

Phantoms open their NIHL National campaign with a double header with Bracknell Bees, starting away from home on Saturday 21st September.