The Spring Cup is set to end this weekend and with the competition already won by Sheffield Steeldogs, they get the day off as the others play for position.
One teams formally end their 12-game campaign today while the battle of the bottom two could go right to the end as we look ahead to today’s action.
Swindon Wildcats vs Bees (3pm) (Click for streaming info)
Swindon Wildcats’ hopes of creating some waves in the Spring Cup may have gone a few games ago, but the chance to finish strong is a good one for Aaron Nell’s side.
They faced Bees back at the start of the competition and won both games, although the second of the double header went to overtime, but they showed enough then that they could compete.
But the wheels came off the week after against Telford and they’ve had to make do with a mid table presence in the five-team competition.
They have the chance to finish at home with a win over Bees and after last week’s surprise 6-3 loss to Raiders in Romford, Nell will expect nothing less than a positive reaction from that.
Going into the final weekend of Spring Cup hockey, here is the current league standing.👀
Are you tuning in tomorrow?🤔
Make sure you have your streams ready. ⬇️
🆚 @BeesIceHockey
📅 21/03/2021
⏰ F/O 3pm
🎟 https://t.co/RSpW5EWJz2
💰👕 https://t.co/hFNX9axUEA pic.twitter.com/JC5PHOkWmG— The Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats (@SwinWildcats) March 26, 2021
For Bees, it’s a straight shootout between them and Raiders to try and escape from the bottom spot and while they picked up a point in Telford last week, they would love to build on that in Swindon.
Looking at the results, it’s largely been a forgettable competition for them and the fact they’ve conceded more than two goals in all but one of their games is a reflection of where their weakness lies.
While a win over Wildcats would be hugely welcomed by coach Doug Sheppard, he’ll know it could very well come down to the final game with Raiders on Sunday.
Letting in goals has been an issue, but scoring them hasn’t been a strength either as the team with the least amount of goals (24) in their previous 10 games.
A surprise victory over Swindon could mean Bees end the Spring Cup with a flourish for their fans, if all goes well.
Raiders’ Brandon Aycliffe will be looking to add to his 11 point tally in the Spring Cup (PHOTO: John Scott)
Raiders vs Telford Tigers (6pm) (Click for streaming info)
The tournament may be winding down, but which of these two teams turn up and play could be an interesting factor as we look ahead.
Telford’s race was run when they lost their two games against Sheffield Steeldogs a couple of weeks ago and four losses in their last five games shows just much that has taken out of them in recent games.
Three of those losses came at the hands of the imperious Steeldogs, including Wednesday’s 7-4 defeat, but even Telford will admit Sheffield have been outstanding all the way through the competition.
So, second place is very much up for grabs for them and they could seal it tonight against a team they beat well in the opening weekend in what is their final game of the competition.
🔶🔷SATURDAY GAME INFO🔶🔷
📅 Saturday 27th March
🏒 @Telford_Tigers
⏰ 6pm, Stream from 5:30pm
📍Sapphire Ice, Romford
🎥 https://t.co/AxxPyLbYmf
🎫 https://t.co/KUyv9qNVe9
👕 https://t.co/U3EsnxnLpj @DanScott13Gov"Watch Live for only Five”#RaidersHockey pic.twitter.com/mE60A5LQHR
— Raiders IHC (@Raiders_IHC) March 23, 2021
Finishing well is something any teams wants to do if their main objective has been taken away from them so they’ll hope they can overcome Raiders to clinch second spot.
Speaking of the Raiders, they could very well be eyeing up a Sunday winner-takes-all to avoid the bottom spot against Bees, but on Tigers’ current form, Raiders could well fancy it.
Sean Easton’s side recorded an impressive 6-3 home win over Swindon last Saturday, but were soon back down to earth as Steeldogs won by the same scoreline the following night.
The resolve to want to finish the Spring Cup will be there and that defeat to Sheffield won’t have dampened their spirits and Telford could well continue to be out of sorts in Essex.
It has the potential to be a fascinating one and if the Tigers side we know can turn it on for their last outing, Raiders could face a difficult night. We’ll have to wait and see.
