Round the Rinks, 16th December

Another quiet Saturday (only three games) leads into another packed Sunday on the penultimate weekend before Christmas, as off we go around the EIHL…

Basingstoke: The Bison face two struggling teams in Hull and Manchester, while being on something of an upward turn themselves-although with Hull pulling off the shock of the year in Cardiff last week, the Stingrays in particular will be a proposition not taken lightly by the Hampshire side. With Manchester coming off a tanking from Coventry in their last home game, Sunday should see the Bison tested to the full also, injuries or no injuries…

Belfast: The Giants face Nottingham tonight in the Odyssey in a meeting of two of the league’s form teams, before renewing hostilities against Coventry at the Skydome on Sunday in one of the EIHL’s bigger rivalries. With the team now settled and Shaun Sutter and Peter Campbell in particular on dangerously hot streaks, Northern Ireland will see this weekend as a major chance to get back into the pack immediately below the top two…

Cardiff: Revenge is on the Devils’ minds as Newcastle visit on Saturday before the trip to Hull on Sunday. Neither opposition side will be relishing the contest, although the Devils are weakened by Phil Osaer’s injury in goal, the EPL’s Gregg Rockman deputising. Wins are vital in order to prove that last Sunday was just a blip-the Vipers visit on Saturday as an example of just what can happen when a hot team goes off the boil. South Wales fans will not long tolerate things if the Devils appear to suffer the same fate…

Coventry: Blaze only play once this weekend, but what a game-Belfast at the Skydome, with the now-signed Troy Neumeier eager to impress against his former club after being released this week by the Giants. With Michael Tasker also returning, only Curtis Huppe’s injury and Sylvain Cloutier’s rehab (which has seen Neumeier brought in short-term to cover on defence) will be missing as the Blaze look to pull ever further away in the league race…

Edinburgh: What do the Caps have to do? A torrid weekend against Belfast last week is followed by a further pair of tough games against Nottingham and basement rivals Manchester. With Hull winning last week the Scots desperately need something from this weekend, or even reaching the playoffs will become nothing more than a Christmas dream….

Hull: The Stingrays need to continue winning, now they’ve proved they can in the most unlikely fashion. A midweek loss to Newcastle could see normal losing service resumed unless the Humbersiders really buckle down against Basingstoke and Cardiff. If so, then another shock could be on the cards. It is the season for miracles, after all…
Manchester: The Phoenix need to bounce back after shipping twelve goals to Coventry last weekend, and their chance will come in games against Edinburgh and Basingstoke-two teams who are very close to them in the league standings. As the fight for the lower end of the playoff places gathers speed, this weekend is more important than it seems at first glance for the Lancashire men...

Newcastle: Vipers need wins, fast-the victory against Hull was a start but the early-season form is a long way away from the Metro Radio Arena at the moment. This weekend the opponents are Cardiff and Sheffield-the two teams immediately above the Vipers. In the fight to catch up on Coventry, the Geordies need to win right now, or they'll find themselves dragged into the lower end of the playoff battle very quickly indeed...

Nottingham: The Panthers are a new team since the arrival of Tom Askey, and this weekend have a chance to continue the charge against Belfast and Edinburgh. All eyes in the East Midlands will doubtless be smiling in the hope of a result on Sunday, but first of all the Panthers have to beat a resurgent Belfast-a game which could set the tone for their performance for the next few weeks. Win and the good feelings continue-lose and the revival could be brought to a crushing halt...

Sheffield: The Steelers have just the one game this time round-Newcastle away. Sheffield will be fully aware of just how close behind them in the table the Vipers are, and thus this game will be a bitterly-fought battle as the two sides scramble for position in the pack chasing Coventry...

The games, then...

Friday:

Belfast v Nottingham

Saturday

Edinburgh v Manchester

Basingstoke v Hull

Cardiff v Newcastle

Sunday

Nottingham v Edinburgh

Manchester v Basingstoke

Newcastle v Sheffield

Hull v Cardiff

Coventry v Belfast

Let's play hockey...:)