Opposition opinion – Nottingham Lions

In the first of hopefully a regular feature, we take in an opponent’s opinion on our forthcoming encounter. Katie the Nottingham Lions’ Press Officer is first up.

Nottingham Lions head to Hull this weekend for the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Despite usually being at opposite ends of the League tables, games between the Jets and Lions have usually been close affairs, and the 5-5 tie in February effectively ended the Lions’ hopes of retaining their Championship.

This season is a bit of a transition for the Nottingham side. With Joe Graham, James Neil and Robert Lachowicz to the EPL’s Manchester Phoenix, Sam Bullas to a struggling Swindon Wildcats side and Tom Norton staying in Nottingham but moving to the Panthers full-time. Neil, Lachowicz and Bullas will be on 2-way deals with the Panthers, and Norton will play for the Lions. Despite losing these players, the Lions have signed some new faces for the 2009-10 season.

Daniel Taylor, a forward, joins from Telford Titans; Robert Ferrara, defence, signs from Peterborough Phantoms – both players are now studying at University in Nottingham. Tom Parker & Nick Whyatt join from Coventry Blaze’s ENL side, although Whyatt is not a ‘new boy’ having played for the Lions in their EPL days. The biggest pre-season signing has to be that of former Milton Keynes Lightning defenceman Chris McEwen. Unable to commit to the Lightning full-time, the Nottingham-based player has signed for the Lions and will play when work & family commitments allow.

The success of Nottingham’s Junior Development continues as 4 new youngsters are playing for the Lions – Callum Bowley, Will Weldon, Tom Soar and net minder Brandon Stones join Josh Ward as ‘part-time’ Lions. Josh is already well-known to defence men around the League and he scored in the Lions triumphant trip to Coventry as they picked up the Playoff Championship trophy in April.

Kingston Jets probably have not had the season-openers they would have wanted – having won 1 game out of 4 and only scoring 8 goals, but conceding 29. But as the Lions know games against teams towards the bottom of the League table cannot be taken lightly any longer. The Lions’ new defensive pairings are starting to gel, and with 19 point scorers out of 22 out skaters the points can come from anywhere.

My verdict? Should be a fast game with the Jets looking to kick start their season but I think that the Lions are too strong for the Jets.

Prediction: A 6-4 win for the Nottingham Lions.