Wildcats Weekend: Five things we learnt

IT was another busy weekend for Swindon Wildcats, as the EPIHL season continued to rattle down the tracks at full speed.

Wildcats faced Telford Tigers on Saturday, the side they narrowly lost out to in overtime only a week previous, followed by a trip to Deeside on Sunday to lock horns with Manchester Phoenix.

As the weekend brought another win and a loss for Stevie Lyle’s side, the search for a maximum four point week unfortunately goes on.

Present at rink side for both games, here are five things Total Sport learnt over the weekend of ice hockey…

1. Tomasz Malasinski is a clutch scorer

Big goals at big times. Man of the moment. Cometh the hour cometh the man… you get the drift. Wildcats’ forward Tomasz Malasinski always seems to deliver the goods when his side needs it most.

Malasinski struck twice against Telford on Saturday, before clinching an equaliser late in Deeside against Manchester Phoenix. Though the latter effort was not enough to take Sunday’s tie into overtime, Malasinski proved he is the man to be called upon when times are getting tough.

His stats are speaking very loudly right now and, should this continue, the Polish international will be an instrumental piece in Stevie Lyle’s puzzle as the season gears up to crunch point.

2. Telford don’t seem to like playing Swindon

Last season’s championship winners Telford cut a formidable opposition for most teams, especially when they hit their full stride.

Yet for some reason they never take too kindly to playing Wildcats, a kind of bogey team in a way. Perhaps it is a case of Stevie Lyle’s side having the number of their opposition, never quite allowing Tigers to exert their usual game plan.

Three times the sides have met this season, with the Swindon outfit taking two victories and only narrowly losing the third following over time and some rather dubious late referring decisions. The way Lyle’s side line up against Tigers always seems to pay dividends, offering a mild comfort of being the thorn in the side of one of the league’s better teams.

3. Carlo Finucci is having a huge knock on effect

The Canadian is in unstoppable form and simply cannot stop scoring right now. He’s found the goal every time he has taken to the ice since landing in the UK, and doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.

A great sign for the Wildcats, Finucci’s form is also having a knock-on effect throughout the squad. It is notable how the movement of the Canadian is gifting others pockets of space on the ice. During Sunday’s clash at Deeside, captain Aaron Nell was able to find him rhythm much quicker than usual, courtesy of the ever present Finucci toying with the Phoenix d-line and pulling players out of position.

Still acclimatising to both his new environment and his new team mates, Finucci is only going to get better – a scary thought in itself.

With his playing style complimenting that of others within the Wildcats roster, such as Corey McEwen, expect Finucci to bring the form out of others in the coming weeks as Wildcats aim for their first maximum points weekend.

4. The team is balanced, despite still missing players

A notable absentee from the team sheet over the weekend was again Toms Rutkis.

The Latvian star is still on the road to recovery following an ankle injury, and is still a couple of weeks from making his return.

Despite his absence, the Wildcats side looks balanced and composed – a testament to the strength in depth of the squad Stevie Lyle has put together.

This can only bode well for the Swindon outfit, who will undoubtedly receive a boost once Rutkis returns to the ice.

5. Wildcats’ away supporters know how to bring the noise

Deeside isn’t the most accessible of venues, tucked away up in North Wales.

Despite this however, the Wildcats’ travelling faithful still made the journey to support their side.

After each giving up their Sunday’s to make the arduous journey up the M5 past Birmingham and beyond, the Swindon fans were determined to make themselves heard.

Gathered in the away end, protected from a stray puck only by a thin mesh, the Swindon supporters began their chants early.

As the players came out onto the ice, so with them emerged a drum from the crowd. Cue a significant rise in decibels and an away support to be proud of.