Coach's Corner - Week 21
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Greetings once more Bee Army.  A huge weekend last weekend with a hard fought three points out of what looked to be a tough pair of match ups.  

We started last weekend on the road at Milton Keynes facing the Lightning.   Planet Ice MK is always a tough venue to visit, MK are a solid home team who play a tight and tough game.   We had our backs against the wall for chunks of the game but took our chances well when we made them and were a little unlucky to lose out in overtime.   We got off to a slow start with the Lightning taking an early lead but we fought back well and led narrowly going into the third period.   A late equaliser saw the Lightning force the game into overtime and then they sealed the win almost as soon as overtime started.   I felt we played a good road game; penalties ended up being the difference despite us keeping it close all match.   A point on the road at MK is however always a good thing, it’s just a shame we couldn’t come away with both points having run them so close.

Sunday we returned to the Hive for the game that I am sure a lot of you have been waiting for, the return of the Guildford Flames.   We went into the match with a game plan and we stuck to it well, we didn’t allow the occasion to distract us.   The determination and effort the guys showed was fantastic and despite allowing two shorthanded goals we never let our heads drop.   Trailing 2-4 and having allowed those two shorthanded goals I was very happy with how we got stuck in during the third period to not only get level but to take the lead.   The Flames very late equaliser stunned us a bit but a good overtime period and a well taken penalty from Shaun Thompson saw us seal with win and what a great feeling it was to wrap up the victory.   The match had pretty much everything and must have been a great spectacle for you the fans.

This weekend is another tough one in the run in to the end of the season.   On Saturday we make the short trip along the M3 to Basingstoke to take on our local rivals the Bison.   Steve Moria’s side have been a bit up and down of late,  two wins over the MK Lightning, one win and one loss in games versus Swindon and a loss to Slough in their last five games.   So far this season we have beaten the Bison on both of their visits to the Hive but have lost out both times when we have visited Basingstoke.   We will be looking to put this right on Saturday and take the form we have been in of late into this coming weekend.   The Bison are a tough team to get a result from in their own rink but I will be looking for another solid and disciplined road game from the guys.

We return to the Hive again on Sunday and face the current in form team of the EPIHL when the Sheffield Steeldogs head into town.   The Steeldogs have won their last six matches beating Swindon and Peterborough before going on to also impressively defeat MK, Slough and Manchester in their last three outings.   Their run of late has been impressive but twelve wins from their last fifteen games shows just how tough Sundays game will be.   We have taken three points from Sheffield this season and will be looking to keep things tight, keep our discipline and take our chances when we make them.   The previous two games at the Hive against the Steeldogs have both been closely fought and tense games but with our confidence high at the moment we will be looking to carry on the good run we have been on of late.

It is good to finally have everyone back in the line-up, although it will take a while before everyone is back to 100% match fitness and sharpness.   I am also happy that the scoring last weekend was spread around so well amongst everyone.   Shaun Thompson had a standout weekend and Tom Annetts was again solid in net – everyone however worked well and the team work and overall team performance last weekend was outstanding.  

We have taken eight points from our last five games now and have picked up at least a point in every one of those five games and that in anybody’s book is impressive form.   We can’t however get carried away as the coming weekends see some tough games still to come and there are no easy games in this league anymore.  The win over the Flames now means that we have beaten every side in the league at least once this season – this shows just how much we have improved this season and also just how tight the league is with everyone capable of beating anyone on any given night.   We need to keep this good run going and have got to make our games in hand count and ensure we pick up every point possible.   We have our sights on the seventh spot now and obviously need to keep picking up points where we can and make sure we keep the effort and performances as good as they have been of late.

Finally for this week it was great to see such a big crowd for the game against Guildford and the atmosphere was electric too, the Bee Army certainly played their part this weekend.   There were a lot of new faces too and hopefully after a game like that they will be back.   Please continue to make it Loud & Proud week in, week out for the guys – it really does help!

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 20
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Hello there one more time Bee Army.   Another important victory picked up at the Hive but a tough weekend on the horizon.

Last weekend we only had the one match up, at the Hive on Saturday versus the Telford Tigers.   This was always going to be a tough match up as both teams needed the win big time and I am very happy that we managed to pick up the win.   It was a low scoring but well disciplined performance and despite the low score an edgy game.   The whole team worked hard and put in a great effort and I felt we did enough to win the game a little more comfortably.   A great game from Tom Annett’s kept us in the match late on but we created more than enough opportunities to seal the win too.   Having the day off on Sunday came at a good time with our injury list – it gave those carrying knocks and bangs another day of recovery and came as a nice break for us ahead of what I’m sure will be another tough weekend.

This Saturday we hit the road again for the trip to Milton Keynes to face the Lightning.   MK is always a tough rink to go to and the Lightning are a solid home team and despite a couple of losses to the top teams recently they bounced back and got back to winning ways.   We will have to put in another solid road performance like we did against Peterborough a couple of weekends ago and keep up that never say die attitude in order to give ourselves a chance of coming away from MK with something to show.   The Lightning have had a tough time of it lately having won only one of their last six games – however it has been Manchester, Guildford and Sheffield who have defeated them.   We cannot however take them lightly, despite their recent record as I am sure they will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Sunday we return home to the Hive to face our fierce local rivals the Guildford Flames.   The Flames are the current league leaders and will without a doubt be a tough challenge, in all departments.   Our last two games against the Flames were both at the Hive over the festive period, both were close games which resulted in a loss and a penalty shot loss for us.   We will be looking to keep things tight against a team with a lot of offensive threats.   Discipline could be key – we cannot give a team like Guildford power play opportunities cheaply as they are too clinical.  We also cannot allow what has happened in previous match-ups to dictate things in this game. 

We have picked up a couple of really important victories lately and we need to continue to keep that form up going into this weekend’s two games.    Hopefully we should be back to full strength, or close to it, by the weekend which will of course help.   I have been happy with the performances recently and the form of Tom Annett’s has been great to see, especially coming back from his injury lay off.   The whole team though has been putting in a great effort recently, especially as we have been short of numbers for a while now too.

Finally for this week we would again like to say a big thank you to the Bee Army for another good night of support last week – despite the weather – it was great to see so many of your brave the elements and support the guys.   Can I ask that you continue to support us in your normal, loud and proud way – but let’s remember to keep the heat on the ice please. 

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 19
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Greetings once more Bee Army!  All in all a fairly successful weekend last time out, if not a little frustrating in parts.   A great home win on Saturday versus the Manchester Phoenix, our first ever victory over them since they joined the EPIHL – followed by a hard fought penalty shot loss on the road in Peterborough the next night which left us very much frustrated, more about that later.

Let’s start at the Hive last Saturday against the Phoenix.   We got off to a great start, taking the lead early on in the first period.   We had several powerplay opportunities that period too but some solid defence meant that we didn’t add to the lead.  The Phoenix then struck back with two quick goals both on the powerplay after Brad Watchorn’s red mist descended – in his defence though with what has happened to our netminders recently I can understand why he felt the need to protect his netminder but may have gone a bit far.   Full credit to the guys however they didn’t let their heads drop and early in the third period we got the lead back and despite a dubious penalty shot, converted well by ex Bee Tom Duggan, the game headed into overtime.   This time however a cracker of a goal from Lukas Smital sealed our first ever victory over the Phoenix since they joined the EPIHL.   I was especially pleased with the effort that the whole team put in throughout the game and the fact that no-one’s head dropped at all.   There were a couple of cracking goals in their too!

Sunday in Peterborough turned out to be a frustrating evening and we were left feeling robbed when the game was finally over.  We traded early goals with the Phantoms but trailed by one at the end of the first period.   A goalless second period was followed by a third period shorthanded equalising goal and so again into overtime we went.   During overtime we had, what I think was a perfectly legitimate goal washed out – we also spent two minutes on the penalty kill in overtime but should really have had a powerplay as the officials failed to pick up three imports on the ice for the Phantoms.  Needless to say after the penalty shoot out loss we felt more than a little aggrieved. 

A three point weekend is still a good return however, despite thinking that we should have picked up all four points.   Over the weekend the effort from the guys was great and we never once gave up in either match up over the weekend. 

This weekend we have another huge home game in the hunt for a playoff spot when the Telford Tigers pay us a visit.   It was just before Christmas the last time we faced the Tigers, that time on the road and we came away with the two points.   Despite a recent run of nine losses in ten games the Tigers have since however recently proved that they cannot be taken lightly with impressive wins over some of the top teams in the league.   We will have to continue where we left off last weekend and keep up the full 100% effort for the full sixty minutes, keep our discipline and ensure we get the job done. 

Sunday sees us with a rare day off and to be honest it comes at a good time, allowing those with knocks or injuries that little extra time to heal – it’s also nice to get a day off once in a while to rest up.   We are starting to get back some of the injured players – Lukas Smital and Peter Jasik both returned last week and Rob Lamey returned after a one game suspension too.   Both Carl Graham and Scott Spearing missed last weekend’s games and both are being assessed day to day and we hope to see them back soon.   Brad Watchorn has however now totted up enough penalty points to have to miss this Saturday’s game versus Telford unfortunately.

Finally for this week, the support at the Hive on Saturday was great to hear as we served up another nail biter of a match and as a peach of a goal sealed the victory for us the crowd reaction was fantastic!   We need you guys to continue your great support and keep getting behind the guys as the season starts to head into the final crucial stages. I and the team would like to thank you all again and please keep it loud and proud for your Bees! 

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 18
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Hello once again Bee Army!  A bit of a strange weekend last week with only the one game, at the Hive on Sunday, versus the Slough Jets but with our injury list it was maybe a blessing in disguise – giving the guys an extra day to recover from their various knocks and niggles.

Saturday night’s away game in Slough was cancelled mid-week last week when they had some issues with the piping and ice surface over at the Hanger.   The game has now been rescheduled for Wednesday 22nd Feb – hopefully despite it being mid-week some of you will be able to make it over there and cheer the guys on in a very rare midweek game.  

Last Sunday the Jets visited us at the Hive flying high (you see what I did there!) after a heavy home win over the Telford Tigers and a narrow road defeat of the Guildford Flames, whilst we were looking to carry on where we let off against Swindon the weekend before with an overtime victory.   I feel we put in a very good performance and actually did enough to win the game.   I was very pleased with the effort from the shortened bench and impressed with the way we got ourselves back into the game after trailing by a couple of goals and never gave up.   It was a great effort from everyone and a good comeback but a shame we couldn’t see the game out or at least force overtime. 

We are obviously all looking forward to getting back to a full strength squad as the missing players have been key ones and their absence means everyone else has to step up and put that bit more ice time in, meaning players are sometimes out on their feet with the effort they are putting in.   Carl Graham is making good progress in his recovery, Peter Jasik is back and hopefully Lukas Smital may be back for the weekend too.  

First up this weekend is a Saturday home game when we take the Manchester Phoenix on at the Hive.   The Phoenix have been on a fantastic run of results of late, having won nine of their last ten matches.   We will have to put in a solid, well disciplined and smart home display.   We ran the Phoenix close last time out at their place and took an overtime point from them – we will be looking to go one step further and take the two points at the Hive.  

On Sunday we hit the road to head to Peterborough to take on the Phantoms in, what I believe, is a huge match.   The Phantoms are coming off the back two victories against Sheffield and Telford and seem to have found a bit of form.   We did however defeat Peterborough the last time we faced them, on New Year’s Day at the Hive.   We will be looking to put in a good road performance, remaining disciplined and taking our chances when we get them and ensuring we are clinical in from of net.  

On a final note, it was good to see another big home crowd last Sunday, backing the team and trying to spur them on.   The support you, the Bee Army, give is great and long may it continue.   Thanks again and please keep it loud and proud for your Bees.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 17
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Hi there again Bee Army!   Well an up and down couple of games last time out – but a great way to finish the weekend on Sunday night at the Hive – with a win over our local rivals the Wildcats.

Unfortunately last Saturday against the Steeldogs up in Sheffield we had a game to forget.   We went behind very early and struggled to get back into the game and the Steeldogs were clinical and finished us off.   Individual mistakes during the match cost us and I felt we were second to the fifty/fifty pucks and lacked a little spark.   I was happy with the discipline we showed, only taking one penalty all night.   It didn’t help losing Lukas early on (to add to the already missing Carl Graham, Peter Jasik and Brad Watchorn) but the game was effectively over once the Steeldogs got their fourth goal early in the third period as the short bench starting taking a toll.

Back to the Hive on Sunday to take on the Wildcats – and what a turnaround!   We went into the match with a game plan, stuck to it and got the reward I felt we fully deserved.   We played a high tempo, aggressive, in your face but disciplined game – which we both needed and wanted to do in front of the home crowd, we saw it through and a great team effort from everyone meant that we took the game to the Wildcats for large chunks of the game.  It was also good to see that the guys never gave up and got back into the game twice after the ‘Cats had taken the lead.   Sergejs overtime winner was just the reward I think we deserved for the performance we had put in – and it was great to close the gap a bit on the Wildcats.

Over the weekend I was very happy with the discipline we showed (only five minor penalties all weekend) and also the way the guys bounced back so well from Saturday nights result to pull together and put in a great team effort on Sunday.   The penalty kill worked well over the weekend too (when needed) and I was pleased with that as it is something that we have been actively working on in training.   

This weekend we were due to face the Slough Jets in a double header weekend however the game at Slough on Saturday has had to be postponed due to some issues with the ice.   So instead we now have an extra day off on Saturday before heading returning to action at the Hive on Sunday.   Make no mistake Sundays game is sure to be a tough one against one of the top teams in the league – and with some of the players we may still have missing it is going to be even tougher but we showed last Sunday just how we can pull together and still come away with the result.   

The Jets have a strong roster with a solid netminder and impressive firepower up front too so we will have to be at our very best to ensure that we take something away from the weekend.   At the Hive we have already taken three points from the four available so will be looking to add to this on Sunday.   There are a lot of familiar faces to Bees fans on the Jets roster and this tends to make match ups between the two sides that bit more intense, feisty and, I am sure for you fans, entertaining.   

On a final note, I and the team would like to thank you all for the great support and noise throughout the game on Sunday against the Wildcats.   It really helped spur on our shortened bench and the eruption when the game winner went in during overtime was great to hear.   Thanks again and please keep it loud and proud as we keep battling on.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 16
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Hello again Bee Army – fixtures got back to normal this weekend just gone after the busy festive period.  

We started off with the short trip along the M3 on Saturday last week to Basingstoke to take on our old rivals the Bison.   We got off to pretty good start and I thought for the first two periods we were actually the better team, however the Bisons fourth goal late on in the second period, to put them 4-3 up at a crucial time, probably turned the game in the Bisons favour and we never truly recovered.   It was a contentious decision in my opinion and just highlighted the poor levels of officiating in the game that night, for both teams too however,   Fans, players and coaches all get very frustrated with the inconsistent officiating that we are seeing week in week out – both within one game from period to period and even more so from one game to another.   It’s frustrating for sure and appears to be becoming more of  an issue for all teams of late.   We truthfully should have done better in the final period and got something from the game as scoring four on the road usually sees you come away with something to show for your efforts.

Sunday we returned to the Hive to take on the high flying Milton Keynes Lightning and gave a very good performance and matched the Lightning for most of the game and were right there late on.   Two late goals however (one an empty net goal) saw us off and the Lightning sealed the win.   Although we were well disciplined and only gave up two minor penalties all game we went on concede on both penalty kills – something that wound up costing us the game in the long run and something we will be working on.   It goes without saying that being short of three key players is beginning to take its toll in some of these tight games and it’s frustrating losing close games like this as I do wonder how different things would be with Peter Jasik, Carl Graham and Tom Annetts still in the lineup.   Peter and Tom are still being assessed daily and it looks like Carl is out for at least another four weeks or so unfortunately.  

This weekend we start off with the long road trip on Saturday up to Sheffield to face the Steeldogs.   The ‘Dogs are bang in form at the moment having won their last four games on the spin and having also managed twelve out of their last fourteen available points.   They are much improved this season and Ice Sheffield is always a tough place to visit, the long trip and late face off time don’t help to be honest but we know how tough it is to come away from Sheffield with anything to show.   That being said however we have had three tight games so far this season when we have taken on the Steeldogs – we will be looking for a solid and disciplined road performance and to ensure we don’t give up chances to the ‘Dogs, make sure that we are clinical in front of net and strong at the back.  

On Sunday we head back to the Hive to take on one of our local rivals, the Swindon Wildcats.   With so many familiar faces in the ‘Cats lineup with something like ten ex-Bracknell players the rivalry is even deeper this season.   Swindon have picked up some impressive wins against some of the top teams lately and this game is a real four pointer in our chase for a playoff spot, with the ‘Cats being just ahead of us in the league table.   It is important that we hold our discipline and keep the Wildcats off the powerplay and not rise to anything they may throw at us.   Three of our four games previously this season against Swindon have seen the result decided by just one goal and we will be looking to keep things tight at the back and limit the ‘Cats chances and make sure we create plenty of our own quality chances and look to capitalize where we can.

On a final note, I and the team would like to congratulate John & Yvonne Slater on being awarded the Club Ambassador of the Year award from the Bracknell Bees Supporters Club.   They are two of the most dedicated people involved with our great club and they have been for a number of years now.   The amount they do for the club is staggering and the award is very well deserved – congratulations guys!

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 15
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Happy New Year Bee Army!  It’s been a while, due to the Christmas and New Year break, since my last update for you all.   I am going to try and cover the festive period games and look forward to this coming weekend too.  

I’ll start with our two games against Guildford just before and just after Christmas first.   We recovered very well from two heavy defeats against the Flames at the Spectrum to push them close twice at the Hive.   Firstly on the 18th December we held a good lead early on and were looking good but the Flames depth showed as they fought their way back into the game and we were disappointed not to hold on for the win and again disappointed to miss out on the dreaded penalty shoot out.   Overall I feel we did enough to win the game but unfortunately couldn’t hold on, but we were still happy with a point from the game given the two previous results against the Flames.   On the 27th December we again took on the Flames and knew that we could compete as shown in the game before Christmas.   We dug in well and held the Flames close for large chunks of the game but again their strength in depth showed and with a couple of key players missing we came up a bit short.   Over both of these games however I felt we were well disciplined and that a certain key event swung the momentum in the second match up – but I feel it best to not stoke the fire on that and simply won’t pass comment – I will leave people to make up their own minds.

The New Year’s weekend saw us with two more tough match ups too, against the Peterborough Phantoms at the Hive and on the road to the Manchester Phoenix.   The game at the Hive versus Peterborough was a massive win in our fight for a playoff spot and was a well deserved win against an improved Phantoms side.    I feel we dominated large parts of the game, especially the opening period and got some good secondary scoring to back up a great game from Martin Masa.   In Manchester on the Bank Holiday Monday we took a game plan to the Phoenix and stuck to it well and I feel we were unlucky not to head back to the Hive with the two points.   It was still great to pick up our first point in the EPIHL at the Manchester rink and also great to see such a solid performance from Carl Ambler with over fifty saves in the match.  

It was a great effort over the two games, with an even shorter bench and I am very pleased to have picked up the three points to start the New Year off well.

This weekend the fixtures don’t get any easier for us as we travel to Basingstoke to face the Bison on Saturday before returning to the Hive on Sunday to take on the MK Lightning.   Both teams have won their last two games heading into this weekend, both again after having lost their first game back after Christmas.   Ironically both of this weekend’s opponents defeated both Swindon and Guildford last weekend – so have shown that they have picked up where they left off before Christmas and are sure to provide two tough matchups for us this weekend, as we look to continue where we left off last weekend with three out of a possible four points ourselves.   Basingstoke is always a tough place to visit and our local rivals always seem to step it up that bit more in games against us.   Milton Keynes have constantly proved that they are a solid, tough opposition and it is never easy to take points from them.   We will need to continue to work hard as a squad and play a solid defensive game with plenty of toughness to give ourselves the chance to get the rewards for our hard work.

On a final note, as this is my first Coachs Corner of the New Year, I and the team hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year break and are refreshed and ready to make it Loud & Proud and push the guys on for the rest of the season as we bid to make our way up the league table.   It was great to see some bumper home crowds over the festive period and hopefully this will continue – as will the great support you are all giving us.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 12 & 13
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Greetings once again Bee Army!   Back at home after our extended road trip, with a run of four road games which ends this weekend and sees the start of a three game home stand.  

Two weekends ago we started the by welcoming the Manchester Phoenix to the Hive on the Saturday before we made the short trip to Guildford on Sunday to take on the Flames in a highly anticipated encounter.  We were really disappointed, in fact gutted, to experience our first zero point weekend.   Against Manchester poor discipline cost us and the Phoenix were clinical with their finishing on the powerplay   We outshot Manchester but didn’t take the chances we made and gave ourselves too much to do by the end of the second period.   Against Guildford on the Sunday we were maybe guilty of over-hyping the game and allowing emotion to get the better of us as a team, meaning that we took our eye off the ball (puck?) and letting our concentration drop.   We stayed disciplined that night but simply lacked that cutting edge and this is something that we will not want to allow to happen again.   There is nothing too bad in losing to two top teams but we took away what positives we could from the weekend and know where we need to improve and how we need to move forward to improve performances and hopefully start picking up more points against the top teams.  

Last weekend we had our annual double away weekend due to the Pantomime at the rink and travelled to Swindon and Telford to face the Wildcats and Tigers.   In Swindon on Saturday we were poor in most departments and despite a fairly even first period we never recovered from a poor start to the second period.   If it hadn’t been for some stellar work from Carl Ambler things may have been even worse.   We were frustrated by the in-form Tom Murdy but in truth should have made more of the chances we created.   With both Carl Graham and Scott Spearing missing from the line-up things were always going to be tough with us being short on numbers.  On Sunday we travelled to Telford to take on the Tigers.   Telford is never an easy rink to go to – they are always a tough nut to crack in their own rink.   We changed a few things around for this game and got the rewards for doing so – James Galazzi for example picking up two powerplay goals in the game.   Still missing both Carl Graham and Scott Spearing we had a fairly makeshift lineup with Matt Foord covering on D along with Lewis Turner taking a regular shift on D – both of who had great games and Lewis even picking up the man of the match award.   We then lost Ben Johnson for the rest of the game after a stray high stick caught him in the face nearly removing his nose.   All in all a very good road win all things considered.

This weekend we face the Flames in a double header weekend and having recently played them we know that we will need to improve on that night’s performance to be in with a chance of taking something from these games.   We know where we went wrong last time out and know what exactly what we need to put right this time out.   Guildford aren’t top of the league by chance however and we realize just what a tough weekend it will be.

I’m sure you will see that we have added the experienced defenceman Ricky Skene to the squad this week after he left the Peterborough Phantoms earlier in the week.   I would like to take this chance to welcome Ricky to the Bees; he is sure to be a solid edition to the defensive corps and comes in at an important time for us.   He is a “stay at home” defenceman in the mould I was looking for and as a hard working team player will fit right into our team ethic and is no stranger to a lot of the guys in the room so will fit right in.

On a final note, as this is the last home game before the Christmas and New Year break, I and the team would like to wish our loyal fans the Bee Army, all the match night officials & volunteers, Stuart & Katie (and their families), John & Yvonne, the Supporters Club and all our sponsors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – we hope you all have a nice break!

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 11
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Hello out there once more Bee Army!   A bit of an up and down weekend last time out.   The less said about Saturday against Slough the better, although I will cover that later in this article, but what a bounce back against Basingstoke the following night at the Hive!

I’ll address Saturday night at the Hanger versus the Slough Jets first.   We came out quick in the first ten minutes of the first period on Saturday evening and were looking pretty good, however two quick, soft goals allowed Slough to edge in front and they never looked back.   The two goals changed the momentum of the game and we struggled to get back into the match despite two goals from Lukas Smital.   We need to put this performance and result behind us and set about getting back to winning ways as soon as possible.   We know it was a bad night and not a great performance but we will look to take what positives we can from the game and move onwards and upwards.

On Sunday evening we faced another of our local rivals at the Hive, this time the Basingstoke Bison and also managed to break the dreaded Teddy Bear Toss hoodoo. We had a game plan for the game against the Bison and stuck to it well, we were short of bodies and lost Brad Watchorn early on too but stuck at it very well.   Although the shot count is very high in favour of Basingstoke we limited them to mainly shooting from distance which we dealt with effectively.   It was good to see the scoring spread around, great to see Ben Johnson put in another very good display and Sergejs Louskins have a cracking game too – despite the rough stuff that Basingstoke were handing out in his direction.   It was a great bounce back after the disappointing result the night before and a good solid home win against a tough and hardworking team.  

Looking forward to this weekend coming, we face yet another very difficult couple of match-ups with a home game against the Manchester Phoenix on Saturday before making the trip to Guildford on Sunday to take on the league leading Flames; hopefully we will be back to full strength bodies wise.   Manchester have been a bit up and down lately and even with the injuries they have cannot be taken lightly.   The Flames top the table at the moment but with so many players in our squad who only recently left the Flames I’m sure the game will be an intriguing one. This weekend actually starts a very tough month of fixtures for us, so we will be looking for solid performances throughout December to carry on the good form we have been in of late.

Overall I am still very happy with the guys at the moment; we have three import forwards who are all on fire at the moment and scoring well.   We are still working hard for each other game in game out too.   It’s great to see players like Ben Johnson and Sergejs Louskins performing so well and I have been really impressed with them of late.   There is no doubt the league is still a very tight one and that there are no guarantees when it comes to results nowadays.   We have moved up to sixth in the table and are only seven points from the top of the table and only need two more points to hit the entire total we managed last season.

On a final point it was great to see the large number of travelling fans at Slough last weekend and again the Hive was rocking with noise on Sunday.   It was also fantastic to get the Teddy Bear toss off this season with a Bees goal and wonderful to see the amount of support from the fans for the charities with all the items donated.   Please keep up the wonderful support – it really does make a difference and is appreciated.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 10
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Greetings once again Bee Army!   Well last week certainly was a good one, the clubs first four point weekend in a very long time and one that we have been working hard towards all season.   Two great efforts and finally a winning penalty shoot out make the feeling even better.

Let’s start by looking back at last weekend and beginning with our road trip to Telford on Saturday.   It wasn’t the prettiest of games but we ground out a solid and hard fought road win, in a rink that is always tough to win in.   It was a very close game but in the end we did enough despite falling into some penalty trouble during the second period.   The penalty kill worked well and we even came up with a short-handed goal, which arguably changed the game.   Peter Jasik rightly picked up the man of the match award for a good performance; special mention must also go to Ben Johnson who had another impressive game.

Sunday we took on the high-flying Sheffield Steeldogs at the Hive.   It proved to be a tight and tense affair, a very technical game.   We had a game plan and stuck to it very well and neutralized a lot of the Steeldogs offensive threat.   It was a great effort from the whole team defensively and in particular Carl Ambler who was very busy late on in the game.   Despite some antics late on we held our discipline well and didn’t rise to it.   Unfortunately we couldn’t see the game out in regulation, despite a few close efforts and eventually the game headed into the now dreaded penalty shoot out.   This time however fortune favoured us and both Lukas Smital and Peter Jasik scored their penalty shots to seal a well deserved victory in front of a very loud & proud Hive.  

It is obviously great to finally have the penalty shot voodoo broken and even better that it helped seal a four point weekend for the club – something I fully believe we have been close to recently and something that the guys fully deserve for their efforts.   That is now eleven out of a possible fourteen points in our last seven games, in fact we haven’t lost in regulation time in our last seven outings too and have picked up four wins in that time.   No matter which way you look at it that is a great run of form.   This run has kept us alive in the EPIHL Cup, we have games remaining against Manchester and Guildford (twice) and will be looking to do what it takes to progress to the semi-finals of this competition as well as pick up valuable league points.

We will certainly need to maintain that form going into this weekend as we have yet another very tough test as we take on two of our local rivals, the Slough Jets at the Hanger on Saturday and then the Basingstoke Bison at the Hive on Sunday.   Games between us are always good games, against both of the sides and are always feisty affairs with so many former Bracknell players on their rosters.   Basingstoke are on fire at the moment and Slough always seems to find another gear against us so we are under no illusions that we will need to be right on top of our game to give ourselves chance of coming out the weekend with something to show.

On a final note please don’t forget the annual Teddy Bear Toss at the home game versus Basingstoke on Sunday 27th November.   When either the Bees score our first goal or when the buzzer sounds to end the first period then you can let fly with the Teddy Bears, they are all donated to the Bracknell Forest Family Placement Team and also to Thames Hospicecare – both are great causes so please help out if you can.   We are also likely to be busy with Santa’s that night from the Santa Dash for Thames Hospicecare and the Great Britain Supporters Club are also at the Hive too, manning their popular merchandise stall.
 
Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 09
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Hello once again Bee Army!   Last weekend saw us make the long road trip up to Sheffield on Saturday to face a Steeldogs team who are on a good run and have started the season very well.   We played a solid, well disciplined road game and held a 2-5 lead, a short-handed and powerplay goal for the Steeldogs turned the game and they managed to force overtime and the penalty shoot out – which they went on to win.   We were of course very disappointed to have only picked up one point from the game when we should really have held on for both points.  It does need to be remembered that not many teams have picked up points at Sheffield this season so far and that no team has scored five against them in their own rink either, they are by no means a team to be underestimated – they are a much improved outfit.   It was also encouraging to see the scoring spread around amongst all three lines and guys getting rewarded for their efforts.

Sunday saw us welcome our local rivals, the Slough Jets, to the Hive.   After giving up an early goal and getting ourselves level we then let Slough pick up two quick fire goals to trail at the end of the first period.  We battled back very well however and a great comeback eventually saw the game head into overtime and penalty shots yet again.   We had several chances to take the game both in regulation and overtime but just couldn’t convert that final chance.   Having won the last two periods and fought back so well I truly feel we deserved the win but again it wasn’t meant to be when it got to penalties, Rob Lamey hitting the post made it even more disappointing for us that we had missed out on penalties again.  

I have never known a team as hardworking and dedicated as the group we have at the club right now.   They are such a group of guys that I’m sure even if they were sat top of the table they would still be striving to be better.   They are giving full commitment and effort in every minute of every training session and game and I really do believe that things will start to come right for us sooner rather than later.   I am sure that our luck will change with penalty shoot outs, although I’m hoping we have seen more than our fair share already this season, they are such a lottery to be honest.   We do practice them at our training sessions each week but nothing can properly prepare you fully, in all honesty, for the pressure that comes with game deciding shots.  

This weekend coming is another big weekend for us.   Firstly on Saturday we make another long trip to Telford to face the Tigers, this is an important game in our efforts to reach the semi-finals of the EPIHL cup.   It is our first trip to Telford but we have played the Tigers at the Hive once this season already only a couple of weeks ago.   They too are a much improved side who have already picked up impressive wins this season against teams like Manchester, Guildford and Sheffield.   We certainly won’t be taking them lightly and will need to make sure we play another solid, well disciplined road game – limit the Tigers opportunities and take ours when we make them.  Sunday we welcome the Sheffield Steeldogs to the Hive for the second time this season; having lost out to them narrowly twice already this campaign we will be looking to avenge these defeats.   Having faced them only last weekend we know exactly what is required to give them a game and this time we will be looking to close things out and get back to winning ways.  

A big Thank You to those of you who made it up to Sheffield on Saturday last weekend, a great effort, it really does help spur us on at a road game when we have support in the crowd.   Another great effort from the crowd at the Hive on Sunday too – it looked another busy night and it was great to hear you get behind the guys as they battled hard to get back into the game – you certainly got your money’s worth that night.

On a final note – the team and management had a evening with the clubs sponsors earlier in the week and I would just like to once again express our thanks to all our sponsors, match night helpers & volunteers and all of those that make the club what it is – it’s a true privilege to be involved with such a great organisation.
 
Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 08
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Greetings again Bee Army!    I see you voted for Rob Lamey as your Player of the Month for October – a good choice guys and girls!   Rob has had an impressive start to the season, if somewhat a little hampered by an unfortunate injury, putting up some solid numbers and sold performances.  

Let’s start by looking back at last weekend and starting with the home game versus Telford.   We never really got going on Saturday and just when we did start to build some momentum a bad mistake would cost us and the momentum would be lost.   The discipline and effort were still there and naturally we were disappointed to not pick up the two points, we didn’t get the job done in the shoot out but still picked up a valuable point.   The league this season is so tight when it comes to points, with the teams being close in the standings and all teams working very hard to take points from each other all the time.   All the teams have improved and level has been raised, people need to remember that we don’t have some sort of divine right to beat any side and that there are no weak sides in this league and therefore no certain results anymore.

Sunday we made the trip up to Peterborough and started very slowly giving the Phantoms an easy start.   Decisions went against us early on in the match and our frustration got the better of us and it boiled over leading to some silly penalties.   The game was a physical, but not dirty, one with plenty of big hits from both teams.   We battled hard to stay in the game and things just clicked perfectly in the final period – if we can find that form regularly then I truly believe that no-one could stop us.   It was great to see both Munzi (Andy Munroe) and Sergejs (Louskins) both pick up their first goal for the club and also to see Smits (Lukas Smital) bag himself a hat-trick too.   The goals certainly were flying in last weekend.   It’s also great to be on a bit of a roll – having picked up five points from six possible in our last three games – it certainly helps our confidence.   A special mention also needs to be made in relation to Thommo (Shaun Thompson) who has been playing fantastically recently and has really worked hard as a team player and put in some great performances.

This weekend looks to be our toughest of the season so far, with two match-ups against the current league leaders and arguably the most improved team of the season.   Slough currently sit top of the league having lost only two games in their last twelve so are bang in form, despite a blip last game out at home to Swindon when they were blanked 0-3.   However we have already defeated the Jets at the Hive in the league this season – so will be looking to do the same again this weekend.   The Steeldogs have really turned things around this season and have put together a side that is tough to break down and have had a flying start which sees them sit fourth in the league and having been impressive in picking up points from some of the so called bigger teams.   Both sides are in great form so we are really going to have to be at our best, play solid and physical hockey for the full sixty minutes and ensure that we maintain our discipline and limit the opposition’s chances to give ourselves the opportunity to try and make sure we get the rewards for our efforts.  

Thanks to the hardy bunch that made their way up to Peterborough last weekend, never an easy trip on a Sunday evening – it was great to see some road support.   Again at the Hive versus Telford there was another good crowd making it Loud & Proud – please continue to play your part and get behind the guys – we are all in this together let’s not forget.

On a final note – the Supporters Club are organising the Colin White Memorial Trophy, in memory of a long time and dedicated supporter of the Bees and someone who worked so hard as Chairman of the Supporters Club Committee for a number of years.   They are fundraising in order to have a new shield made for an end of season trophy that they plan to re-name in honour of Colin.   Please dig deep and donate and help to remember a true servant of the club.
 
Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 07
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Hi there again Bee Army!   So it’s fireworks night tonight – let’s hope there are some on the ice as well as off it!

This past week unfortunately saw Sam Waller depart for pastures new.   We of course wish him well with his future hockey (just hopefully not when he is playing against us) but once a player decides that they no longer want to be here then there is little point in trying to hang on to them and in all honesty it’s better for the team if they leave.   It was a situation out of our control and whilst it leaves us in a bit of hole we are actively seeking a replacement but will not rush into signing just anyone – they need to be the right fit for the squad and a quality player.   We have, as you may have noticed, had Lewis Turner step up to the Bees, as part of his two-way deal with the Hornets, and he has performed very well in his first couple of games with us and is proof that the strong junior setup here in Bracknell is also developing these players well.  

Onto the brighter news that on the injury front we are hoping to have Michael Bowman back for this weekend’s match-ups giving us a full squad once again.  

Last weekend I feel we were unlucky not to pick up all four points.   At Swindon on Saturday I feel we dominated large parts of the game and having kept our discipline well and outshot the Wildcats we really did deserve something from the game.   It was not to be however with three mistakes costing us three goals and ultimately the game.   It was an end to end match that started slowly with a tight first two periods which then broke into life in the third period. 

Sunday at the Hive saw us welcome a strong MK Lightning side and we got off to a great start rattling in a couple of early goals.   The Lightning got a goal back but we soon started to dominate the game again and racked up two more goals to hold a comfortable lead heading into the third.   We held our discipline well all night and took our chances when we created them.   Credit to MK though they stuck at it and gave us some nervous minutes towards the end but we held firm and picked up the two points.   It was a great win against a side who had been on form recently.  

I have to mention special teams play over the weekend, the powerplay unit came up with five of our six goals over the two games and the penalty kill also held firm, when we did give up a powerplay opportunity to the opposition, not conceding a goal all weekend.  The guys worked hard all weekend and got the rewards for their efforts.   I hope to see this continue.  

This weekend we have another Saturday home match up, against the Telford Tigers – a team we are yet to face this season, before making the trip up to Peterborough to face the Phantoms on Sunday.    Telford cannot be under-estimated at all – they will be a tough challenge for sure and have picked up some good points already this season.   We will need to carry on the form we showed for most of our home game last Sunday to give ourselves the chance to try and get a run of home wins going.   Peterborough are always a tough team to face in their own rink and will offer another tough match-up for us.   We will be looking to avenge the defeat they inflicted on us at the Hive a couple of weekends ago.  A tight road game effort will be required and we will have to ensure we all play our part to overcome the Phantoms but all is to play for and we need to ensure we keep putting points on the board.

It was great to see another big home crowd last weekend as well as on the road at Swindon - yet again it was good to hear you all rocking the Hive on Saturday.   Play your part and keep the support Loud & Proud – you know we appreciate it.
 
Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 06
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Happy Halloween Bee Army!  Two more narrow results last weekend and what I’m sure will be two tough encounters too this coming weekend.  Firstly let’s look back to last weekend where we had our first home Saturday fixture of the season when the Peterborough Phantoms visited the Hive before we made the long journey up to Manchester to face the league champion Phoenix on Sunday.

On Saturday we got off to a great start against the Phantoms opening up a two goal lead after twenty four minutes.   We were looking solid, well disciplined and were pressing hard, and then a couple of bad mistakes gave the Phantoms a five on three powerplay which the converted clinically to get themselves level.   We re-grouped however and took the lead again before the end of the second period and were looking good to go on to take the win, however another poor giveaway cost us when the Phantoms broke two on one and again levelled the scores.  Both sides had chances to win the game both in regulation and overtime and we came closest in the extra time but were unlucky not to seal the two points.   It was then on to the lottery that is penalty shots and it was the Phantoms that who eventually sealed the win.   I felt that we had done enough to win the game in regulation and that but for two mistakes we would have taken the points.   Penalty shots are something that we practice as a team and will continue to work on but they are purely a lottery to be honest and can go either way in any game.

Sunday we made the long trip up to Manchester and after trading very early goals it was the Phoenix who settled quicker and got off to a better start.   We did however fight hard and the effort was rewarded as we got the game back to one goal and nearly forced overtime but it was the Phoenix who secured the win with a goal with ten minutes to go in the third.  Try as hard as we might we could not make another breakthrough and headed home empty handed.   I was happy again with the effort on the road – we never gave in and kept things close.

Not only have I been impressed with the effort that the guys are putting in I am very pleased that we are still not conceding lots of goals and that we are keeping score lines close.   The league is a marathon, not a sprint and we certainly aren’t panicking in any way.   Defensively there has been a vast improvement and we just need to get things going again offensively, which with the hard work and effort the guys keep putting in I am sure will come.   The league is constantly throwing up odd results and it is obviously a much tighter league where anyone can truly beat anyone on any given night.   We have been competitive in every game we have played this season and I honestly believe that by keeping things close we have had chances to win all but one of the games that we have played this season.

This coming weekend sees us face two teams that we have had very close games with already this campaign.   Saturday we travel to Swindon, where last time out we edged a tight and tense 0-1 win.   We return home on Sunday to the Hive to take on Milton Keynes who we took a point off in their own rink last time we faced them.   It goes without saying that the game against Swindon is sure to be a cracker again with the large amount of Ex-Bees in their side it always leads to “interesting” evenings.   I’m confident that as long as we keep working hard, stay disciplined, create quality chances and take our opportunities when we make them that we will get our rewards.

Another good home crowd last weekend and noisy as always – please keep the support positive and Loud & Proud for the guys – hopefully we might see some more Bees fans on the road this weekend at Swindon, your support is always greatly appreciated.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 05
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Hi there again Bee Army!   Another couple of tight games last weekend, what is it recently with us and one goal games huh?

On Saturday we travelled to Milton Keynes to take on the Lightning, always a tough proposition in their own rink.   We started slowly and the Lightning got out to a three goal lead but we battled back into the game, with Peter Jasik bagging a hat-trick, and forced overtime.   Neither team could make the breakthrough in OT and so it headed to penalty shots – after a marathon of penalties we eventually succumbed but still left with a hard earned point on the road.

Sunday we returned to the Hive to take on the in-form Sheffield Steeldogs and another tight game ensued.   The Steeldogs have had a good start to the season and missing some players set their stall out and played a defensively tight game.   We created enough chances over the course of the game but unfortunately could not convert them into goals.   The forwards need that bit of help from lady luck that seems to have eluded us for the last couple of games, I’ve lost count how many times the iron work has robbed us.   Again we did the defensive side of the game well and kept the score close but we just couldn’t find the net despite all the hard work offensively. 

I’m still very happy with the work rate and effort that the guys are putting in – they are playing the full sixty minutes at full pace and are creating quality chances which we need to start converting but I am sure that will come.   I am also pleased that the defensive side of the game is still going very well and keeping things tight, both netminders are playing well also.

This weekend will be another tough test for us; we have our first home Saturday fixture of the season when we welcome the Peterborough Phantoms to the Hive before the long trip up to Manchester to face the Phoenix on Sunday. 

The Phantoms have had an interesting start to the season so far, picking up just two wins from their first six games however the two wins have come against two in-form sides in Swindon and Guildford.   They have also released Eric Bochna and picked up Richard Bentham from Invicta of the ENIHL and are set to announce their replacement for Bochna, more than likely in time for our game.   They therefore cannot be taken lightly and we will have to make sure we keep up the hard work for the full sixty minutes if we are going to pick up the points. 

Manchester on the other hand have won four of their first seven games but are coming off the back of two tight games which they lost after either penalty shots or overtime.   They are sure to want to get back to winning ways and we need to make sure that we don’t suffer any backlash from them by playing a tough and tight road game.

The league is so tight at the moment that a couple of wins can move you right up the table so we will be going all out this weekend to get some reward for all the hard work we are putting in by putting up some numbers on the table.

It was great to see you all at the Supporters Club Quiz night on Wednesday – it always attracts a good turnout and as usual a lot of fun was had by all and importantly a good amount was raised on the night too.   Please get behind your Supporters Club in any way you can as they do a great job fundraising for us.

Another good crowd last Sunday and noisy as usual – please keep the support positive and Loud & Proud for the guys – they really are working their hardest and really do appreciate all your support.   

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 04
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Well – what can I say about last weekend’s matches?   A one nil game is almost unheard of in ice hockey and somehow we are involved in two in the same weekend!

Saturday’s trip to the Link Centre was a feisty affair with all sorts of scuffles and the unfortunate Rob Lamey became the latest Bee to make the trip to the hospital after being caught accidentally with a stick – I hope we are getting some kind of regular customer benefits from the NHS by now.   The game flowed well from end to end and both teams put everything into it resulting in a very tight game.   We had the better of the first and third period and when, in the second period, the Wildcats found themselves in the ascendancy they couldn’t find a way past Carl Ambler who went on to record his first senior shut-out.   I’m sure you’ll all join me in congratulating Scrambler on a fantastic game.   It was a relief to finally find a way past Tom Murdy in the Swindon net, who was also having a stellar night, and come away with the two points.

On the return to the Hive on Sunday the Wildcats were missing Jaroslav Cesky, Joe Baird and James Knight from their line-up.   This resulted in them playing a more defensive game, which they did very well – making it very difficult for us to break them down.   Again both netminders had fantastic evenings which kept the scoreline down.   Credit is due to Swindon, they did defend well but I felt we did everything we possibly could to break them down.  We forechecked well, broke well and got plenty of quality efforts on net.   We simply couldn’t find a way past a netminder having a fantastic game.   I was very happy with the effort, passion and commitment the players showed, they didn’t give up and kept on working hard all game and remained well disciplined too.

Both games over the weekend could have truthfully gone either way, they were that tight.   The two netminders faced over 120 shots in total and only conceded one goal each – those kind of numbers are simply outstanding.

A tough challenge lies ahead of us this weekend with a trip to Milton Keynes to face the Lightning before returning to the Hive on Sunday to face the in-form Sheffield Steeldogs.  The league table sees us sat in third and playing the teams just above and below us in the early league table.   Both of these match ups are sure to be difficult games, the Lightning in their own rink are always a tough team to break down and the Steeldogs look a much improved side from last season and currently sit an impressive second in the table.

To be honest all games this season look to be tough ones when you take into account the results around the league already this campaign.   It seems that anyone can beat anyone on any given night – even the “top” teams are dropping points this season and it certainly looks like teams cannot take anything for granted..

For a measure of just how things have changed and how far we have come you just have to look at the early season stats.   We have three wins (one on the road and two at home) and three losses, six points, in our first six games – which could have easily been more too.   Last season it took us until early December to put six points on the league table and until mid January to win on the road.   Defensively we are tighter at the back and as a result are conceding fewer goals.   Up front the points are well spread around amongst several players too.

Please keep it Loud & Proud for the guys – they are giving their all to keep this good start to the season going and really do appreciate all your support.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 03
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Hello again Bee Army!

Well a bit of a mixed bag last weekend, firstly on the road at Slough on Saturday before an action packed night back at the Hive against Basingstoke on Sunday,

On Saturday at the Hangar we simply didn’t play our best for the first two periods but were still only one goal down going into the third period and off the back of some penalty kills.  We were still in the game but the third period would have to go down as a bad day at the office but I assure you the lessons have been learnt from this period.   I firmly believe that we have played twelve periods of regular season hockey so far and that we have had two bad periods in those twelve and that they have ultimately cost us two wins.

Back at the Hive on Sunday we made another slow start, maybe carrying over from the bad third period the previous evening.   We didn’t let our heads drop however and got ourselves back into the game and went on to dominate, especially in the third period.   I was happy to see the scoring spread around well again and that we returned to a more disciplined game again on Sunday.  

If we are to continue to do well and improve we have to remain focused and play disciplined and intense hockey for the full sixty minutes in each and every game.  Again after a solid win at the Hive on Sunday our confidence should be high going into this weekend and I’m sure the players are looking forward to it as much as you are.

So it’s back to back games this weekend against another of our local rivals, this time the Swindon Wildcats.   Swindon have a lot of familiar faces to Bees fans, Lee Richardson, Jan Melichar, Joe Baird and Ryan Aldridge have been joined by four players from last season’s Bees squad too with Shane Moore, Nicky Watt, Michal Pinc and Jaroslav Cesky all making the move over the off-season.   I’m sure that this weekend’s match-ups will be interesting in more ways than one.

It was great to hear the Bee Army loud as ever on Sunday night, please keep making it Loud & Proud – it really does make a difference and we do notice and appreciate the effort you guys put in.
 
Coxy

Coach's Corner - Week 02
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Hello again Bee Army!

This weekend sees us face the same opponents as last weekend, just in different rinks.   Firstly we make the short trip to face the Slough Jets in the Hangar on Saturday, before returning to the Hive on Sunday to face the Basingstoke Bison.

Having faced both Slough and Basingstoke only last weekend we should know what needs to be done and what it takes to get the results that we are looking for.

This weekend just gone we started off slowly in Basingstoke but picked things up and I feel that we were unlucky not to come away with something to show for all the effort.   We hit the post four times during the game and if we had taken those chances, and others that we made, things could well have been a lot different.   We were a little disappointed to not get the season off and running that night with a win but I was satisfied with the effort from the guys and was happy to see the guys gelling well and things beginning to click.  

Sunday we again started slowly but it showed the character of the squad to get back into the game and then take control as the game progressed.   We recovered well from conceding an early goal when things could have gone differently.   Again the powerplay worked really well on Sunday, which is great to see.   The new and returning players have started to connect well and this is showing with each line working well and playing their part and getting their rewards.   It was also good to see the guys keep their discipline when it would have been easy to react – this is something that is key if we are to do well this season.  

It was good over the two games last weekend to see the points scoring spread around well throughout the team, the powerplay worked very well for five goals over the two matches, both netminders have good games and on the whole a good show of discipline all weekend too.   All of this, as well as the positive result on Sunday, means that confidence is high in the squad and the guy can’t wait to get going again this weekend.

The crowd was great on Sunday night, so a big thanks to you all – it’s so good to see so many of you there and making it Loud & Proud.   We really do appreciate the support so please keep it up this weekend.

Coxy

Coach's Corner - Pre-season thoughts
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Hello and welcome to the new season Bee Army!

This weekend we take part in the Berkshire Cycles Cup pre-season challenge, away and then home to the Slough Jets.  

Slough have lost Pete Russell as coach and Doug Sheppard has taken over in the hot seat at Slough and has kept the core of last season’s squad whilst also adding even more experienced players to the squad and also recruiting in some promising youngsters too.   It will be interesting to see, like us, how these new players settle in.

The Oliveira 4x4 Challenge tournament was a different and fun way to start the season.   I am happy that we gave a good account of ourselves, made the final and came out of the day without any injuries.   It was good to see the players starting to gel and there were some good performances from the new players too.  Pre-season games such as the Oliveira 4x4 Challenge and Berkshire Cup give us opportunities to try out some different things and see how things look before the regular season gets underway.   It also gives the players a taste of competitive action ahead of the regular season and a chance to blow away those off-season cobwebs.

This off-season has been a very busy one for us all this year.   Stuart and Katie have been busy securing a raft of new sponsorships which are, of course, both fantastic news and vital for the club.   I have been busy recruiting a new look side and have looked for strength in depth in the squad and recruited some more experienced players into the side.   I think the blend of youth and experience should stand us in good stead and with a number of the players having iced together before I am hopeful things will click quickly.   We have seven players who have returned from last season’s squad, four players who are new to the Bees (one of these being new to the country) and finally seven players who have iced for the Bees in previous years and have taken the chance to return to the Hive.  
 
I hope that you, the fans, are happy with how the team looks and I have every confidence in the squad and am sure we will turn a few heads this season and will be a tough side to beat.   As you read this hopefully our pre-season games have followed our pre-season training – which has all gone well and everyone is eager to get going.  We are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and that the long season will bring but we all cannot wait to get it underway.   The whole team and I simply cannot wait to get started in the league and cup games and hopefully have a great season.  

So as we get the new season underway – Bee Loud & Bee Proud!!

Coxy