LIGHTNING SET OUT TO KNOCK HIGH-FLIERS PHOENIX OFF THEIR PERCH!

Milton Keynes Lightning this weekend begin their English Premier League campaign with a statement of intent that they’re aiming to take back the league title which Saturday’s opposition Manchester Phoenix took from them (Saturday 1 October, 7pm, Planet Ice). Lightning’s home games against Phoenix last season had supporters on the edge of their seats without exception thanks to some spellbinding matches where the home side raised their game to the maximum, producing a deafening support from the team’s renowned noisy support.   A hard-fought game in March saw the Lightning lose an 11 goal thriller only by the narrowest of margins.  But back in January a packed Thunderdome backed the home side to an emphatic 6-3 victory thanks to two goals each from Andre Smulter and Blaz Emersic - captain Adam Carr and blue-line specialist Lukas Zatopek also finding the back of the net. The Lightning players are all looking forward to starting their push for silverware by taking on the reigning champions, said captain Adam Carr: “It’s always fun to play against Manchester, we always seem to have good games against them.  They’re one of the top teams in the league and of course reigning champions - you couldnt pick a better fixture to start off our season. Tony Hand has put together another good team but we have too.  Our new boys, Juraj and Tom, look like top signings and are going to be big players for us, and bringing Ross Bowers back is another great boost.  There is a feeling of excitement around the place about the coming season, the Manchester game will be a great start and a good test for us, and hopefully we can set the tone for the rest of the year!" Lightning begin their league season with high hopes after completing the signings of former NHL draft pick Juraj Gracik and Tom Norton from Nottingham Panthers, and the return of free-scoring Ross Bowers after a season with ENL side MK Thunder - as well as retaining the vast majority of the last season’s roster which dumped Manchester out of the EPL play-off semi final. Nick Poole’s men will have their work cut out against a squad which has seen more changes than Lightning, but remain a tough opposition.  The duo jointly responsible for nearly half of Phoenix’s goals last season - Marcus Kristoffersson and Curtis Huppe – departed shortly after their play-off defeat, and Joe Miller left for Basingstoke; but new signings include Slava Koulikov from Slough Jets, Ciaran Long from Basingstoke Bison and Martin Cingel from the Elite League’s Edinburgh Capitals. Saturday’s game starts at 7pm at Planet Ice; Phoenix are expected to be very well supported which, as well as adding to the electric atmosphere, will make for lengthy queues for matchnight tickets.  Home supporters can avoid the queues AND save money by buying their tickets for this much-anticipated fixture by buying from the Planet Ice box office until close of business on Friday 30 September.  On Sunday, the Lightning make the long trip north to Sheffield – the puck drops against the Steeldogs at 5.30pm.