So n-ice to meet the team
Telford Tigers got their pre-season preparation under way with a weekend of on and off-ice training.
The new-look squad - which includes Slovakians Peter Betinec and Juraj Huska, as well as Swede Mathias Soderstrom - met officially for the first time on Saturday and began getting ready to face the English Premier Ice Hockey League season.
Player-coach Claude Dumas was satisfied with what he's seen so far, saying: "It was the first practice, so it's hard to tell, but the new guys look very skilful. It takes a few weeks to settle a new squad, but we've been practising hard.
"We have a new interpretation of the rules this year - zero tolerance - so I'm very curious to see what's going to happen with that."
Referees have been instructed to tighten up on calling minor penalties which impede a player's progress - such as holding and hooking - in an attempt to allow games to be more free-flowing as has happened in the NHL, once teams grew accustomed to the new style.
"I've watched a few junior and challenge games to see how the referees are calling them," said Dumas.
"I'm interested to see how it feels when we play our challenge games against Milton Keynes on Sunday at the Ice Rink (5pm).
"We've got all this week, the two friendly games, another week of practice and then we're into the cup games."
By Caroline Garbett
