The visitors tonight are the Telford Tigers and they will be the Wildcats first competitive opponents of the 2021-22 season, the two teams will face each other in the opening game of their respective Autumn Cup campaigns.
On the coaching front the Tigers will once more be led by their long-time head coach, Tom Watkins, he is back for his 12th consecutive season as the Telford head coach. The Tigers are the reigning NIHL National champions and Watkins has once more assembled a very good squad that will have a good chance to defend that title earned in 2020.
There are two key signings back for the Tigers and they are two of the team’s leading points scorers from the last campaign, veteran forwards Jason Silverthorn and Scott McKenzie are both back for another year with Telford and they will be expected to lead from the front. Two other veteran leaders that the younger Tigers players will be looking to are both legends in the British game, Jonathan Weaver returns on defence and Rick Plant is back again in the forward ranks.
In goal Watkins has signed a very strong duo, which is vital to any team that wishes to challenge for trophies, Brad Day has re-signed for another year in Telford after leading them to the league title with a strong performance in net during the previous season. Joining Day is one of the best young netminding prospects, Jordan Lawday has moved from MK Lightning to Telford and with Day they will be a formidable tandem.
On the blueline the key returning players are well known to the Tigers fans, Daniel Rose and Corey Goodison have signed again, both will prove to once more be great players for the Tigers. Joining these two are 3 more defencemen in their prime, Ross Connolly, Tom McKinnon and Nick Oliver. Along with Weaver the Tigers have a strong group of 6 defencemen who are then ably backed up two promising young players in Deakan Fielder and Jack Price.
In the forward ranks Watkins has once more brought back Andy McKinney; he is the sort of player that every team needs, McKinney can put up the points but also provide the toughness and grit that makes him a nightmare to play against but also a firm favourite for your own fans. Another returnee who will be important to the Tigers this season, Jack Watkins will once more be suiting up in Telford and will again look to contribute positively to the team’s ambitions.
This is a strong roster that will most definitely be competing at the top end of things come spring 2022.
