Shropshire Star

Telford Tigers will have attitude of champions on return

Tom Watkins insists Telford Tigers are happy to be the team to beat when league ice hockey finally returns in September.

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The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns put paid to the 2020/21 domestic ice hockey campaign, denying the Tigers the chance to defend the National Ice Hockey League title and cup success they claimed in early 2020.

Tigers, who were also unable to contest the play-offs having won the NIHL in 2020, made their long-awaited return to the ice in February for the newly-formed Spring Cup, which signalled the domestic game’s return.

And, after league chiefs confirmed a September restart, head coach and general manager Watkins admits his disappointment that his side could not ice through the months of April and May, but set out plans to attack the 2021/22 campaign at Telford Ice Rink.

“I think we’ll try to approach it as reigning champions and try to retain our title – albeit it was so long ago,” Watkins said. “We’ve got that tag and hopefully we can show the standard of play we saw last time out, I’m sure we will put together a competitive roster everybody can be proud of.”

The Tigers supremo, whose side were pipped to Spring Cup success by Sheffield Steeldogs, added: “It’s a shame we weren’t able to continue playing through April after we’d had such a good series in the Spring Cup.

“If we can get going in September that would be great, all intentions now turn to recruitment and our roster for that new series and all the work that goes to getting a team ready to go back on the ice.

“There were a lot of logistics to be fair, we as a group of clubs made a decision that at that point it wasn’t our best interest to continue.”

Watkins revealed that his players and staff will now take some time away from the ice before plans are put in place around building a competitive roster to defend their title.

“After the Spring Cup we’re having a break,” he said. “We haven’t played that much hockey but it all comes down to costs, we’d have a team we had to fund all the way through April, May, June and July on zero income.

“Everybody can get out on their bike, go on the golf course, see family and we’ll start our recruitment once we know a little bit more about the start dates.”

Clubs including Telford could be set for a major boost when teams face off for the start of next season – in the shape of supporters’ return to the stands.

“It does take a lot of preparation to get a season ready,” added Watkins. “We’re hopeful of getting some fans in the stadium in September, we’ll see where we stand and make plans accordingly.”It’s a little bit slow at the moment.

“We’re hopeful of getting some fans in the stadium in September, we’ll see where we stand and make plans accordingly. But it’s a little bit slow at the moment.”