Captain calls for fan power from Tigers
Captain Jason Silverthorn has challenged Telford Tigers fans to play their part in this weekend's play-off quarter-final with Milton Keynes Lightning.
A capacity crowd is expected at Telford Ice Rink on Sunday evening, with the Tigers having home advantage in the second leg of the two-game series.
The two teams, who meet at the Thunderdome in Milton Keynes on Saturday, will be playing for a place in finals weekend at Coventry – Telford's last chance of silverware this season.
And Silverthorn wants to make the most of hosting the second quarter-final tie in Shropshire. He said: "The fans are going to be massively important this weekend.
"That's why you play all season, to get home ice advantage on the Sunday night. It's just the way ice hockey works.
"You get that extra boost on home ice, and energy, that forces the other team to come into a hostile environment. It is going to be an exciting weekend and I'm really looking forward to it.
"Having a loud, energetic building during the play-offs is something the whole team can feed off.
"The encouragement has to be there throughout and we need people to be loud, and behind the team all the way."
Telford will go into the clashes with five wins out of six in the teams' meetings this season.
But Silverthorn dismissed talk of that record giving them a head-start this weekend.
He added: "All the results from the league season go out of the window for these games. Both teams start from zero again.
"There's no point in thinking about our past record against them. It is a case of winning each shift, then each period, and if you win the game, you look forward to the next one."
The 36-year-old returned from injury in last weekend's games against Bracknell Bees and Swindon Wildcats, scoring once and collecting two assists. He said: "It was nice to get back into playing."
Saturday night's game at Milton Keynes starts at 7pm. On Sunday, the two teams face-off at 6pm at Telford Ice Rink.
