[15
AUG 00] COVENTRY CRUSADERS NEWS
Swedes Come To Set Coventry Ablaze
New
ice hockey club Coventry Blaze have completed their roster with a
double Swedish swoop just a fortnight ahead of the start of the league
season.
The
club, who will play their home games at the SkyDome Arena, have signed
netminder Henrik Sjodin (pronounced Shodeen) from Pitea HC and
defender Mathias Soderstrom.
The
duo will fly in later this week to start training with the squad.
Coach
Paul Thompson has been chasing Sjodin throughout the summer and is
confident he has signed a top young talent.
He
said:
"He
comes highly recommended by the player agent that I deal with in
Sweden and also contacts we have at Malmo. I believe that we will
have a very, very good netminder on our team this year.
"Our
goaltending is an area I have deliberately set out to strengthen and
I expect Henrik to be challenging for the top netminding stats
throughout the season. He's very quick across the net and that is
one of his main strengths.
"Coventry
City signed an unknown Swede in goalkeeper Magnus Hedman and few
years ago and he is now a household name. We will be delighted if
Henrik shows the same improvement!"
Defender
Soderstrom returns to the club for a second season after recovering
from an ankle injury late in the campaign.
Thompson
added:
"Mat
was a newcomer to this country last year and was probably our most
consistent player throughout the season until he picked up his
injury. A real lionheart who never backs down, he isn't the biggest
player on the ice, but makes up for it in other ways.
"He
adapted to the British game remarkably quickly and fitted in well
with the Blaze style of hockey better than I expected. I expect him
to develop again this year and to be a big part of our defence."
Tickets
for the first Blaze home game at the Planet Ice SkyDome Arena are now
on sale. The Blaze take on Milton Keynes Kings on 27 August, starting
at 6pm.
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