Post by JP on Jul 19, 2008 12:23:32 GMT 1
From the Coventry Telegrapgh:
Soderstrom's new lease of life on the blue line
Jul 18 2008 By Antony Hopker
MATHIAS SODERSTROM can't wait for the Elite League season to get going so he can resume his successful partnership with Jonathan Weaver on the Cassidy Coventry Blaze blue line.
Weaver scooped the plaudits as the best British defenceman last season and Soderstrom explained: "He is very easy to play with - you know what he is going to do and where is going to be.
"He is an unbelievable skater - not as explosive as someone like Neal Martin but he almost floats along and he has got a great hockey brain."
With one import player left to be announced among the defencemen there will be five regulars on the blue line this year. Injuries frequently reduced Blaze to four last year, putting an extra burden on the remaining players.
"It will be good to be able to use five on defence, and that means we will be rotating our pairings instead of having just two units," said
Soderstrom. "I've played against Leigh Jamieson and Ben O'Connor and I think are good additions.
"Leigh is big and strong, though he was mainly playing as a forward last year he has what you need to be a good, and I thought O'Connor was probably Edinburgh's best defenceman.
"We won't have a player like Neal Martin, but it is going to be interesting."
Soderstrom surprised most onlookers last season when, after three years away from the Elite League, he carried off the fan's most improved player award.
"It's a bit embarrassing to win that when you're 31," said Soderstrom, who was the club's overall player of the year in 2002. "But it's good to be recognised and to be able to make a contribution.
The league has got better since I was away and I'm sure the other clubs will improve and challenge us. I don't think it will add to the pressure - if the team gets it going like last year and we avoid injuries we will have a chance of winning again."
Soderstrom's new lease of life on the blue line
Jul 18 2008 By Antony Hopker
MATHIAS SODERSTROM can't wait for the Elite League season to get going so he can resume his successful partnership with Jonathan Weaver on the Cassidy Coventry Blaze blue line.
Weaver scooped the plaudits as the best British defenceman last season and Soderstrom explained: "He is very easy to play with - you know what he is going to do and where is going to be.
"He is an unbelievable skater - not as explosive as someone like Neal Martin but he almost floats along and he has got a great hockey brain."
With one import player left to be announced among the defencemen there will be five regulars on the blue line this year. Injuries frequently reduced Blaze to four last year, putting an extra burden on the remaining players.
"It will be good to be able to use five on defence, and that means we will be rotating our pairings instead of having just two units," said
Soderstrom. "I've played against Leigh Jamieson and Ben O'Connor and I think are good additions.
"Leigh is big and strong, though he was mainly playing as a forward last year he has what you need to be a good, and I thought O'Connor was probably Edinburgh's best defenceman.
"We won't have a player like Neal Martin, but it is going to be interesting."
Soderstrom surprised most onlookers last season when, after three years away from the Elite League, he carried off the fan's most improved player award.
"It's a bit embarrassing to win that when you're 31," said Soderstrom, who was the club's overall player of the year in 2002. "But it's good to be recognised and to be able to make a contribution.
The league has got better since I was away and I'm sure the other clubs will improve and challenge us. I don't think it will add to the pressure - if the team gets it going like last year and we avoid injuries we will have a chance of winning again."
