Coventry NIHL Blaze v Bulldogs - match preview

GOOD START: Connor Medley took plenty of positives from the opening win of the season against Kingston Sharks. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here Photography

CONNOR MEDLEY felt there were plenty of positives to take from Bradford Bulldogs’ opening performance of the NIHL North Two season - but believes there are plenty of things still to work on from the team.

The Bulldogs saw off Kingston Sharks at The Pound last Sunday with a deserved 7-4 victory, coming from 3-2 behind early in the second period.

They head to Coventry NIHL Blaze on Saturday hoping to build on their promising start before returning to Bradford Ice Arena on Sunday, September 20 to face reigning regular season champions, Sutton Sting.

Medley was one of the six players to get on the scoresheet for the Bulldogs against the Sharks, with Declan Kime leading the way with two goals.

And while he was pleased with certain aspects of the Bulldogs’ performance, he highlighted other areas to work on going forward.

“Mixed feelings really,” said Bulldogs #28. “It went well in some parts, but not in others - but that shows that the team has come a long way in the off-season and that all the off-ice work that we’ve been putting in has really helped out.

“That was especially the case in the third period against Hull, who just looked like they had lost their legs and looked like the wind had been knocked out their sails.

“But there are still plenty of things for us to work on - there are a lot of positives to take away from it and it’s a case of building from here upwards because comparing last season to now, the team is in a much better place.”

Coventry were not in action last weekend meaning they open up their campaign against the Bulldogs on home ice.

Finishing third last season, they got the better of the Bulldogs on all three occasions, edging the first meeting at The Pound 4-3 in overtime in early November.

They eased to a 7-0 victory at the Skydome Arena in January before completing a clean sweep of the Bulldogs with a 5-1 victory in Bradford in March.

They were the victims of a shock in the play-offs, though, when losing out 10-7 on aggregate to Deeside Dragons 2, who had finished the regular season in sixth.