Bulldogs skipper upbeat for season after tough start
TOUGH START: Bulldogs’ captain Kacper Andrukianiec in action against Sheffield Titans at The Pound last Sunday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
BRADFORD BULLDOGS’ captain Kacper Andrukianiec insists team spirits remain high despite the team still searching for their first win of the NIHL North Two campaign.
The Bulldogs’ suffered back-to-back Yorkshire derby defeats last weekend, going down 7-3 on the road at Kingston Sharks before being beaten 13-5 on home ice the following day by unbeaten leaders Sheffield Titans.
In both games, poor starts end up costing the Bulldogs, who found themselves 4-0 down inside the first period in both games.
While they matched hosts Kingston in the second and third periods, they were always chasing the game against Sheffield.
Andrukianiec, appointed captain by new player-coach Dave Williams at the start of the season, said the team still retained the belief they are good enough to post a top-half finish this season, despite a tough start that has also brought defeats to Sutton Sting and Altrincham Aces.
“We have a lot to take from the games last weekend,” he said. “We have all watched the games back and are working hard to improve for the rest of the season.
“The team spirit is still high and we are determined to keep gelling as a team and show the competitive force that we believe we can be.
BATTLE STATIONS: The Bulldogs’ Ben Darbyshire grapples for possession against a Sheffield Titans opponent last Sunday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
“We do have a good mix of experienced and young players and we do have the depth to be in the top half of the league this year.”
Andrukianiec said in both games last weekend, the Bulldogs simply left themselves with too much to do, against two teams who were clinical when it came to taking their chances.
“Last weekend was disheartening as we went into it with high hopes for both games, but we just struggled to get going in both games,” he added.
“Saturday against Hull we proved that we can compete, but having such a sluggish start in the first period left us with too much to do.
FORWARD THINKING: The Bulldogs’ Aaron Jordan fires in a shot during last week’s clash at The Pound against Sheffield. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
“The encouraging thing is though, that we showed in the following two periods that we do have the grit and determination to compete.
“Against Sheffield, we just didn’t play 60 minutes of ice hockey like we know we can. We let a lot of goals slide early doors which put us on the back foot.”