Phoenix in friendly double-header

MANCHESTER Phoenix warm up for their Elite Ice Hockey League campaign with two challenge matches against Cardiff and Nottingham this weekend.

Tony Hand’s new-look team travel to Cardiff Bay tomorrow (7pm) before taking on Nottingham at the Altrincham Ice Dome a day later (5.30pm).

The games will be an indicator of how Phoenix’ 12 new players slot into the existing team set-up.

Fans will be particularly interested to see what line combinations Manchester use and if new forward David Beauregard ices with Hand to create potentially one of the most potent pairings in the league.

Replacing 55-goal hot-shot Joe Tallari will be no mean feat for Phoenix this season.

But on the eve of the newcampaign, they look to have a likely candidate in 32-year-old Beauregard who was recorded four 70-point plus seasons in his career.

The former Tulsa Oiler comes to Manchester with some pretty big skates to fill.

Tallari won a string of awards as he finished a close second behind the League’s and Coventry’s top scorer Adam Calder.

But that doesn’t faze the six-foot left-hander Beauregrad who said: “I know he did a good job and I know my role will be to do the same.

“I’m not saying I am going to do better or worse than him, just that I will do my best and play my game as that is the only thing I can do.”

Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, ‘Beau’s’ NHL career was cut short when he was high-sticked on a breakaway, losing an eye as a blade went under his visor.

The Elite League season begins on September 6 when Manchester travel to Hull.