Phoenix focused

ICE HOCKEY: MANCHESTER Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd believes his team-mates must remain fully focused at all times if they are to lift ice hockey’s English Premier League title.

His side lies one point behind leaders Milton Keynes after losing a four- point advantage with three defeats this month.

But Phoenix had to do without number one netminder Stephen Fone with a shoulder injury and Robert Lachowicz, Iain Bowie, James Neil and Joe Graham, who were away on Great Britain duty in Hungary.

They aim to get their title ambitions back on track this weekend with a trip to Basingstoke on Saturday (6.30pm) and a home game against Slough (Sunday 5.30pm).

It will be Manchester’s first outing in two weeks which should mean they are at full strength for the crunch games.

“We have a good bunch of guys here who are highly skilled and young,” said Boothroyd. “We have been playing well, but we need to hit our form and start playing to our full potential.”