Happy Matsos brimming with enthusiasm

Back-to-back friendly victories over Manchester Phoenix have filled him with optimism for the league season, which starts at home to Cardiff on Saturday.

He has picked Ashley Tait, the former Coventry captain who scored four points last Saturday in the 4-1 home win, as an assistant captain, along with Rod Sarich.

Today Matsos was brimming with enthusiasm over his line-up.

"The whole team impressed me, Jeff Legue's speed and shot, Ashley's work ethic and scoring touch, Jonathan Phillips continued improvement.

"Joe Talbot though goes hard every shift, he doesn't give guys any time on the puck because he is right on top of them

"In our game winning goal in Manchester, he chased a lost cause into the corner, got to the puck first knowing that will mean that he gets hit hard in the corner, throws the puck out to our forwards.

"Manchester break out and before you know it Joe is back to the red line breaks the play up and feeds Phillips who goes on to score.

"You could see it in the eyes of the Manchester players, who is this guy?"

Matsos concluded: "I love his line with Finnerty and Phillips, they bring so much speed and intensity. We are no one trick pony any more, we have three lines that bring speed and aggression, two great power plays and a group of guys who will die for us killing penalties."