Blackburn Hawks hoping for a happy start to 2012 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn Hawks hoping for a happy start to 2012

12:00pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in Ice Hockey

Blackburn Hawks are hoping to get 2012 off to a flying start, with back-to-back wins the target this weekend.

Hawks return to action today with a trip to Telford Titans, before playing their first home game of the New Year against Coventry Blaze tomorrow (face-off 5.45pm).

Hawks are above both opponents in the English National Ice Hockey League and team manager Graham Lomax is confident his charges can pick up maximum points.

“Everyone is nice and fresh after the Christmas break and we had a good, upbeat practice session on Thursday night,” he said.

“Everyone is fit and ready to go. After two weeks without a game, you find that everyone is chomping at the bit to get going again.

“Four points has got to be the target this weekend. However, it’s a tough league and everyone can nick points off everyone else.

“So we can’t take these fixtures for granted. We have got to apply ourselves properly and if we do that, then we should be okay.”

Hawks enjoyed an excellent end to 2011, putting eight goals past both the Titans and local rivals Trafford Metros in their final two home games.

Hawks expect to be at full strength, with the exception of Finnish import Sami Narkia, who is currently back in his homeland.

Lomax added: “Sami is still away in Finland. Because of his studies, he’s gone home for the festive period and is due back around the 19th.

“We knew all about that when we signed him and we can’t begrudge him an extended break.”

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