BLACKBURN Hawks have denied that netminder Horatio Schlinger has been made available for transfer.

Hawks boss Mike Cockayne slammed suggestions of a rift with team-mates.

The British Ice Hockey Association's own weekly news circular contained a brief statement to the effect that Schlinger had been listed.

But Hawks officials claim there was a misunderstanding.

Schlinger, 29, who joined promotion-chasing Hawks in November, lost his place to Ian Young before Sunday's clash with Manchester Storm.

And despite standing second in the individual shots-saved average table for keepers, many observers feel the statistics perhaps flatter the British-born Canadian.

Young's form was outstanding early in the season, but coach Ryan Kummu stressed the need for two quality netminders on capturing Schlinger. But Cockayne refuted suggestions that Schlinger was being off-loaded: "At the moment the netminder in form, Ian Young, is on the team with Horatio as back-up.

"But that doesn't mean Horatio isn't wanted. It's often been said that we haven't got a large squad so we're not looking to lose anyone.

"Ian has the position at the moment and he was certainly not to blame for Sunday's defeat."

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