TSI Bees’ coach, Doug Sheppard, rounds up the week in Beehind The Bench.

I know how pleased our fans were with our win in an exciting local derby game on Sunday but there was a lot more to celebrate over the weekend than that one result.

We were short-benched against both our opponents, away and at home, so it gave me the chance to invite a few of the Slough Jets young players to play for the Bees. As well as injuries, we were missing Bayley Harewood who was icing for the Cardiff Devils on Saturday.

Telford started strongly, but the team battled hard to lose by a single goal. I was especially pleased with the performance of Jacob White-Sey, a sixteen year old pulling on a Bees shirt for the first time.

And so to Sunday when we welcomed Basingstoke Bison. They needed a point to make progress in the Cup, but found themselves 4 – 1 down at the start of the third period. They pressed hard, and brought the scores level.

Bayley Harewood had rejoined us from Cardiff and completed his hat-trick to give us a 6 – 4 win. He was an obvious pick as man of the match. By the time you read this, he may have had his first taste of Champions League Hockey when Cardiff Devils play on Wednesday.

So I was pleased with two good team performances and to see how individuals in the team are progressing. In training this week we’ll have a look at how to make a lead secure.

Doug Sheppard