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Ice hockey: Karl Creamer wants to see Flintshire Freeze impress against Lancashire Raptors

NORMAL business resumes on Sunday at Deeside Ice Rink as the Flintshire Freeze return to action in EIHA North Two against rock-bottom Lancashire Raptors.

The Freeze’s season has been punctuated by long breaks which have disrupted their rhythm but there are no scheduled breaks now until their final game of the season, giving Karl Creamer’s side an opportunity to have a proper run at taking second place off Sutton Sting.

And that quest begins this Sunday (6.30pm) when they welcome the winless Raptors to Flintshire.

In 18 games the Raptors have yet to earn a point, conceding 186 goals and scoring just 13.

Creamer wants to take full advantage of that leakiness.

“We have to really go out there and hammer them,” he said. “We have to make the most of our chance.

“A big win will boost our confidence, put pressure on Sutton and get us back in the groove after a break.

“The Raptors are an awkward team to play but we are fighting for the second place play-off place so we know we have the ability, we just need to make sure we put it out there on the ice.”

But while there will be plenty of attention on the Freeze’s forward line, Creamer will also have one eye on the man between the pipes at the other end – Phil Crosby.

With Matty Compton still suspended it will be down to Crosby to keep the Raptors at bay.

“It’s important for Phil to work hard too,” said Creamer. “Matty is our number one goaltender but he (Crosby) has to step up and show that he could do that job too.

“We need to win this by a big margin and Phil will be key to that.

“The Raptors won’t make it easy for us, we have to turn up and play, but if we can keep the pressure on and other teams can do us a favour against Sutton, we are confident we can still take second place.”

The Freeze have two games in hand over Sutton and are also scheduled to play them once more in March, but it is not enough to overtake the Sting unless they drop points along the way.

“We have to beat them sometime because they are not special,” said Creamer. “They have some tough games coming up and all we have to do is stay on their tail.”

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