Ice Hockey: STEWART SHOULDERS BLAME

ROB STEWART last night held up his hands and admitted he must shoulder at least some of the blame for the Belfast Giants eight- game losing streak.

The current run is the worst the team has experienced since their inception in 2000 and the coach is desperate to bring it to an end.

He said: "I have tried to use a different philosophy for every game on this run and nothing has worked so far. I suppose I have to take some of the blame myself as the coach. Maybe I should be doing more on the ice or maybe I should take a step back and revert to coaching behind the bench.

"When you lose eight games in a row the blame has to be taken and we must try to change things."

Stewart was unable to bring in the experienced forward he was looking for prior to Friday's signing deadline for the season.

Instead he brought in Adam Brittle and Tom Carlon on two-way contracts from English Premier League team Telford.

They are being lined-up for debuts tonight as the Giants travel to Manchester.

The pair are proven at English Premier League level, but whether or not they can do it in the Elite League remains to be seen.

Jason Ruff and Paxton Schulte are also available tonight after it was feared they would be suspended for reaching the penalty points ceiling.

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