Cowley is outstanding - Thompson

Russ Cowley has been in excellent form this season for Coventry

Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson has labelled his forward Russ Cowley as the best British player in the league.

"Cowley has lifted his game and the club," Thompson told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. "He has been outstanding.

"Not just his work-rate. His scoring and his penalty killing. He should take the praise for that. There is not a better British player in the league."

Cowley is in the Blaze team who host Belfast in the Challenge Cup semi first leg on Wednesday night (1945 GMT).

But then it will be back to league duty at the weekend for Coventry, who have an ideal chance to close the 10-point gap on the leaders, Sheffield Steelers.

Blaze, who have won their last four games, have three games in hand on the Steelers.

And the two sides come face to face at the Skydome Arena on Sunday (1800 GMT) in the second of Coventry's two weekend fixtures.

Blaze are also in action on Saturday up at struggling Hull (1730 GMT).

As for Wednesday night's game, Coventry meet Belfast again looking for revenge following the Giants' 10-3 aggregate Knockout Cup quarter-final victory.

But they will be wary of the fact that, in this season's five meetings to date, the Irish side have won four of them.

The second leg will be played in Belfast next Wednesday night (4 February, 1945 GMT).