Oxford City Stars excited to play ex-team-mates

Stars are currently fifth in the English Ice Hockey South Division

Oxford City Stars manager Gary Dent says his side are relishing the chance to play six of their former team-mates.

They host Milton Keynes Thunder on Sunday, and face ex-Stars players Paul Gore, Michael Lucas, Lee Featherstone, Lewis Clifford and Matt Roberts.

Dent told BBC Oxford: "We're up for it. The players know each other well so there is rivalry there.

"It's going to be an interesting game with a personal edge to it but we're optimistic we can beat them."

The Stars, who sit fifth in the English National Ice Hockey League South Division, lost the previous game to MK Thunder 5-2.

Dent will be without key players Gareth Endicott and Wayne Fiddes this weekend. Endicott underwent a hernia operation in November while Fiddes is sidelined with an ankle injury.

However, the Stars manager remains hopeful his side can avoid further injuries as they move into the second half of their season.

"We want to have a clear run as we go into the tough end of our season and our main hope is to have all the players in good shape and available," he said.

"We are building up towards the play-offs so we want to get a few wins under our belt because the higher you finish the easier the opposition in the initial rounds of the play-off tournament.

"So there is an advantage to finishing higher in the top eight, plus it helps the ego as well," he added.