Milton Keynes Lightning head coach Nick Poole is aiming to recruit a netminder from two player trials to be held tonight (Thursday) and next week.

Poole has his number one goalie, Barry Hollyhead, already signed but is hoping to sign a back-up from the trials.

He should have plenty to choose from as eight or nine goalies have signed up for the sessions.

He knows the task of choosing a reserve netminder is a difficult one as many players are not content to sit on the bench all the time the top choice is fit.

But for the coach there is always an element of risk in playing a back-up whose has had limited ice time.

As well as the goalie Poole is hoping to sign one or two young players –a defenceman and a forward – as apprentices with a view to them being given a chance with Lightning.

"We will have four or five juniors training with the team this year and I want to bring through one or two into the squad," said Poole, who is also head of junior development.

Poole is encouraged by the appointment of Paul Gore to the coach's position for the English National League Milton Keynes Thunder team.

He said this could benefit Lightning with Gore – who has been involved in the Milton Keynes junior set up for several years as well as Thunder – able to identify youngsters with the potential to progress.

Lightning's roster is nearing completion with just the back-up goalie, another defenceman and an import forward to name apart from the two possible apprentices.

And Poole is excited by the prospects for the coming season – predicting the English Premier Ice Hockey League will be more competitive than ever with Telford Tigers looking stronger than in previous seasons.

The first home and away fixtures against each of the other teams in the league will also count towards the English Premier League Cup.

The top four teams in the table-based first stage of the competition will go through to semi final knockout games.

To enable a break in the programme over Christmas two Thursday league matches have been scheduled.

The club have now finalised ticket prices for the coming season with adult admission held at the same price of £9.50 as last year, children at £5 and concessions £6.

Season ticket prices have also been pegged at the same levels, taking into account the extra games.