By Frankie Notaro
The Bristol Honda Pitbulls return back to the Pound for the first time in 2025 as they welcome the Peterborough Phantoms back for their second visit to the Pound this season. Then on Sunday evening the Pitbulls take the trip to Planet Ice Peterborough to take on the Phantoms on their home ice.
Team Recap
The Phantoms are stepping into this weekend currently in 7th place within the standings, 10 points ahead of the Pitbulls. In last weekend’s fixtures against the Milton Keynes Lightning, the Phantoms skated away with 1 point after losing both games but losing one of the two in an overtime loss. After an intense previous weekend of battling against the Lightning, Peterborough will be keen to turn the losses around and push to come out of this weekend with 4 points.
In terms of their roster, the Phantoms go into this weekend with Billy Thorpe out of the line-up due to GB U20s duties as well as the potential of Bradley Bowering and Joe Gretton both being scratched due to injury. However, Connor Glossop makes his way back into the line-up.
Ones to Watch
Janne Laakkonen has been the top point scorer for the Phantoms this season as he sits on 50 points from 7 goals and 43 assists. In comparison to the Pitbulls, Nick Pryce has gotten the most points so far and is 3 points ahead of Janne Lakkonen as Nick has secured 53 points from 25 goals and 28 assists.
Not far behind Janne, Cameron Hough has also proven himself as one to watch as he has managed to score 29 goals for the Phantoms so far this season and has settled into being the top goal scorer for the Phantoms comfortably. By limiting his offensive chances, it will benefit the Pitbulls as the Phantoms may find themselves struggling defensively due to the loss of Billy Thorpe and potential injuries. This is where the Bristol power play units could be crucial and Bayley Harewood could add to his total of power play goals as he currently sits on 6.
Special Teams
Due to both teams seeing plays out of the roster for various reasons, special teams could play a massive role in the outcomes of these two fixtures.
The Phantoms power play is 24.41% effective in comparison to the Pitbulls’ that sits at 23.33% going into these games and both teams will be desperate to take advantage of the extra skater on the night. Cameron Hough has found the back of the net 9 times while the Phantoms have been on the power play but the Pitbulls will have to watch out for Tom Norton on the blueline during the game as well. While he is great at playing a defensive defenseman role, he also has a great shot from the blueline that can either help the Phantoms get the puck close enough towards the net to tap it to the back of the net or a clean slapshot to the back of the net. The Pitbulls also have Tanner Butler, who has scored 4 power play goals and can also play this similar role and these two players could play big roles during the game.
In terms of the penalty kill, Peterborough has a penalty kill that is 72.38% effective when the Pitbulls’ stands at 69.93%. Just because the Pitbulls have been short-handed does not mean they have not been able to find the back of the net though as Bayley Harewood has found the back of the net 5 times while being short-handed while Phantoms have only score short-handed 2 times this season and those have been scored by Cameron Hough and Austin Mitchell-King.
Netminder
The Phantoms netminder Canadian Hayden Lavigne has had a good season so far as his save percentage sits at 90.26% as they has saved 1119 shots against him and only let in 109 goals this season. He is averaging 4 goals per game so the Pitbulls will have to test him with the shots they are directing towards the net.
Last time the Phantoms were at the Pound, Nick Pryce managed to get 2 goals and 2 assists so going into this fixture he could play a vital role in making the plays that get past Hayden in net.
