Swindon Wildcats star Robin Davison says the arrival of netminder Nathan Craze could help build the town's most exciting ice hockey sides for years.

The veteran forward is impressed by the roster that head coach Peter Russell has put together this season and claims it is the best Swindon side since the days of the Icelords.

"I am very impressed with the side," said Davison. "We have got strength in depth. I don't think we have had this sort of depth in the side for many years.

"We have got three very strong lines who can play against any other first line.

"I don't think we have had that since the Icelord days when we went 20-odd games without losing."

The change in netminder has also excited Davison and could be the final piece of the jigsaw towards making Swindon Wildcats a success this season.

"We have a new netminder," said Davison. "Everything you hear and read about him sounds very exciting. He obviously is a very good netminder because he helped Bracknell win the league and cup last season. He was their first choice and I think and hope he will do a very good job for us.

"It was obviously difficult for the coach to let Mike Brabon go but you can't keep two top netminders on your books when you have a small budget like ours.

"Mike did a very good job for us. We were out of the play-offs when he arrived and by the end of the season he helped us get in them."

Davison accepts that it will take time to see the best of Wildcats' new-look side but he is excited about the future at the Link Centre.

He added: "I think our British players are second to none.

"We have so much strength in depth but when you bring in as many new players we have this season it takes time to gel. But I think we showed signs last weekend of what we are capable of.

"We got off to a slow start against Bracknell last weekend but then we got into it and I was very encouraged with how we came back into the game. In a few weeks time we will be playing to our full potential."

Swindon take on Bracknell again this weekend in the second game in their EPL Cup campaign on Sunday.

A 5-4 reverse at the Link Centre last weekend will give Swindon belief that they can travel to Bracknell on Sunday and perform against a side who were practically unbeatable in their rink last season.

"We have a tough start," added Davison. "Playing Bracknell and Sheffield and then Bracknell again is tough. But we have no game on Saturday so we will be fresh and maybe that will work in our favour, we'll find out on Sunday night.

"But we are looking forward to it. It's a cup game and obviously it would be good to get to the final but if we don't it will be good to use these games for our team to gel and get some form for the league."

Coach Russell is also confident ahead of the clash. He said: "We have been fantastic for two periods in both games last weekend.

"We are going to try to shoot the puck more and be more direct. It is a long season and we have to make sure we peak at the right time.

"We are playing the champions at their place where they only lost once last season.

"We gave them a good game last week though and came back really well."

Netminder Joe White is set to start in between the pipes following Brabon's departure to Romford and new signing Craze unavailable. Russell though revealed White would always have played in this match.

"Joe was always going to play against Bracknell," said Russell. "It is important he and everyone gets ice time. It is hard being a back-up goalie and giving him ice time is the only way to help him develop.

"No disrespect to the cup but this is a time where we can give players ice time. Our focus at the end of the day is the league and the end of season play-offs."