Test of Tigerstix depth

LABRADOR are facing a test of their depth with six of their top-liners to miss the next few weeks of the Brisbane Hockey League competition.

The Tigerstix held on to second spot on the ladder after a 6-2 win against KedronWavell over the weekend but now go into a period where they play four of the top five in the lead-in to the finals. Blake Wotherspoon, Reagan Martin and Corey Weyer are in the Queensland team for the national under-21 titles, Olympian Brent Livermore is coaching NSW at that carnival and Dylan Wotherspoon will be in South Africa with the Kookaburras.

As well, Adam Imer has been named in the Brazilian hockey side for the Pan American series in Pennsylvania.

The departures come at a time when the Tigerstix are starting to look great chances to break their BHL drought.

Imer has been with Labrador for five seasons now and believes this is the club’s best chance to claim silverware.

“We’re starting to play well together and if we make it through the next five weeks we should be right,” he said.

“We’re in a good spot now and if we can stay in the top five we’ll give it a good shake.”

Last weekend Joe Reardon and Jason Wilson both scored twice as Labrador stretched their winning streak to six games.

Wilson opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Jackson Willie equalised for Kedron-Wavell.

Labrador then blew a tight game wide open by nailing three goals in the six minutes just before halftime.

Corey Piggin, Corey Weyer and Wilson scored between the 29th and 35th minutes to have Labrador up 4-1 at the main break.

The win keeps Labrador in second spot, three points behind ladder leaders Easts and three points ahead of thirdplaced Commercial and University of Queensland.

Labrador play bottom side Norths at the State Hockey Centre on Saturday at 3pm.