SWINDON Wildcats' head coach Ryan Aldridge and general manager Steve Nell's hard work in finding a replacement for Henri Sandvik paid off when they signed a forward with NHL experience.

Czech Tomas Kana put pen to paper and flew into England earlier this week to join up with his new team-mates.

The 27-year-old played a handful of games in the world's top league and has vast experience in the American Hockey League – the NHL's feeder league.

Kana will make his debut in the cup semi final clash tomorrow (Wednesday) before trying to help the Cats move up the EPL table.

Arguably their worst period of hockey this season cost Swindon on Saturday as they lost 5-1 at home to Peterborough, but they made amends on Sunday when visiting Milton Keynes Lightning and winning 6-3.

A big part of the Wildcats' turnaround in form this season has been down to Adam Harding.

The Welshman has already scored more points than he did last season and looks on course to bag a few more.

Speaking of his form, Harding said: " I feel my game has progressed with huge help from Ryan Aldridge and Andrew Lord (Cardiff Devils player/coach).

"Also with getting more ice time comes more confidence and I feel a lot more confident this year."

A good percentage of Harding's points have come while on 'special teams' – when there are a different number of players on the ice compared to the usual five v five – and that is an opportunity he is relishing.

" I have to thank Ryan this year for giving me the chance to play regularly on the powerplay* and on the penalty kill** every so often," said Harding.

"It's an exciting part of the game which every player wishes to be playing on."

The youngster believes the EPL standard is going from strength to strength every year but still lacks the intensity of the Elite League.

"The Elite League is faster and there seems to be a bit more intensity in the game but the EPL is a great standard of hockey," he said.

"With the import rule in the Elite League, the EPL will only benefit from it and become even stronger."

But the 22-year-old admitted players like Cats import Tomasz Malasinski were great for the league.

"Tomasz is unreal, he's fast, he's a sniper, his hand eye coordination is unreal and he can pick the pockets of guys out of nowhere," said Harding.

"He's a great pick-up and a pleasure to play with."

Swindon are back in action tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Swindon Ice Arena as they host Manchester in the first leg of the Challenge Cup semi final.

*Powerplay: when the opposition receives a penalty and the rival team gains a man advantage – five playing four or three – usually for two minutes but in the occasional case five minutes (for a bad penalty).

**Penalty kill: refers to the team which is a man or two down after giving a penalty away.