Christopher Tyler caught up with the Melbourne Mustangs newly appointed coach, Ontario-born William "Bill" Wilkinson, to ask him what he thinks his team is capable of this season. 

 

Wilkinson has only been in Australia just over a week after coaching Club Hielo Jaca in Jaca, Spain to their third championship in a row. In doing so he won just about every trophy and medal there is in the process.

 

After being with his new team for just a short period of time, Wilkinson is already confident the Mustangs have what it takes be contenders for the September playoffs. 

 

When asked why he thinks his club has what it takes, Wilkinson’s reply was simple.

 

"Any successful team begins with a strong defence,” he said. “We've got three imports in Scott Levitt, Dean Moore and James Sanford who can do the job, as well as mentor the younger Australian players." 

 

The former Western Michigan Bronco's coach went on to mention that returning players Enriquo Bergman and Jack Carpenter will round out the top five defensemen. 

 

From then on, the remaining depth of players will have to perform to prove their worth. 

 

The next most important factor for winning games in the eyes of Wilkinson is the performance of his team, which he thinks is in good hands again with the trio imports. 

 

Adding returning players like Adrian Nash, who Wilkinson says is "pretty good up forward" and Matthew Anderson, whose quickness the Mustangs "have to rely on", the Mustangs look in good shape to give the 2012 season a real shake up. 

 

Wilkinson was confident that his team would be able to take it to cross town rivals The Melbourne Ice last Saturday at the Medibank Icehouse.

 

And take it to the Ice they did, catching up and overtaking the Ice until the final few seconds when the Ice forced the game to a shootout.

 

Wilkinson admitted that the game was going to be a bit more difficult with captain Shane Hardy suspended for the first game after an incident with a Sydney Ice Dogs player last season. 

 

Hardy is however expected to return for the Mustangs clash against the Knights on May 6.

 

The season opener was given extra weight given that Wilkinson's team was facing Melbourne Ice superstar Jason Baclig, who he coached at Wayne State. 

 

Wilkinson made it clear that whatever the result in the opening game, it will not deter from his ultimate season goal which is simply improving on last year’s result and making the playoffs. 

 

“Once you make the playoffs, anything can happen."

 

Now, after that amazing opening game in which the Mustangs found themselves on the back of a 6 - 5 shootout loss, there is a lot to be taken for what Wilkinson said. 

 

"We had chances,” he said after the game. “We didn't quite come away with it", referring to the two missed shots at an open goal after the Ice substituted their goaltender for a sixth man.

 

The Ice scored with 5 seconds left on the clock. 

 

"Players were throwing themselves all around the Ice.

 

“Yeah, that one hurt.”

 

The Mustangs couldn't capitalise during the shootout which no doubt left Wilkinson feeling the sour taste of irony after it was Baclig himself that sent the winning goal through. 

 

It was a frantic last period in general with seven goals conceded out of the total five regulation time goals but, despite the result, Wilkinson applauded the effort of goaltender Michael James, saying he was one of the best for the Mustangs. 

 

"They got three out of five goals from Power Plays.

 

“We really need to work on that."

 

Even though they couldn't quite come away with the win, the Mustangs have already shown the AIHL that they're a force to be reckoned with for the 2012 season. 

 

As Wilkinson said "they [Ice] are the best team and we did a good job." 

 

Now the focus shifts to this weekend’s game against the Canberra Knights. 

 

When asked what they need to work on for next week, Wilkinson was quite adamant that “everyone still needs work… including the coach”.

 

The Mustangs meet the Knights at the Medibank Icehouse on Sunday, May 6.