I was reading an article from ESPN.com by John Buccigross were he decides to blog on a game between the Leafs and the Red Wings from 1971. At the end of his blog he said the following:

“I was 5 when this game was played, I can understand why, even then, I felt that hockey was a great sport on television. The game was fast, up and down. The players had a ghostly mystique in black-and-white as most of them were stone-faced and expressionless. You had no idea what they were thinking or what they were like. You just knew they were doing something very difficult and dangerous, and the talent and courage they showed was mesmerizing”.

Yes how times change. It’s not black and white anymore, they aren’t so expressionless and we probably know too much about what they are thinking and what they are like, but the later part of the quote most definitely still stands. They are still doing something very difficult and dangerous, and the talent and courage they show is still mesmerizing.

Thinking about it, in a way the entire quote (except for the reference to the age) sums up what got me into hockey in the first place - Watching an NHL game on TV in the late 90’s and for British Hockey watching the Giants second ever home game against Bracknell back in December 2000. I can see - even now - why hockey was a great sport on television and in person. The game was indeed fast, up and down and like something I had never seen before, be it the top NHL game or the relatively lowly (in world hockey terms) ISL game. I didn’t know a single player so they did indeed have a ghostly mystique, even in colour, and they all looked the same to me under their helmets. I had no idea what they were like - who was tough who was skilled? But even at first glance on TV or in the Odyssey I knew they were doing something very difficult and dangerous, and the talent and courage they showed was mesmerizing.

As Buccigross finished up:

“The game grabbed you by the arm and never let you go.”

I love hockey.

Shaun Sutter hit two goals on Saturday night and the seasons first hat trick on Sunday night to total five goals and help the Giants on their way to back to back wins over the weekend. It keeps the Giants in touch with the top teams as the season revival continues. The weekend also seen the long awaited return to the ice of Roman Gavalier - shaved head and all. He’s added a bit of much needed depth to the Giants defensive corps allowing Todd Kelman to go back to were he feels he belongs - In his suit, up high looking down on the action like a true G.M. Joining him in the ‘box’ up in the rafters was Trevor Johnson . . . Still not completely healthy.

Anyway, a strong, comfortable performance against Hull followed up by a shoot-out win against the Bison was just what this surging Giants team required. The lines finally seem to be gelling and everyone settling into their roles. The top line of Lewis - Campbell - Courtenay looks a threat every shift with Ed’s play making abilities, Campbell’s sniping and Lewis’ physical approach. Lewis’ ability to plant himself in front of the opposing goalie on the power play is also something we haven’t seen since the departure of ‘goalie screening expert’ Paxton Schulte back in 2004. The ‘checking line’ for what of a better word of Awada - Cameron - Sutter have been outstanding. Not to mention Sutters goals, Cameron brings an exceptional amount of skill and speed to the line and with Awada and Sutter on his wings willing to spend the entire game fighting for the pucks in the corners and around the opposing goal. Then we have the ‘energy line’ for what of a perfect word to give energy and allow the import boys a breather on the bench. Jamieson - Moran - Morrison have been in great form and have an uncanny ability to keep the puck in the opposition zone for prolonged amounts of time at times.

The Giants get the week off of action until this Friday when they face the Blaze in what really will be a bench mark game - A game that will really let them know where exactly they stand in their hopes of turning the season around.

Unfortunately I won’t be at it so no doubt I’ll miss a classic.

Let’s get down to the bone here. Prior to Pete Campbell’s arrival the Giants record through 11 league games was 3-8. In the seven league games since arriving in Belfast from Basingstoke we have gone 6-1 . . . A complete reversal in form. Now other guys like Shaun Sutter, Shane Johnson and particularly Stevie Lyle all arrived around the same time as Pete when the teams fortunes changed but individually Campbell has been a revelation to the up turn in our form. He has scored seven goals and eight assists in seven league games - 9+9 in 9 games including the challenge cup and he has points in all but one of the seven league and two challenge cup games. MORE »

About four or five weeks ago prior to the Giants resurgence the Cardiff Devils were also in a funk of their own. The Giants were the only team they seemed capable of beating and even at some of our worst times they still sat below us in the standings.

How times change. The Devils went on a tear winning game after game to move from dead last to top of the league by a point over Coventry. They have played five games more than the consistently good Blaze but if ever the Giants needed an inspiration from someone else that the season can still be turned round they can find it in their rivals from Wales. Granted wins by the teams behind them in their games in hand would push the Devils down to third of forth but the way this crazy league has been going not all these teams are going to win their games in hand.

What does this mean for the Giants you ask? Well with a game in hand over everyone except Coventry we have the potential to put ourselves within five points of forth place Sheffield and eventually with the right wins four points behind the most in form team of the last month, Cardiff. It’s an uphill struggle and the main aim must surely be playoffs already but moving further up the league can only be a bonus.

It ain’t often an Elite League fixture between two teams into November is the first clash between them teams of the season so far. It’s the case tomorrow night when Sheffield come to Belfast. It’s the first time the teams have met this season and the only opponant the Giants have yet to play this year. If they are to continue their rise up the EIHL standings they will have to beat a solid Sheffield team that is still in championship contention. MORE »

It was a meaningless Challenge cup game for some and in the end I guess it kind of was because the 1-1 tie on the final buzzer meant both teams were eliminated from group qualification. But for the Giants team it meant a heck of a lot more. A 1-1 tie against the runaway league leaders with 5 star players out injured sent a message throughout the league that the once bottom of the league and struggling Giants were back. It was a boost of moral to both the players and the fans as the Giants icing just twelve skaters took the game to the Blaze. MORE »

The Giants are going to need one hell of a big effort from those guys left with any kind of health on the roster to get them through the weekend with any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of Challenge-Cup and the test couldn’t come any tougher. League leaders Coventry Blaze and ex-scoring champ Curtis Huppe are in town to face a Giants team without FIVE regular players, four of which are go-to import players. The irony being we could probably use Curtis more than ever yet some fans will still find reason to boo him no doubt. MORE »