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Doug is a hockey nerd
Blog from Door 19
Saturday had been a day I'd been looking forward to for a long while, the annual Season Ticket holder event. This entailed an open training session, a chance for photographs and chats with the players and a Q&A session with big Dougie. I must say I had an absolute ball, got my shirt fully signed and got a fascinating insight into the day to day running of the organisation and the inner workings of Doug's mind; a self confessed stat nerd who exudes personality and nobody who was there yesterday could argue against me when I say that he is literally the heart and soul of the Belfast Giants.
90% of what Doug said is off the record but three things he mentioned came to pass against the Cardiff Devils. Firstly: he predicted that there would be inconsistency in the refereeing. Secondly: he backed Jon Gleed as the best player and on the night, although everyone played as if their life depended on it, Gleed proved he was the best player on the team. Thirdly: he said that he'd be surprised if there were no fights on the night, and to be honest there couldn't have been more cheap shots, sucker punches and fights- and that was the 'top of the league team.' The Cardiff Devils looked clearly rattled, that they weren't invincible and that they were losing a grip on the lead that they had steadily built up to, Belfast knew that and capitalised fully to gain the win.
Doug was questioned on (yawn) the power-play; which he fully defended, there was an audible sigh in the room when that fantastic gem of a question was raised (note the sarcasm). It's asked every year and defended every year. Our power-play is 4th in the league. Yeah, we're not 1st but we're still winning games. Give Doug some credit he knows what he's doing. The Q&A session was full of stats and laughs but there was a palpable air of pressure and tension. The Devil's match was going to be tough, and rough and there was also high expectations on both Doug and the team, it was a must win match. It was great to connect with the team like that and a fun start to a fantastic day.
After lunch in the fantastic Kitchen Bar in Victoria Square (recommended) and a bit of light retail therapy we headed to Rockies. Jim Graves brought out his latest acquisition "Box Hockey", which if you didn't see, is hard to explain. Two people can play as you get two sticks and a plastic puck. Now, think of a 6'x3' plastic box with a red bar to represent the halfway line and two blue bars for the blue lines. These bars had holes in which to get the puck through to where the two "goals" were. Not a great explanation I know, but if you hear the clatter of sticks and a lot of competitive shouting at the back of Rockies, check it out. Pete and a Cardiff fan called Simon were Jim's guinea pigs to give the game a go. After five minutes of running around this box, Pete and Simon were both wrecked with the score tied at 1-1. They agreed "next goal wins", Pete coming from behind to win 2-1. They shook hands which was a relief because it looked to be getting a little too competitive. Typical boys and their toys! A precursor to the real game between the Giants and Devils? We'd see.
Taking our seats we waited for the teams to hit the ice, Jon Pelle was looking for his 50 in 50 so he'd be under personal pressure to score 5 goals in 4 matches. It was going to be an emotionally charged match and I was ready to cheer the Giants. I groaned when I saw Smith was the official, if he was true to form there would be 'four Smiths playing for Cardiff' on Saturday. There was an appeal video for the Blood Transfusion Service and a ceremonial face off, the puck dropped by the poster boy Tom Simpson, a really worthy cause that the Giants and the whole organisation have gotten behind.
Both teams took to the ice and the madness ensued! It was also the debut of our latest roster addition, Kaspars Astasenko, who didn't have much ice time, he only arrived in Belfast on Wednesday night and has only practiced with the team three times, but he's a hard hitter who does what he's supposed to, stay at home defence and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him against the Blaze next week.
Neither team had the upper hand as the game began, the Devils tried to gain possession and take control but the Giants were all over them like a cheap suit. The Giants wanted the win more and the Devils were visibly rattled, they were no longer invincible, no longer guaranteed a win, no longer the form team. If the Devils wanted to keep the top spot and gain two points they actually had to work for it. Inching out a win against Nottingham on Wednesday 6-5, losing to the Blaze 5-4 (who lets face it have been spectacularly average this season) on Sunday, may have knocked the team's confidence. Its easy to get cocky when a full benched team can beat a depleted Edinburgh Capitals 13-2 and Dundee 7-1.
Tensions were high and boiled over four and a half minutes in, with Adams and Benedict scuffling at Lyle's goal, each receiving a 2 minute minor for roughing. A sign of things to come for the remainder of the match. Mark Smith waited ten seconds after that to gain a hooking minor and give the home team the man advantage. The Giants were unable to convert and score, and once again there was a back and forward, neither team able to break the deadlock and get a goal. Cardiff were given an inexplicable power play when the Giants were given a two minute bench minor for too many men served by Peaks. The pressure was on Belfast, to keep the momentum and confidence the Giants couldn't allow the visitors to score first. The outstanding home team proved their worth and killed the penalty.
Ryan Finnerty, a constant annoyance, like an itch you can't scratch or a face you could never get tired of punching, was starting to get antsy and couldn't understand why his team wasn't steam rollering the Giants. A nasty check on Walton sparked off a few choice words and a scuffle, gaining both men a 2 minute delay of game minor penalty twelve minutes in. The crowd were livid, Pete and I both agree that the atmosphere hadn't been this angry since "fight night" two seasons ago against the Vipers. With a spattering of minor penalties handed out towards the end of the period it was plain to see that Smith was trying and failing to gain and maintain control of the match. There were slashes, cross checks, trips and a sundry of other penalties by both teams that weren't called, giving the Devils the momentum to continue their bully tactics, to cheat their way to that elusive first goal (that ultimately would never come). It would be worth considering since Smith couldn't see all the fouls and penalties getting two referees on the ice for each match... then maybe things would be officiated properly. I know the EIHL wouldn't pay for that but hey. The period ended scoreless but the Giants were the better team and were given a massive applause leaving the ice.
The second period was where it all kicked off, with Phil Hill antagonising and winding up the Giants, then hiding behind Finnerty and Voth when challenged. Hill threw a punch at C-Way early into the second then hid behind his foot smaller captain. I would have loved to have seen someone finally put Hill in his place but as usual he can dish out a few slaps then runs and hides. Brad Voth then concentrated his aggression towards Welch after his earlier hit on Birbraer, culminating in a cross check. Hoff stood up for his more placid team mate and took on the fight. Both men were put in the box, Hoff with a 5 minute fighting major and Voth inexplicably getting a 20 minute misconduct penalty. The cross check and 5 for fighting I agree with, however the misconduct penalty was undeserved especially with what Michel got away with seven minutes later.
Michel was checked, legally may I add, by Danny Welch nine minutes into the second period, Danny began to skate away and Michel followed sucker punching him, Welch didn't realise what was happening and couldn't defend himself. He did hold his own however, with Hill hanging around like a bad smell holding back any Giant that tried to come to Welch's aid. Danny was given a 5 minute fighting major aka a 5 minute penalty for being blind sided and repeatedly punched in the head. Michel was given 2 minutes for roughing, 2 minutes unsportsman like conduct, 5 minutes for fighting and a ten minute misconduct penalty. Michel should have been the person thrown out of the match rather than Voth; Derek Campbell did the same thing to Schwartz and got a 3 match ban. Four minutes later coach Adams added to his team's penalty minutes by roughing with Lambert.
A Bafta runner up performance came less than a minute later when Jon Gleed, who had seen enough of Ryan Finnerty's dirty hits and bullying, saw him open for a hit. Smashing him into the plexi he skated away. Finnerty, impersonating what can only be described as a Wile-E Coyote cartoon slid semi dramatically down the plexi and onto the ice, then skated around the ice like a woman in labour, worse acting than Paris Hilton in House of Wax (and that's saying something). It was worth seeing that for Gleed's 2 minute cross check penalty which the Giants fantastically killed.
The Devils were playing terribly, no professionalism, they were throwing their toys out of the pram just because the Giants weren't giving them an easy win. Insult to injury came when the Giants had the man advantage after the Devils had a 2 minute bench minor for too many men served by Phil 'the Annoying Devil' Hill (viewers of Balls of Steel will get that). 18 minutes into the second Welch and Prudden set Brett Hemingway up for his 22nd goal of the season.
The crowd were on their feet, we had the psychological edge, it was ultimately the match winning goal. If the Devils had concentrated on playing hockey rather than being goons then maybe the result would have been different. It was also the first goal in the first leg of the Challenge Cup semi final, which will hopefully be coming home to Belfast. Scott Matzka dropped a few 'f-bombs' slapping his stick against the bench as he sat down like a huffy teenager, complacency and an over estimation of the Devil's abilities to coast to an easy win was winding him up the wrong way and it was entertaining to say the least.
The second period ended and the arena was buzzing and there was excitement as there was an announcement that there was a one all draw at Sheffield, but once again Coventry failed to do us a favour and win a game. They must be embarrassed to have lost a match with an equalising goal scored with less than a minute left in the third by none other than Derek 'waste of an import slot' Campbell. Anyway... the third period was brilliant! Less than two minutes in Lambert scored his 12th goal of the season set up by C-Way and Garside; two players that had to previously had to leave the ice and be stitched up due to blood injuries but manned up and came back out.
The third period was that of many Giants penalties. With Gleed taking a seat for 2 minutes for delay of game, the Giants proved their dominance once and for all. Benny and C-Way broke away and set Mason up for his 8th goal of the season, on the rebound, shorthanded, and the Giant's third goal of the match. It was a brilliant atmosphere the crowd were cheering and enjoying shouting at the ref who continued to penalise both teams.
Why must someone always try and start a Mexican wave when it's not needed? 1) nobody actually interested in the game wants to do a Mexican wave. 2) it always starts at door 17 and end by door 20 because nobody wants to do it and 3) it just irritates us that want to watch the match and cheer the team when people jump up just as action is occurring. They're stupid and should be confined to boring sports such as football.
B-Way then checked the 2nd least popular Devil ( Finnerty the worlds best actress being first), Michel to the head gaining a 2+10 penalty, the revitalised and determined Giants however cemented their dominance by scoring their 4th goal and 2nd shorthanded goal of the match. Welch broke away from the Giant's zone, passed it to Prudden who held Lyle's attention and set Gleed up for his 7th goal of the season. The score finished at 4-0, the crowd erupted and the Devil's reign of dominance was over, no longer top of the league (you're welcome, Sheffield). For the Giants the up hill struggle continues, a double header against Coventry next week, but anything's possible in this sport. Well done to the team and well done to Doug, lets hope Sheffield throw it away too.
BGFL.
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5-3 |
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4-5 |
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1-4 |
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4-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
5-8 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-2 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
3-7 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
