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Looking for Xmas cheer in Land of Giants
Blog from door 8
Firstly: I hope everyone had an excellent Christmas and I wish everyone a happy new year! Secondly: I know I can't please everyone all of the time but...this is MY blog and MY opinions.
Anyway, the match on Sunday night was a follow up to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Vipers at Whitley Bay and there was an encompassing feeling of "We need to win this!" The arena was fairly well packed out and there was lots of noise and quite a fun atmosphere all round. The opening skate was very interesting to the Giants fans validating fears that Jeff Szwez would not be setting foot on the ice after Saturday's fight, either due to injury or suspension, the former was true as he had an injured hand. The other massive news was the return of skipper George Awada, it was reported on belfastgiants.com that if he was given the all clear from the doctors on Sunday morning that he would be iced against the Vipers. Lowe and behold there he was having a pre game skate with the team, totally fine and seemingly unaffected by the injury that had him out for the majority of the season so far.
It was looking good with the return of dependable George and the knowledge that there was a goal fest against the Vipers previously beating them 11-3. Everyone was full of festive spirit as the Giants came onto the ice to some very jingly (that's a technical term you know) Christmassy music, the crowd were on their feet and hopeful that all would end well. It was nice to see Thornton skating, he had to really, the team was short sans Szwez. There was a massive need for a win coming off a four game losing streak but it was the 'O' and we were due a Christmas miracle.
The Viper's defence were looking strong at the start of the first and it was looking doubtful that there would be anything like the score at the end of the last Viper's bout. It took a pass from Bateman after six minutes to allow Chevy to open the scoring, this was soon followed by a goal from Awada, a scramble at Reiter's net, you would be forgiven for believing that the puck was safe, but when the red light went off and the whistle blew there was no doubt George was back!!
The period ended at a score of 2-0 and there was a sense of relief that the losing streak may very well be over. Grabbing a cup of coffee from the busy kiosk I headed back to my seat to wait for the start of the second, missing the sub cannon by a safe amount of time, not having to duck out of the way of a low flying sandwich. The Giants were incensed as they flurried back onto the ice and the crowd settled for what would be a controversial period to say the least.
Benedict opened the second with a goal, assisted by Peacock, and it was safe to say that the Giant's were determined to win this match. On a power play, with Tyler Kindle sitting out for a hooking penalty, Michael Jacobsen put the puck in the net with a mad slap shot. (this was credited to Walsh, but I was highly confused at this announcement as I usually know where Walsh is..ahem..and he was nowhere near the ice) But credit where credit is due, Jacobsen's goal was a peach!
If someone had asked me on Sunday, pre-match, who would have went toe to toe and fought I would have guessed possibly MacMorrow and Holland, and I would have been half right. Looking onto the ice I was surprised not to see the hulking presence of the Sheriff squaring up with Dean Holland, but little scrappy Mo! It was actually a good fight, as all Giant's fans know, Mo Train can look after himself and put up a good battle against the Viper's chief tough man. I guess nobody wants to go against MacMorrow but we have Mo as second in command and as a home town boy we were all proud of him! A standing ovation for the Mo Train as he took a five minute rest in the penalty box.
The controversy begun with the linesman stopping play much to the confusion to the fans. Apparently (I didn't see it but it wouldn't be called if it wasn't true) a goal had been scored by the Vipers' Tejchma, a technicality as according to belfastgiants.com the puck passed through a tear in the roof of the net. The goal light had gone on and play continued for a minute. The goal was allowed and a minute was put back on the clock. If it was a legitimate goal then possibly it wouldn't have enraged the crowd, but I must say it was hilarious at door 8. Every time the puck went an inch near Reiter's net there were shouts of 'GOAL' it was very entertaining, and no doubt the ref will be haunted by that decision for the rest of his days.
The short handed goal scored by Thornton from a pass from Chevy put the Giants at 5-1 Benedict still in the penalty box for slashing. The third period was pretty uneventful, the Vipers playing 'panic hockey' checking hard, and generally playing dirty. Two minutes into the period Shields netted another goal from Benny and Walsh. We pretty much had the game sewn up and the crowd went wild! The former captain placing the Giants at 6-1. Petricko netted a goal against Murph in the dying minutes of the third, it was slightly redundant but it showed that the most capable members of the Vipers were able to score consolation goals, again Berry played his socks off, and I was pleased to see Salem iced, he was credited with the Viper's controversial goal, but lets just say only a couple of people saw it so it would be a miracle to know exactly who scored it. Smith, the ref for the evening has placed himself in the running for weirdest penalty calls, and has cemented himself as a typically dodgy Elite League referee, lets see who we get on Wednesday against the Steelers! Lets Go Giants! Lets Go!
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-5 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-4 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
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 |
||
| 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
