The Bruins in our house

by Seanna Murdock

Blog from Door 9

It's the article I've been waiting to do for months. Since the announcement, to Peter bringing the tickets home, to counting down the days - we got there. The Boston Bruins were in our house. Anyone who wants to skip to that might want to ignore the next paragraph so go ahead, I'll not take it personally. Unlike the insulting posts in regards to my last effort... time to defend myself. Again.

Now boys, I'm not going anywhere, you know. Since my last blog got rave reviews (aye right) I thought I'd try something new. I have my supporters and there are the nice types who respect my right to say what I like (thanks for that. Seriously. I was losing faith in humanity) - but I know there are those poor sods who are incapable of backing anything up and would rather burn me on the Kingdom Of The Elitist Prats board, swearing at me rather than offering counter arguments or opinions rationally. You just make yourselves sound ignorant, no better than the poorly spelt CAPS LOCK texts you see in the sports section of the Daily Star. It's rude. It scares anyone new off who is wanting to get into hockey.

I'll level with you right here. I don't rate Corey Neilson. Never have. He's never made me think of any superlatives, nor had any stand out performances that stick in my head. All I remember from him last season was winding up big Sean and then running away, gurning at the ref and posting the odd assist here and there. Yawn. Dominic D'Amour made more of an impression on me last year. That guy was harsh. The team with the biggest rink and fan base in the league have still never won the damn thing, and I'm 99% convinced that they won't this year with CN at the helm. You rate him, I don't. Fine. Yes, I made an error replacing his place in the All-Star roster with forwards. So sorry, I'll make sure I pray for forgiveness. Tim Cook has been picked since, but he should have been one of the first calls.

Surely you'll concede that CN's pre-match comment about Bruce Richardson's head being "in the clouds" for even thinking the Clan could hoke the Panthers at the NIC was hilarious, right? No? Shame. Not just me, but every other hockey fan outside of Nottinghamshire did. Sure they're all friends again, and I will say the Panthers fans showed true class when they gave Richardson a standing ovation. Class lacking in certain sections of the league, Giants fans no exception. Did I hear someone insulting Colin Shields? I hope not...

So, yes. The Boston Bruins. In OUR rink. Feels good to say it. As it stands, I've had the best weekend of hockey of my life. My first taste of NHL hockey and not the last either. We arrived into Rockies just as it was filling up and grabbed a seat that seemed to allude the hockey fans looking around the bar for somewhere to rest their weary legs. It was pretty strange to see the bar so packed and nice to see loads of people wandering around in wide eyed wonder admiring the vast range of eclectic shirts and merchandise that makes Rockies the wonderland that it is. I want to say thank you here to the girl in the bathroom that told me that she loves my blog and it teaches her a great deal - you made me smile. Nice to hear from someone who wasn't in the Neilson fan club. So... after a few beers we headed on out to the growing queue and prepared for the most amazing hockey experience my life (so far), after having my bag checked we joined the line for the merchandise stand.

I know that it was an NHL side we were facing but the merchandise was extortionate and with the exception of a grey t-shirt all the merchandise was for the Coyotes match in the Czech Republic next Saturday. I grabbed myself a programme and a hat (with some difficulty as the man behind the merch stand couldn't see an inch in front of his face and we had to tell him where the items were). Taking our seats I did have to stop for a minute and take in the spectacle that was a mish-mash of the Elite League; Panthers fans sitting next to Giants fans, Devils fans sitting next to Blaze fans, even M.K. Lightning fans making the trip, possibly for the first time, and integrating themselves into the crowd. The Odyssey was nearly full, a few empty seats dotted about, but it was packed and the atmosphere was electric, the majority were there to cheer on the Giants Select but everyone wanted to see the mighty Bruins.

After the ice had been prepared by two Zambonis, the Belfast Select team were introduced one by one onto the ice, each of them got massive cheers (bar the classless booing of non-Giants) the loudest were for Smurph, the Giants surprise goal machine Mike Hoffman and our captain Shieldsy. Any rivalries were forgotten for the night as they were all united under one shirt, they were all wearing the Giant's emblem and therefore they were all Giants. It was strange to see players like Tait and Fulghum with Finn McCool on their chests but it was somewhat exciting to see what the creme-de-la-creme of the Elite League could achieve as a united force. The Selects lined up on the blue line as the moment everyone had waited for arrived and the Bruins were introduced one by one onto the ice. Needless to say they got massive cheers; most noteworthy was 42-year-old ex Flyers and Penguins legend Mark Recchi, my personal favourite Patrice Bergeron and unsurprisingly Captain Zdeno Chara had the biggest cheer. After the ceremonial face off between Chara and Shields both teams prepared to make Belfast history. I was surprised to see how much of a steady and competent skater Chara was. I mean, I know he would have to be awesome to be in the NHL but for a 6 foot 9 collosus he skated like the lightest man on the ice.

The teams faced off and after 30 seconds Hoffman was called for tripping. I was fully expecting the Bruins to score on the powerplay, but the Selects killed the penalty. Funnily enough, the Selects had probably practised together a handful of times but they had gelled together quicker than this season's Coventry Blaze - the Selects were a force to be reckoned with. Murphy was making some awesome saves silencing anyone who said that a British goalie couldn't compare to an import....well the little Stephen Murphy from Dundee was saving shots from NHL quality players. In the first period he was just as good as Rask, I would be surprised if Murphy wasn't called up to a North American training camp the same way that Davy Phillips was.

The period ended with no score for each team, Murph was on a hot streak saving shots from Wheeler, Thornton and Stuart. The period ended and the crowds were still buzzing, was there a chance that an EIHL all star team could beat an NHL side? It was possible but not probable. The second period started with both side taking tripping penalties Carlson followed quickly by Seidenberg. Carlson was replaced by Domish and there was four on four play, still no score. Murphy saving from Chara and Seidenburg when he was released from the penalty box. Too many men on the ice bench minors for both sides added minutes to the penalty sheets. There were plenty of shots on goal from each side neither coming to fruition. Jade Galbraith finally broke the deadlock and finally got a wrist shot past Rask and put the Selects on the score board. I was expecting the final score to be in the double digits for the Bruins and at no time did I expect that nearing the end of the second period the Selects would be one nil up!

First round draft pick Tyler Seguin let us have two minutes of glory before he burst the bubble and scored, bringing us back to the reality of the calibre of our opponents and that Boston were well and truly putting their foot back on the gas. Thornton and Campbell gave Chara the set up for a goal ten seconds later. Boston meant business and now they were showing it! Chara finished the period off with a setup for Marchand. Although the Selects were losing the match everyone was appreciative of a fantastic hockey match and the awesome skills of the Boston Bruins. The third period began with a holding call for Wheeler. Although Murph was playing awesomely and keeping the score respectable Lucic made the score four to one with a set-up from McQuaid. Seidenberg hit the post with the loudest 'ding' I had ever heard, it was edge of the seat action, everyone was willing Murph to keep his good work up. Seguin was given a penalty shot which Murph had misread and went in the wrong direction to save it, the score now settled at five to one Mustukovs was placed into goal for the final minute of play, Murphy deserving his standing ovation.

The stand out players for the Selects (in my opinion) were as follows. Of course Murph - the guy is fantastic, a lesser goalie would have conceded exceedingly more goals. I mean how many British goalies can boast the fact that they had saved shots from the mighty Chara? Rob Globke and Ben Simon, the duo from the Steelers were incredible, showing why the Steelers have been doing so well this season. The Bruins acquisition of Seguin in the draft could very well be the making of a Stanley Cup winning side for the near future. So I had experienced a once in a lifetime match at the Odyssey and although I was cheering Beauregard, Galbraith and Zion, I would be back to booing them on Sunday when the Giants faced off against the Panthers at 5pm.

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Cardiff	0-3	Basingstoke
12th March 2006 19:00
Coventry	5-3	Sheffield
12th March 2006 19:00
Edinburgh	4-5	Belfast
12th March 2006 19:00
Newcastle	1-4	Nottingham
12th March 2006 19:00
Basingstoke	4-4	Cardiff
11th March 2006 19:00
Newcastle	2-4	Coventry
11th March 2006 19:00

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

Chelmsford	5-8	Telford
19th March 2006 19:00
Hull	5-1	Wightlink
19th March 2006 19:00
Romford	4-1	Milton Keynes
19th March 2006 19:00
Slough	5-2	Swindon
19th March 2006 19:00
Solihull	3-7	Bracknell
19th March 2006 19:00
Sheffield	1-1	Guildford
19th March 2006 19:00

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

	Club	GP	W	L	OL	GF	GA	Pts

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