Belfast Giants head coach Adam Keefe called on his players to “look in the mirror” after falling to the Glasgow Clan in overtime on Saturday [11 October].
“I’m pretty frustrated right now,” said the Canadian of his side’s third consecutive loss.
“We need to look in the mirror and we need guys to be better: it’s that simple. You can’t switch off in the league — if you do, it ends up in the back of your net.”
The Giants held a 2-1 lead heading into the closing exchanges — but saw their advantage evaporate when Jason Fram tied the score four minutes from the buzzer.
Darien Kielb iced the game for the Clan in overtime, drawing Glasgow within three points of Belfast in the fight to advance from Group B in the Challenge Cup.
Elsewhere, the Cardiff Devils overcame the Coventry Blaze despite a 46-save performance from Mat Robson and the Guildford Flames toppled the Fife Flyers on the road.
The Manchester Storm continued their fine form with an overtime win versus the Dundee Stars — but post-game quotes are yet to be published from that contest.
Welcome to Around the Rinks: our daily summary of every team’s post-game media remarks.
Around the Rinks: Saturday, 11 October
Cardiff Devils 3-0 Coventry Blaze
Brandon Estes, Cardiff Devils (Image: James Assinder)
Paul Thompson, Cardiff Devils:
I was pleased [with the performance]. We forced some plays today and I can see that some of the guys are fighting the puck a little bit, but it was our work away from the puck that made the difference.
We made big improvements there and I felt comfortable at one-nil, I didn’t feel nervous. Last weekend, we shipped eleven goals and in the six games previously we only shipped nine. Getting back on the right side of the puck and doing the right things is great.
I’m pleased for Ben [Bowns], I thought our discipline was way, way better, and I’m glad that we sent our fans home happy tonight.
Kevin Moore, Coventry Blaze:
That was a pretty blah game: we were a little flat and weren’t skating the way we usually do.
We gave them a little bit more time and space, so it felt like we were chasing a little bit more than in reality on the scoreboard. Because of that, our structure was out of whack.
It was blah, but we’ll be ready for tomorrow.
Glasgow Clan 3-2 Belfast Giants — Overtime (Challenge Cup)
Colton Poolman, Glasgow Clan (Image: Al Goold)
Adam Keefe, Belfast Giants:
We played for thirty minutes and that’s not going to do the job in this league. I thought we were lucky to still be in the game at that point: Jackson [Whistle] was fantastic and I thought we started to play hockey once we scored our first goal.
In the third period, I thought we were managing the game quite well, but we switched off and let them back in.
I’m pretty frustrated right now. We need to look in the mirror and we need guys to be better: it’s that simple. You can’t switch off in the league — if you do, it ends up in the back of your net.
It’s not good enough commitment from the group to each other and we have a big game tomorrow. I’m expecting a big response from our group, some individuals especially.
Mike Sirant, Glasgow Clan:
I think it’s a huge win for our team and the organisation. Obviously, we weren’t happy with the result or our performance last night and Corey [Neilson] challenged the guys today and they responded.
They played a really good game: the compete, the intensity, and the physicality were outstanding and that’s what it takes to win.
Belfast are a very good team: we had a great first period, they pushed back, but we showed resilience to come back with the win.
Fife Flyers 2-7 Guildford Flames
Josh Winquist, Fife Flyers (Image: Jillian McFarlane)
Jamie Russell, Fife Flyers:
I thought we had a great first period, we came out and played with a lot of energy. I’m really pleased with the first twenty minutes, but there was a big momentum shift in the second period, with a penalty for being late out to the ice and that’s inexcusable.
That can’t happen and it’s something that we covered this week. It really shifted momentum. I thought we made a tonne of mental mistakes tonight and didn’t give ourselves a chance to be successful.
Paul Dixon, Guildford Flames:
I’m really happy with the end result. The game had its ebbs and flows: Fife were really good in the first period, which we expected given how they usually come out at home.
We addressed a few things that we had to get better on and I thought we produced a solid performance from there on. It was a really good road win for us.
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