Even after 31 years I still get excited by the first game of the season and....what a game it was. I just don't get some of the debates around the CHL, the standard of hockey, the speed and the intensity is in a different league (apologies for the poor pun) to anything else and although the first period was a little scrappy, the remainder of the game more than made up for it. If you will excuse the slightly self-indulgent post, there were a few things I would comment on.
Ritchie - what a game he had. He logged ridiculous minutes and I do sometimes worry whether we take him for granted as he never seems to have a poor game. Last night he marshaled the defense brilliantly and his covering when there was a break was a joy. I dread the day he decides to hang them up.
Matt Pope - in the first period, he was our offense, forcing turnovers, setting up plays and back to his year one self. As others have said, it is always easy with him to look in the G column and criticise but that does not tell the whole story, he was our spark for a long time.
Batch/Myers - their close down play was immense as the game wore on, as with Ritchie, I do sometimes worry that we take them for granted but at times they turned Mountfield PPs into Devils' opportunities.
Bowns - there was a save late on in the third, right underneath where I was standing that was as good as I have ever seen. He flicked a left leg out whilst heading right to deflect a shot. It wasn't as spectacular as some but..... it was just magnificent and seemed to take the wind out of Mountfield's collective sails.
The team in general - I suspect that this game was a window into the new season. Whilst Belfast won their game my niggling, hitting and their sheer physicality (allied to a fair amount of skill). We won by speed, skill, superb interplay and a clear gameplan when moving forward. I hesitantly predict that the first cry of 'we are not physical enough' to come within two weeks but.... from the evidence I have seen, we will be one of the lesser penalized teams in the league and I can't wait to see games against Guildford as they will be insanely fast.
The hit on Myers at the end - fair enough I was at the other end of the ice but how was that not a 5+game?
The CHL? - when the draw was made I gulped and suggested that progress would be difficult but now.... Sunday's game is a big one. Annoyingly Graz beat Frolunda (who will surely qualify?) but if we can get a result tomorrow then the group really is wide open.
More of the same please