Devils 2, Steelers 3 - Final
This season, I'm
going to do things a little differently. In the lead up to my hiatus, I felt my
writing was getting a bit repetitive and I was therefore unable to give my best
to the guys that play their hearts out every single game, entertaining long time
fans and those who have only just joined our crazy world of flying rubber. And
if they are giving their all every week, without fail, do they not deserve the
same treatment from me?
So I’ve decided
to write from my perspective, adding a personal touch to the game that means
something different to each of us.
While I will still be covering the events of the game, it will be less of
here’s what happened and more this is how I felt about what happened. In order to give the guys the write up
they deserve, I need to feel engaged in what I’m writing and hopefully this
will provide what I’ve been missing these past couple of seasons.
Through various
friends around the rink I'd heard a lot of good things about this year's team
and I take great pleasure in saying these guys did not disappoint; we
definitely saw the best style of Devils' hockey on Sunday!
It was great to
see that we have a team who are ready to compete and play that physical style
of hockey we all enjoy to watch.
While it is
definitely sad that we had to say goodbye to so many fan favourites in the
passing offseason, we must accept that when one door closes, another shall
open, bringing with it a Devils' team I am proud to support!
Despite that,
would it be wrong if I were a little bit happy to see G, Deeds and co back in
the BBT?? Personally, I can’t wait to have Joe Myers back when we play Braehead
– I am a little embarrassed to admit I once fan-girled when Joe favourited one
of my tweets! It seems there will always be an excitable little girl in all of us , no matter how old we get!!
I must admit, I
failed to keep track of the trades and tribulations this summer and barely
recognised anyone on the roster when I checked the website just last week.
Having been
surprised with tickets to the game on Sunday as a fabulous birthday present
from the bestie, I wanted to re-immerse myself in the Devils' world - which
definitely took a lot longer that I expected!
Initial research
on the newcomers looked promising but the real thing simply blew me away. From
Ben Bowns' incredible 2-on-0 save in the opening twenty to Chris Culligan's
fantastic solo effort to even the score in the second, I was so happy to have
hockey back!
Despite the blank
score board at the end of the first period, I definitely had a difficult time
finding fault in our new side.
With the
Steelers' up to their usual tricks, Devils' both old and new held their ground
superbly. As expected Sheffield were into double-figure PIMs before the end of
the first, but our guys kept their heads down and plough[ed] through. In fact,
the Devils' powered through with almost triple the amount of shots! The side in
red was definitely very unlucky not to be up by at least one going into the
period break.
Going into the
second, I thought the pace had slowed slightly - that is until Jesse Mychan got
the blood flowing. Not my blood of course, but that of Sheffield's no. 44 Matt
Thomas!
While Tom Darnell
made his usual song and dance (a shame to see some things haven't changed),
awarding Mychan 2+10 for instigating, he did not succeed in quashing the fight
in the Devils' spirits, both on and off the ice. We're all used to the
controversial officiating in the EIHL and Sunday night was no exception - from
bogus offside calls to outrageous tripping calls, we witnessed it all.
The theory (from
the fans) behind me in Block 3 was that Darnell has a show coming up and wanted
to practise his jazz hands!! In fact, Darnell was filling the penalty boxes so
quickly, Devils' management nearly had to move the cameraman to allow enough
room for everyone!!
But the heated
seats in the penalty box didn't seem to do anything for Pascal Morency, who
will probably be haunted by the phrase 'you got battered' for months to come
after Sunday's game.
After taking a
heavy beating from Trevor Hendrikx (swoon!), Morency was showered in abuse from
the Red Army as he continued to lean across the timekeepers to chirp the
6'2" Ontario native. I was half expecting him to go at Hendrikx again as
soon as they were out of the box, and, being completely wrapped up in the
atmosphere, was slightly disappointed when he didn’t.
With blood
spilled and tensions high, both sides eagerly awaited the third period. Having
not experienced Devils' hockey for far too long, I was pleasantly surprised to
find I could not sit still, constantly annoying the guy next to me with my
excited fidgeting!
Both teams came
out fighting in the last twenty minutes but it was clear that the home side
were tiring and there was nothing left in the tank to push the home side level
on the scoreboard.
With all the
excitement through the game, we had barely noticed the one goal deficit but in
the end its the goals scored, not the enthusiasm or dedication shown, that wins
games.
I definitely
wouldn't have changed the game for anything, it was brilliant watching our
Devils' play like they used too! And it just means I will be badgering my boss
for lots of time off so I can make it down to watch the game I love more often
than last year! It is definitely worth the round trip!!
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