Big Match Preview - Belfast Home Double Header

This weekend promises to be huge in every sense of the word. Two massive home games and two games which will definitely tell us how good we are, it's the archetypal yardstick games. Visiting the House of Steel are the Belfast Giants and with them are former Steelers Mike Forney and Colin Shields. Giants are now under the control of veteran defenceman Derrick Walser, and whilst he won't be playing or coaching due to a two game suspension, they promise to give us our sternest test so far.

 

Helping FSB set the scene for this cracking weekend is Giants supporter John Tregaskis. This is what John had to say:

FSB: So how would you describe last season for the Giants?

 

JT: Well if I was allowed to tell you the truth, I would be probably banned. It was in a single word, crap.

 

FSB: Do you think that the appointment of Derrick Walser was a sign that Steve Thornton had taken too much on last season, and what are you expecting from Walser as a player-coach?

 

JT: No, Thorney (Steve Thornton) was purely brought in as Director of Hockey Operations not as General Manager. Your man (Todd) Kelman knew exactly what he was doing and knew all along that the whole package was too much for a single person.

 

As regards Derrick Walser's appointment, it's great to have a breath of fresh air so to speak. A clean sweep in other words. He's kept the Brit Pack bar two, but overall I think we have better players this season.

 

FSB: Was the signing of Kevin Westgarth last season regarded as a success or a big let down?

 

JT: Westgarth was a great player. It was clear that he was a NHL standard player in the way he read the game and with his passing. Personally I think there was a fall out between Thornton and him, hence why would you see an ex-NHLer on the bench during the play-off finals. But that's how I see it.

 

FSB: Which of your new players are you most excited about?

 

JT: What new players, where do I start here? Wilson is a very strong player, Ganzac is just great and Forney is starting to show us now why we brought him in. Benny is superb here playing purely as office cover but playing his proverbial socks off, Radja possesses great hands and Beech is a fantastic skater. Up to his upper body injury Higgins was doing just great too.

 

FSB: You have had a look at some of your rivals already this season. Which of them actually impressed you and which ones, if any, didn't?

 

JT: To be honest, all of the teams have stepped up to the plate and improved. Manchester look very strong, the Caps have recruited well but I can see them fading away. Dundee I think need a bit of an improvement, and as for the Devils - ask me in January after they are firmly in place at their new rink.

Clan are like Manchester, very strong but seem to run out of steam. Haven't seen anything of the Blaze yet this season, but we beat the Panthers ;)
 

FSB: And finally, who are the key players for both sides this weekend? Would you consider a split series as a decent haul from the two games, and what do you reckon the scores in each game will be?

JT: For you I'd say Legue, Hewitt and Fretter but I don't know much else about your team. For us there's a few, for example: Ganzac, Edjepalm, Forney, Desmarais and even Boxill has been playing very well indeed for us.

The Saturday game will go to overtime with Craig Peacock scoring the game winner after it ends 2-2 in regulation. On Sunday I can see us skating away with a 5-3 win so I've given you a point from both games lol.

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