Gimme a B-R-I-A-N - Five things I learnt this week

Tis the last week before Christmas, but after another successful back-to-back series against the Coventry Blaze, we got to learn plenty more about the team, and our opposition. Here’s another five things I learnt this festive week:

1. Searching for a shutout : Another two games played with one goal conceded in each – and I really thought that Moose was going to go the distance in Coventry, until yet another last minute shutout denier. It has to be said that the whole team have stepped up in defence in recent months, and Moose’s now sitting pretty at 0.921 which is good for a tie of first place with Shane Owen in the EIHL – quite a change from how we started the season.
2. Scoring all the time : The good news is that we’re not letting others shut us out either. In the 39 games we’ve played this season we’ve only seen one shut-out, and that was the unlikely event of a 4:0 burst from Dundee during our Scottish double header about a month ago. We’re second top of the scoring charts to Cardiff, and with our games in hand we will probably take top spot in those stats too. Top stats!
3. B-r-i-a-n : I’m so glad that away fans can’t easily d-r-o-n-e out Ervīns Muštukovs, as even if Brian seems to have learnt how to block us out (congratulations on having no dummy spitting tantrums so far this year by the way) it must really irritate their fans, and if we impact just one of their players for one shift then it makes all the fun and games and sore throats worthwhile. Thanks to my block buddies Kev, Fergus, Eric and all for helping lead that banter!
4. Semi’s : It’s the normal suspects in the Cup semi-finals, as the ‘so called’ stronger conference have provided the top four again, and if you’re reading Jono Bullard and Clantastic, I prefer the terms ‘demonstrably’ or ‘statistically proven’ when using your air quotes.
5. Another few interesting conference facts for you : Every Erdhart team has a better record in cross-conference games than it does in their own conference. Each Erdhart team is running at 50% or more cross-conference, whereas only Fife (!) can boast similar for the Gardiners. Finally the Clan have taken only 2 points from a possible 20 in cross-conference games this year – shambolic – and that’s why they’re not registering as a league threat so far this year.

One final thought is to wish everyone peace, love, and joy this Holiday Season and a happy and prosperous New Year – with plenty of silverware to celebrate!