Review: 4-6 September

The first weekend of the 2015-16 season is behind us, and what a start we have had. Sheffield and Braehead had their last games in this season's Champions League but already the surprises have started. It's now time to look back and assess matters for each other of the ten member clubs. Are we ready for it, let's go..

We will start this first week's review with the Braehead Clan, and what a night Saturday proved to be for Ryan Finnerty's men. Twice they led against ERC Ingolstadt, twice they fell behind but with the DEL side chasing the top spot in the group: a couple of empty netters from Alex Leavitt and Marcus Götz secured a 6-4 win for the Purple Army and made the majority of the 3,398 spectators very happy indeed. This is probably the biggest achievement so far for Clan in their now sixth year, and shows how far this club is progressing. For the rest of the Elite League, it's a statement of intent that the 2015-16 Braehead team will be a team to not take too lightly.

Also in CHL action were Paul Thompson's Sheffield Steelers, and they more than held their own against crack SHL side Frölunda Gothenburg. For the majority of the game, Steelers more than held their own and after 40 minutes were level at 1-1. However aided and abetted slightly by some strange referee calls, the Swedes turned it up to run out 4-1 winners which slightly flattered them but the home fans certainly went home feeling proud of their men in orange. Come Sunday night, Steelers made the trip to South Wales and conceded twice in the first 10 minutes there; which is always a mountainous task to pull back in the BBT. Three times they got within one but an empty net goal secured the deal for Cardiff - yet PT will be probably be content with his side's spirit over the two nights.

Onto Cardiff themselves now, and Andrew Lord must be delighted with the first weekend of action. Ten goals, five each night, and five different scorers in each game - that's not a bad little effort is it? It certainly puts down a marker and puts into context the gut instinct that some people outside the Principality that the Devils will go close again in the title race this season. Don't write them off, Lord has a very good squad at his disposal, bringing in both Gui Doucet and Leigh Salters are two very good signings indeed. As for the ice, well we hope that improves before the move to the new Wales Ice Arena which is apparently on track for January still.

Nottingham only had the single game on Saturday night, and much to many people's surprise; were taken to penalty shots in the NIC by Dundee Stars. With Cam Janssen still not in the country, visa problems, Panthers outshot their visitors 2 to 1 (54 to 27) but found Stars Czech netminder Vlastimil Lakosil in excellent form. Twice Stars led, twice Panthers replied through former Anaheim Ducks draft pick Logan MacMillan and the returning Matt Myers but after 65 minutes, they were still level. Two rounds of the shootout was all that was needed though, but should Corey be concerned? That's debatable but the acquisition of Andreas Wiedergut and Janssen imminent, things may look a bit better.

Coventry and Fife had a home and home series on the opening weekend. Chuck Weber's men made the trip to Kirkcaldy Saturday night and it was a road trip to forget for last season's Play-Off Champions as the Flyers started their home season with a 6-0 win and Blaze registering a lacklustre 19 shots only on David Brown in the home cage. However, it was a case of the skate being the other foot at the SkyDome as Blaze flexed their muscle more and a 4-1 win ensured a spilt weekend. One can only imagine how Blaze new signing Ned Lukacevic felt Saturday night, wasn't a happy return was it Ned?

Under new player-coach Derrick Walser, a few people expect Belfast to be much better this season. However on Friday night in Tayside, the new era didn't start too well with a 3-0 loss to Dundee. What might be of concern to the new player-coach is that two of these goals were scored short handed. That is a worrying stat if there ever there was one. Redemption was there at the newly named SSE Arena Saturday as the Giants raced into 4-0 lead over Edinburgh, but had withstand a late flurry to ensure they didn't suffer a second loss in as many nights.

Edinburgh had a horrible weekend by their own stretch of imagination, two defeats and the second one - a comprehensive beating by the league's new boys. Riley Emmerson would probably be content with the resilience shown in Belfast to lose only 5-3 there but we can imagine he was probably less than calm after Sunday in Altrincham. Seven goals conceded without reply is quite simply humiliating, and if Sir Alex Ferguson had been a hockey coach then you can picture the walls of the visitors locker room being blistered with expletives. Capitals need a response before losing becomes a habit like it has been for the last few seasons.

Dundee, now under the tutelage of Marc LeFebvre, will be quite content with their opening weekend's work. A win over Belfast with new signing, and former Edinburgh Capital, Curtis Leinweber scoring a brace was just the perfect start for the team that finished rock bottom last season. Buoyed by this result, Stars went to the NIC 24 hours later and led twice thanks to goals from John Dolan and new import Justin Faryna before succumbing in a shoot-out to take a point from the game. It might be heady days but the Tayside side's fans can be quiet pleased with how the first weekend unfolded.

Closing this opening weekend review, and it's not intentional in the slightest, are league newcomers Manchester Storm. Storm were given a baptism of fire so to speak as they became the first visitors to the Big Blue Tent this season. Despite taking first period lead through Matthew Sisca, they had no response as Devils rattled in five unanswered (four in the second period alone) to win 5-1. However, Sunday night in Altrincham proved to be memorable as Storm crushed the visiting Edinburgh Capitals team 8-1 with Luke Salazar hitting a treble. An excellent recovery indeed.

And that hockey fans, concludes the review of the first week's action. I'll be back again next week and look back on those. Take care until then.

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