Hockey World, Hockey Girl

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 longtime 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 favorites 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 recognized 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 than 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 ploughed 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 practice 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 it’s 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!!

You can check out more of Hollee's blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.co.uk/