Inferno blog - Rupert Quiney

4th Apr 2013 | Posted by Rupert Quiney

Photo courtesy of Gwennan Williams

Hello everyone,

After enjoying the work of Joseph Myers in his blog last week, it appears it’s my turn to think back about what my high school English teacher was saying about good grammar. It’s a shame I spent a lot of time minding my own business napping at the back of the classroom like many other hockey players. My GCSE English results were probably terrible compared to the likes of Dr Piggott and the other devils that enjoy a good book on those long road trips. But then again Deeds did his fair share of blogging while he was here in Cardiff, so if he can master the art of writing, surely I can.

So here we are. A short manned Cardiff Devils team finds their way into the Elite League Playoff Finals. I don't think many people thought we would get to this point a couple months ago when we lost Mac, Hilly and Batchy for the season. Three guys who all play huge parts in our successes. However losing Batchy means I don't have to fight to ride shotgun to the rink every day, so it’s a bit of a weight off my mind. The team’s spirits were low a few weeks ago, in a spot where we couldn't win a game even though we were coming close regularly. The win in hull was huge, finally securing our playoff spot and holding a narrow lead to the end reminded us that we can battle all the way through and close a game out. Then the shootout loss to the Nottingham Panthers, a game that confirmed that we can go into any rink in the league and play compete with "the best". That game just a week before we would end up securing our spot in the playoff final weekend, setting up a Devils v Panthers rematch, sets us up really well going into this weekend. We know they are very beatable and I believe we are as confident about this match as we have been about any this season, even when we have been at full strength.

The mood in the dressing room this week is very high, apart from poor Kenny who is having back problems. It seems his age is finally starting to catch up with him. Even the magic hands of "the Miracle" Mac Faulkner couldn't help him in Braehead. What a guy he is. We thought he was content in being a top forward, defensive bench coach, motivational speaker and charity event manager, but he will slap on the oil and be our away game masseur too. Unfortunately he couldn't give Kenny the happy ending he was looking for, as his back was too bad and he only managed a couple of shifts. However, Kenny is killing me 9-0 in our fantasy hockey playoffs matchup, so at least that should bring him some joy.

Chris Jones (or Bruno as the NIHL guys like to call him - not sure why) definitely picked a good time to get his first and second goals of the season on Sunday. I have never really been a point guy so I tend to make good out of the little things, like having the most goals of a player on a two way with the NIHL Devils. Then CJ decided to go and tie my two goals in the space of twenty minutes. Thanks bud. However, I wasn't the only one that had reasons to be mad at him. Some of the fans may be familiar with the game called cooler that a few of the guys like to play out in front of the rink before faceoff and sometimes after practice. It’s a version of headers of volleys where the loser gets "tanned" (meaning the victim bends over while the others get one shot each to blast the ball at him). Let’s just say during the game there was some foul play by CJ and it left Adam Harding with a sore nose and a bit of a temper. The worst part was after Adam had stormed off and was on his way home, he had to come back and unlock the room for me to get my things, as he was the only one with the key. Sorry Ab.

Lastly I just want to say I for one have enjoyed the season the more it has gone on, it has been great playing on this team with these players with our fans 100% behind us all the way through thick and thin. Thank you to my team mates and the supporters that have made the hard times easier to manage and the good times all the more sweet.

What a perfect way it would be to end it with a playoff championship. Just two more wins? We can do that.