TWO four point weekends have moved us up to a well deserved third place in the league. I would be surprised if many teams pick up four points against Milton Keynes in back-to-back games this season.

The character of the team was evident from the start of our match in Coventry. Heads could easily have dropped with the loss of Nicky Chinn during the warm-up and then the loss of Andy Melachrino at the beginning of the game. But we have a squad this year where guys will step up in difficult situations.

Some of these players are relatively young and inexperienced, but they’re showing a real determination to contribute to the effectiveness of the team. They had to take on more responsibility than usual and rose to the challenge.

When we have a full bench, it’s great to know that we have young players who can help keep the senior players fresh when we’re up against it, I’m confident they can play a full part.

You don’t have to be young and fit, of course, to play with passion. Would anyone have noticed that Joe Rand was still feeling under the weather, or expected that 40 something Nicky Chinn, with so many stitches in his face, would return to the ice and bring so much energy to the whole team in the home game?

Some of you may have noticed Joe Baird knocking down three players and breaking a hockey stick in one memorable shift.

I had said we could play a more aggressive penalty kill. I hadn’t expected my comment to be taken quite so enthusiastically!

We’re learning how to find ways to win and enjoying how hard everyone is playing for each other.

It’s Guildford home and away this weekend. The locker room is buzzing already.

See you Saturday.

Doug.