After the fun of celebrating Graeme Walton’s testimonial on Tuesday night, the Belfast Giants are right back on the ice on Wednesday with the serious business of the Challenge Cup semi-final in Nottingham.
The first leg in the Panthers lair could play into the hands of Doug Christiansen’s side if they continue to show the road form they have done though the entire season to date.
In the four Elite League games in Nottingham the Giants took a possible five of eight points and the message from the coach ahead of Wednesday’s game is clear.
“First and foremost this is a chance for us to win a trophy, hang a banner and create a legacy and this is a team that wants to do that. We are chasing three trophies this season and our destiny is in our own hands and we know that if we win every game between now and the end of the season we’ll be celebrating,” explained Christiansen.
“Nottingham are a very good team but we’ve had success in their building this season and what we want from this game is a result that gives us a fighting chance in the second leg at the Odyssey in two week’s time to reach the final.”
Christiansen, along with the Great Britain internationals, were in Latvia last week at the Olympic qualifying tournament while the rest of his squad have been training ahead of the start of the run-in to the end of the season.
In order to strengthen his depleted defensive corps with the long-term injuries to Sam Roberts and Will Colbert the Giants will have new signing Chad Langlais in the line-up.
The 26 year-old arrived in Belfast on Tuesday morning before taking part in Graeme Walton’s Testimonial and now is thrown into the deep end of a cup semi-final at the National Ice Centre.
“I’m excited to be joining a winning organisation like the Giants and am excited to be part of a team that is competing for all possible trophies,” he said.
Comments