Saving Grace

I cannot believe it is still August but the pre-season ice hockey tournament faced of tonight at Breahead.

A new coach, a new squad, new hope for another good season. Coach promised a gritty team to match the gritty city and so it seems the new faces seemingly happy to mix it physically with tonight's visitors, Les Gothiques, from Amiens in France. They also seem to be gelling as a team with a few stand outs showing early... the crowd favourites from the past few seasons gone; we need a new talisman and on tonight showing it may be the aptly named Joel Champagne, big, physical but very skilful to boot and scoring the opening goal had an expectant crowd singing; mind you we always sing, win or lose!!!

The twins had a great night, hyper about their own season which doesn't start until October but they are counting the days! They enjoyed the singing, the atmosphere seeing they guys from the hockey club, all of them excited about their forthcoming season, but for now the twins must content themselves with the figure skating , hockey they play for fun figures they do to improve and compete, their choice!!!

Tonight is an action shot, I am not very good but I like to try, a vicious slap shot found the Amiens net minder on top form, so much so he was their man of the match, here he set himself up and parried the puck away, watching anxiously after it as he did, I was delighted to catch the puck as it flew off is pad and away from the net. It also shows the amount of kit these net minders have to wear but it is astonishing how supple and mobile they are despite the kit.

I hope you enjoy the detour into sporting action tonight and I suspect best viewed in large