Opening weekend thoughts from the GM

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Hi everyone, and let me first start by thanking everyone who was able to make it to Edinburgh and/or Hull this past weekend - great to see so many Phoenix shirts and banners in evidence and the noisy encouragement for the team was greatly appreciated.
 
As for the games, I think we can be proud of what our new Phoenix squad achieved in such a short time scale and with backs somewhat to the wall. As you're probably all aware, we only had a couple of training sessions and the warm-up challenge match against the Scimitars before we travelled to Scotland... and Derek Campbell, Simon Mangos and Ryan Watson had barely unpacked before the bus left on Saturday morning. Ahead of the weekend, if anyone had asked me what I would expect, I would have said I'd be delighted with a point from each game. To take three, and in many peoples opinion it should have been all four, was a terrific effort by the players on the preparation they had. I think it speaks highly of the effort Tony put in during the summer researching the players thoroughly for not only their playing skills but also their attitude and character.
 
I know some, probably all, of you will be wondering why David Vychodil didn't ice this weekend and I hope you'll all respect that the club will always keep certain matters under wraps for obvious reasons - suffice it to say, David suffered a slight niggle after the Scimitars game and it was felt best to let him rest and be fully fit for next weekend rather than risk antagonising it. David, needless to say, played a part in both games assisiting with invaluable game statistics and together with Mike Kiesman running the bench, everyone played their part. Hats off too to Paul Turner, our Equipment Manager, for a fantastic effort in the laundry and kit preparation dept with both games being on the road and Alison, our Physio, who made sure the players were supple and ready to play after the respective bus rides.
 
You've often read that over the years, we've built up a very useful bank of friends around the world of ice hockey and I'd like to share with you a message I received late Sunday night upon returning home from the games. Some years ago, on a visit to Russia, I met a gentleman who worked in a media capacity for Dynamo Moscow. Two years ago, my wife and I spent a weekend with him while attending the Igor Larionov Farewell Game in Moscow and he expressed great interest in what we were trying to build here in Manchester. So, it was with great delight that I received an e-mail from him wishing us all the best of luck with our new team and new building on behalf of the Dynamo club. He'd seen our first results on the internet and wanted to let us know that Manchester ice hockey is remembered in Moscow. Naturally, I replied thanking him and wishing Dynamo all the best - they too have had some problems of late - and it would certainly be a dream of mine to try to bring them back to Manchester one day in the future.
 
Back to the present and our next game - another road trip next Saturday to the NIC to take on the Nottingham Panthers. The Panthers will be another tough game as they have recruited strongly under new head coach Mike Ellis and the NIC itself is always an intimidating venue for any visiting team. We can go there boosted by the performances of the team this weekend and with full squad practise sessions this week to further aid the gelling process, I'm sure we can give the Panthers a run for their money. As always, a road trip for the team is greatly helped by knowing that our fans will be there to support them, so let's make next Saturday "Operation NIC" and if there are any wavering fans out there, let's get together to convince them that - the Phoenix are back !!
 
Cheers,
Andy Costigan

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