The Landshut Diaries: Sunday 21st October
Sunday 21st October
The morning after the night before – an Irish pub in Bavaria did not know what hit it when a collection of already inebriated Northern Irish (and a couple of English to boot) had descended on it to party long into the night.
Face-off in the first game of the day was earlier today at 2:00, and weary Giants made their way to the rink with a little less bounce in their step the previous day, due to a combination of tiredness, an excess of German beer and the disappointment of the previous night’s game and hence the unlikelihood of qualification for the next round.
HSC Csikszereda v Belfast Giants
The unpronounceable Romanians were the final opposition for the Giants and there was no doubt the EIHL side would be in no mood to allow a repeat of the previous night. As if to prove their point, Sam Roberts scored their first goal just over a minute into the game. We prepared for a cricket score. Somewhat surprisingly however, the Giants failed to follow up on their positive start, the game somewhat flat and both sides lacklustre throughout the first period. The second continued in the same vein and there was an air of indifference in the crowd, voices already sore from oversinging unable to be raised to lift the team.
There were signs of life however, Darryl Lloyd being the prime example, checking Romanians into next week at will despite receiving a swiftly applied stick to the man vegetables, and slowly but surely the Giants took control of the game, ably assisted by the changing of personnel in the Czikszerada net just over halfway through the game. The Giants pounced on the back-up, doubling their lead through Greg Stewart. In the other net, Stephen Murphy was back on form, parrying away what little attack the Romanians could muster with ease, and the improvement in the game was reflected in the crowd as the first drinks of the day and the dominant display on the ice combined to resuscitate the atmosphere.
Craig Peacock added a third goal in the third period and Fournier a fourth, and the Romanians could not find a reply – the shutout was complete. With their business on the ice over and done with, the players posed for a photo with their travelling fans before decanting to the bar. More on that later. I was able to speak with Doug Christiansen following the game and he expressed his pleasure at his team’s answers to the questions posed by Landshut the night before, but regretted that they could not have done so at the time. He was quick to offer huge thanks to the band of Northern Irish fans and they would get their reward for their impassioned support with a night the likes of which will be echoed in the corridors of the Odyssey for many years to come.
Landshut Cannibals vs Geleen Eaters
But first one final game of hockey, and the deciding match between the hosts and the Dutch. Permutations were discussed at length and were complicated enough to warrant a crib sheet, with all but the Romanians still eligible to progress in the competition dependent on the result. In the simplest terms, the Giants became the Eaters for the night, as if Geleen could win with a two-goal cushion this would almost certainly see the Giants through. The Dutch seemed pleased with their new found support as fans of both teams mingled in the crowd, and all were rewarded with the first goal of the night, and the only one of the first period, being scored by Captain David Burgess. There was a flicker of hope and Italy suddenly seemed like a possibility again.
It was not to last however, as the hosts exerted increased pressure from the outset of the second period and tied the game at 1-1 through Max Brandl. They built on this and by the end of the second period it seemed the Dutch would need a miracle to win this game, and the Giants would need the same to make it to Bolzano.
By the end of the second the hosts were leading 3 goals to 1 and despite their best efforts, the Dutch could not make an impression in the third, and despite closing the gap to one they went on to lose 4-2, conceding to a dominant display from the hosts, who would now progress to the next stage of the competition.
The Aftermath
How to describe the next few hours of activity in the freezing mist outside the Cannibals rink? Truly memorable about sums it up. Players and fans mingled and an outsider observing the scenes could not have been blamed for mistaking this for a winning team. Captain Adam Keefe provided a masterclass in working the fans into a frenzied singing mass in the most hilarious manner possible before making way for the rest of his team, who were getting into the spirit in more ways than one and each displaying their specialist skills from outside the world of hockey.
Highlights were too many to mention but included Mark Garside’s singing talents (and his parents getting their own songs), Davey Phillips’ unique Irish dancing and planking skills, Matt Towe compering and holding the crowd in the palm of his hand and my personal favourite moment which involved Phillips and Craig Peacock recreating the classic scene from Dirty Dancing.
Doug Christiansen made a cameo appearance, oozing class with a glass of red wine in hand to thank the fans personally for their attendance before the festivities continued. Some players embraced the madness more than others with a handful of the imports looking more than slightly baffled but it was all taken in very good grace, as the mad band of Northern Irish fans treated their players to a number of their own brand of songs and chants.
To go into any greater detail would require changing names to protect the innocent but that such scenes had occurred at all was testament to the incredible spirit and community of the Giants fans, their unerring support for their side, and a group of players who truly appreciated this. And of course, the barman’s home brew may have had a part too play in it too. In all seriousness, I don’t think there are many sporting sides out there who could, or would, produce something of that level of brilliance following a competition and it was quite incredible to be a part of. I came as a neutral but have left as near as damn-it a Giants fan, as to witness this weekend was to see a fantastic bunch of people doing British ice hockey proud, both on and off the ice. If it so happens that another overseas Giants trip ever materialises, I will be there with bells on.
Just like a jolly German barman.
