Belfast Giants 5 - 3 Excel Hull Stingrays
After a successful preseason, the Excel Hull Stingrays were defeated in their opening Elite League fixture, losing 5-3 away to the Belfast Giants.
The Giants started the game confidently, and went ahead through new signing Brock McBride at 3.31 in the first period.
A swift reply came from the Stingrays, equalizing just 2 minutes later with Dominic Osman on target.
The Stingrays were to finish the period 2-1 down, with Robert Dowd converting a powerplay opportunity at 17.32.
Misery ensued for Sylvain Cloutier's team as they leaked a further 2 goals in the second period without reply; Craig Peacock (21.52) and Jeff Mason (34.11) each bagging an even-handed goal.
Late on in the second period, Giants forward Ryan Keefe took exception to a check from Martin Ondrej, and the Belfast player dropped the gloves with the Slovakian, winning convincingly.
The Stingrays began the third period in the same fashion as the previous periods, again conceding an early goal, this time from Benoit Doucet at 42.32.
At 5-1 early in the third period, it appeared that the Stingrays would leave Northern Ireland on the back of a heavy defeat.
They did rally however, and goals from Jereme Tendler and Josh Mizerek made it 5-3 on the night with twelve minutes left in the game.
This was as close as the Stingrays would get, with Belfast's solid defence ensuring that no further goalscoring oppotunities arose.
Dominic Osman received a game misconduct for abuse of official after protesting a slashing call given to him at 58.00.
Though a 5-3 defeat to Belfast is not a terrible result, it was apparent that Hull's defencemen could not keep up with some of the speedy Giants forwards, who at times glided past them as if they did not exist.
The game will no doubt serve as something of a reality check to any fans that were previously unaware of the quality of opposition teams in the Elite League this year.
The Stingrays will face another tough test in the form of the Sheffield Steelers, who they take on this Sunday at the Hull Arena.
After a successful preseason, the Excel Hull Stingrays were defeated in their opening Elite League fixture, losing 5-3 away to the Belfast Giants.
The Giants started the game confidently, and went ahead through new signing Brock McBride at 3.31 in the first period.
A swift reply came from the Stingrays, equalizing just 2 minutes later with Dominic Osman on target.
The Stingrays were to finish the period 2-1 down, with Robert Dowd converting a powerplay opportunity at 17.32.
Misery ensued for Sylvain Cloutier's team as they leaked a further 2 goals in the second period without reply; Craig Peacock (21.52) and Jeff Mason (34.11) each bagging an even-handed goal.
Late on in the second period, Giants forward Ryan Keefe took exception to a check from Martin Ondrej, and the Belfast player dropped the gloves with the Slovakian, winning convincingly.
The Stingrays began the third period in the same fashion as the previous periods, again conceding an early goal, this time from Benoit Doucet at 42.32.
At 5-1 early in the third period, it appeared that the Stingrays would leave Northern Ireland on the back of a heavy defeat.
They did rally however, and goals from Jereme Tendler and Josh Mizerek made it 5-3 on the night with twelve minutes left in the game.
This was as close as the Stingrays would get, with Belfast's solid defence ensuring that no further goalscoring oppotunities arose.
Dominic Osman received a game misconduct for abuse of official after protesting a slashing call given to him at 58.00.
Though a 5-3 defeat to Belfast is not a terrible result, it was apparent that Hull's defencemen could not keep up with some of the speedy Giants forwards, who at times glided past them as if they did not exist.
The game will no doubt serve as something of a reality check to any fans that were previously unaware of the quality of opposition teams in the Elite League this year.
The Stingrays will face another tough test in the form of the Sheffield Steelers, who they take on this Sunday at the Hull Arena.
