What a way to open the season!

Saturday at Ally Pally was nothing short of spectacular, with both the Hounds U19s and Greyhounds skating away as winners in the earlier games. Performances like that show just how strong our foundation is for ice hockey here at the Palace — and a huge thank you goes out to everyone who came down to support. The energy in the building was brilliant and made a real difference on the ice.

The Huskies also unveiled a fresh look this season, lining up against an Oxford side who have retooled and brought plenty of strength to their squad. From the first puck drop, we came out strong and dictated the tempo. For long stretches we controlled the game, and when we played our systems, we looked dangerous every shift.

Of course, hockey is never without its twists. A couple of individual errors opened the door for Oxford to claw their way back at times, but those are the kinds of lessons that sharpen us and will only make us better as the season goes on.

What really impressed us was how the team stuck to the game plan under pressure. We moved the puck with confidence, created space, and the goals came — a great mix of well-worked team plays and moments of individual brilliance. By the final buzzer, we were comfortable winners on the night.

On Sunday, we travelled to Invicta — always one of the toughest buildings to go into and play hockey. They’d started the season strong with two wins, and we knew we were in for a real battle. This game was no different: physical, hard-fought, and demanding right across the ice.

Once again, we showed our ability to create chances, scoring some excellent team goals alongside moments of individual skill. We built ourselves a solid 6–3 lead, but credit to Invicta — they pushed back hard and made it a nervy finish. In the end, though, the boys stood strong, kept their composure, and closed the game out to secure two wins from two on opening weekend.

Back-to-back victories to start the season is exactly the platform we wanted, and the character shown in both games will be vital as we push on. With the support we had at home on Saturday and the travelling support that lifted us on Sunday, this weekend proved once again what a special hockey family we have here. We’re proud to play for you — home and away.

Photo: Phil Hutchinson