Good evening and welcome back to the Hangar for a brand new season of ice hockey here at the home of the Play-off champions.
We started with the Swindon Wildcats last Wednesday and tonight we play Bracknell here before playing them tomorrow in the Hive. Last year we didn’t do well in these challenge matches and while the Bees took the challenge series it was the Jets that went on to have the far more successful season with the Play-off trophy collected at the end of the season.
Wednesday night will see the first visit of the season of the Swindon Wildcats who’ll be at the Hangar playing the second leg of that challenge series.
The Bees, as they did last weekend, come into this challenge weekend with an extra week over us as last week they took part in the 4 on 4 challenge at Basingstoke. For us these four challenge games are the first run out of the season and judging by the signings made for 2012/13 around the league it looks like once again this will be a very exciting season ahead.
A couple of week’s ago I was lucky enough to be involved in Mo’s testimonial match and it was great seeing and hearing so many Slough fans proudly representing the club there. It was a great night, a good game of hockey and a fitting end to one of the longest and best careers that UK hockey has seen.
Back in the summer we finally held our 25th Anniversary game and that was a fun and well attended evening. We raised a good sum of money for our two charities on the night, SPICE and Help for Heroes, we had great fun and a chance to catch up with some Jets legends of the past. DVDs of the 25th anniversary game including the full interviews recorded after the game are still available to buy so if you would like one please grab one and enjoy that evening once again.
So after the long summer it’s time to get back to what we’re here for, supporting the Jets loud and proud. There’s some new music in the line-up for tonight, some old favourites and a new goal celebration tune as well so hopefully we can all get right back into the party spirit and look forward to a fun and successful season.
Finally, good luck to all the former Jets who are signed elsewhere to this season, welcome back to all our returnees and a warm welcome to all our new players, making their home debut on Saturday. Don’t forget after the game Saturday you can meet up with all the players in the bar with a barbecue as well (sadly there is no barbecue on Wednesday if you’re only here for the second of this week’s home games).
Enjoy the game
My team, your team, OUR TEAM
Mark
