Now 14 matches into his Belfast Giants return, Gabe Bast admits only one thing has caught him out in re-adjusting to the professional game.
The Canadian defenceman, part of the Giants’ treble-winning squad in the 2022/23 campaign, opted to step away from the game after that season but rejoined the team this year, returning to the Elite League after a year away.
And while he’s stepped back onto the ice relatively seamlessly, putting up six assists in 14 games, he’s still getting used to being on the ferry for games in Scotland again.
When asked how many boats he’d been on since leaving Belfast, Bast laughs before replying: “Zero!
“But I feel good. It’s getting back into the routine of playing back-to-back games or three games in a week, travelling to games. I feel good out there. I’m looking to help the team any way I can.”
He may not be jumping on a ferry himself on Wednesday, but their opponents will, the Glasgow Clan making the trip across the Irish Sea for another Challenge Cup meeting at the SSE Arena.
We’re only two weeks removed from an eye-opening weekend where the Giants faced the Clan twice, suffering their first loss of the season in the first game in Scotland before throwing away a two-goal lead in the last 43 seconds of the rematch in Belfast a night later, only to triumph in overtime.
But rather than look at this as a revenge mission, Bast actually believes that weekend was a lightbulb moment for this squad as they look to mount another bid for all three trophies this season.
“When I look back to the Friday game, we got out-worked. We weren’t moving our feet. It was a learning curve for us that we’re not a track meet team, we need those possession shifts,” explains the blue-liner.
“It’s fairly similar to the last time I was in Belfast. Both teams, our success comes from having those long offensive possession shifts. A track meet style of a game isn’t sustainable for all 60 minutes.”
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With only one point separating the Giants in first and Glasgow in second in Group B of the Cup, and only top spot automatically reaching the Semi-Finals, a win on Wednesday would be significant for Adam Keefe’s side.
Should they do so, then they could wrap up first place with home wins over Fife and Dundee at the weekend and their place in the final four before turning their attentions to securing top seeding and a potential home Final in the new year.
“It’s a huge game for us,” admits Bast.
“They’re a good team, they’re big, strong and fast and pretty physical. We have to stick to what makes us successful and it’ll be a great hockey game that we can come out on top of.
“Hopefully we can capitalise and get home ice advantage. There’s nothing better than being able to play for a trophy on home ice with 7,500 fans on your side.”
The Giants are also hoping to continue the momentum of their back-to-back wins over Guildford and Coventry at the weekend and string together three straight victories for the first time since September 22 as they look to go on a run in both the League and Cup.
“Any time you can go into Guildford and Coventry and get the wins in both is huge for the standings and for confidence and morale in the locker room,” adds Bast.
“It’s always good to bear down on our special teams. We’ve had some ups and downs with them all year but to get a weekend where we get confidence on the powerplay and penalty kill is massive going forward.
“We look at that Nottingham game, it was pretty much a 1-1 hockey game if you take away special teams. Our powerplay wasn’t clicking there and theirs capitalised on their opportunities.
“To have a strong weekend on the powerplay and penalty kill is massive.”