Former NHL forward Jonathan Ferland says Belfast Giants are bursting with belief going into their clashes with title rivals Devils, saying: “We can beat Cardiff and close in on them.”
Leaders Devils are at home against second-placed Giants this evening and tomorrow afternoon at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay. This is the biggest weekend of the Elite League season so far.
Both fixtures are certain to be 3,000-plus sell-outs.
Ferland, who played for Montreal Canadiens: “We have a chance to bring real energy into two games against a great hockey team.
“Devils have been playing very well for almost two months and have been solid for a few years.
#10YearChallenge 😈 pic.twitter.com/325GhaeVl0
— Cardiff Devils (@cardiffdevils) January 19, 2019
“But we have that feeling in our locker room that we can beat any team on any night and know we can beat Cardiff and make ground on them.
“We have to love the challenge and enjoy it. These are big games, it’s a big weekend and it will be a lot of fun to play in.”
Ferland, Calder Cup winner with Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007, a champion Vienna Capitals in 2017 and a Challenge Cup winner with Giants last year, insists Belfast have the quality to win a championship this season.
“We have that character in the room, it’s always about the group,” he says.
“You can have the talent, but if you don’t have the group, the friendships, the people to go with it, then it’s impossible to do it.
“I can tell you for sure, we have what it takes in that room right now, but that’s one step. The next step is we have to go out and play and you have to want it more than the other group.
“I believe we have everything we need, now we have to keep moving forward and build our way towards playing for championships.”
Belfast Giants are at the Viola Arena this evening (Saturday, January 19, 7pm) and tomorrow (Sunday, 4pm).
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