George Awada expecting an electric weekend as Giants clash with Steelers

The Giants’ focus will be on the four points that are up for grabs as they maintain their recent positive momentum, keeping the Nottingham Panthers in their sights as the chase for the title heats up.

The Steelers, who are currently in fourth place and two below the Giants, will be looking to put their recent poor form behind them.

Giants’ assistant coach George Awada is expecting an electric atmosphere at the SSE Arena, and is hoping for some “puck luck” right from the first drop of the puck.

He said: “This weekend is going to be a huge one for us. We haven’t seen that much of the Steelers this season yet.

“We did play them in one of the first weekends of the season and we came up a little short.

“Double-headers are always great weekend to be involved in, not only for the players and organisations but also for the fanbase too, we expect that the atmosphere will be electric.

“They will bring a ton of fans over from Sheffield no doubt so we want our fanbase to be even louder.”

Awada added: “Weekends like what we have ahead of us can always be a little taxing mentally but it is always nice as you get another crack at the team if things don’t go well in the first game.”

He believes can carry positive momentum from last weekend into the games against the Steelers.

“Obviously it is nice to be at home, we of course will have to go over to their place and do the reverse later in the season, but I think double-headers generally brings the best out of everybody,” he said.

“We will prepare for these two games against Sheffield as if they were playoff games, big games against rivals always turn into playoff style games.”

He continued: “We had good results last weekend while they didn’t. No doubt, they will be ready to go and make up for their losses. We’ll be ready for them too.”

Awada agrees that even though the Steelers have been down on their luck they are still a dangerous team.

He said: “Everyone has gone through injury problems, they are missing a few guys and also seen a couple depart too.

“That has left them a little short-handed, but that has happened to everybody in the league.

“It is how you manage your way through that and get on the other side shows what you are made off. Foxy is also a good coach.”

Awada added: “There is plenty of quality on their roster, there are lot of guys on the team who have won leagues in the past too, they know how to win games.

“They are definitely not out of anything yet and they never are. We are all still in running for all the trophies this season.

“They proved that last year, they went on a skid but they pushed us all the way to the end.”

Awada says the Giants will be hoping for some “puck luck” in the opening game on Friday.

He said: “We want to secure those four points, it’s a dream scenario for sure. We will see how the two games go. Anything can happen on game nights.

“If we play our game we will always be in a game.

“That’s what the focus will be on the first night, hopefully we will get the bounces and some puck luck.”