Jeff Mason confident Giants progress will set team up well for the rest of the season

“I think obviously we've gotten off to a good start,” said Giants associate coach Jeff Mason when asked to discuss the current mindset after early tests. “We have put ourselves in a really good position...we want to make sure we finish that out and guarantee the top seeding in the Challenge Cup.

“We started the league campaign in two tough places, Coventry and Cardiff.

“Obviously would have have preferred to come out with four points to start the league campaign.

“But I think, especially as it was the first time for a lot of our guys, we equipped ourselves well.

“We got points on the board in the first weekend of league action.

"We can, hopefully, build in the games which are ahead this season.”

Mason reflected on the Giants’ past run of sluggish starts and how officials adjust and adapt.

"As a coaching staff, there are always things that you will want to improve on...that will carry on throughout the season,” said Mason. “But we are pleased with the start.

"When you have the CHL in mix, it can kind of take a little bit of your focus.

“It make it a little bit busier and the transition from CHL to league.

"It probably just adds that extra dimension there which we didn’t have this year.”

Mason counts road trips on the fixture list as excellent opportunities for team building within the Giants off the ice alongside opportunities for positive results on the ice.

He said: “Anytime the team gets on the road and gets away...they are obviously opportunities for the team to be together minus the distractions of when you're at home.

“That started right from the beginning with the trip to Germany in the pre-season.

"And the success the team has enjoyed on the road also helps build everyone’s confidence.

“We will have plenty more road trips this season, so it should help set us up well.

"We also know that we have a lot of home games coming up down the road.

“We are going to need to capitalise on the stretch of home games when we get to them.”

Mason also accepts early adversity has been part of the Giants experience across the current campaign.

With a number of players off the ice and on the treatment table it has provided a number of challenges to the Giants staff – but with an acceptance “injuries are just part of the game”.

“I think injuries are just part of the game,” said Mason. “Over the last number of years we’ve seen them at different points of seasons.

"Sometimes that happens earlier in the season than you might like and you end up losing players that you had high expectations.

“For the coaching staff it’s about exploring who fits with who and making those necessary adjustments.

“It also provides a great opportunity for other guys who might not have got a much ice time to slide into those spots.

“We are seeing that again this season too.

"And we have been pleased with how the guys have stepped up to deal with that adversity.

“Injuries are always frustrating for us as a coaching team.

"But its equally as frustrating for the players when they miss time, especially when it is significant time.

“It’s just something you have to deal with and so far we’ve been able to cope well.”

Mason agrees that the Giants have put down a dominant marker to date in the Challenge Cup programme.

“As a coaching staff, we put heavy emphasis on that it’s not just about qualifying for the next round of the Challenge Cup,” he said. “It is about where you qualify.

"And setting yourself up in the best possible situation in the next stage.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position in the cup so far.

"But now it's on us to continue and finish off the group stage in the right way.

"So that we leave ourselves in the best spot going forward.

“We have high standards and high goals every season.

"The leadership group is the core group of our team.

"They have been here for a long time.

"And they know what it means to be a successful team.”

Mason offered an insight into how the Giants officials embrace the setbacks.

“There are always going to setbacks for everyone in a season,” said Mason. “But it is about not allow poor form to extend long in a season.

“Bouncing back immediately every time and responding in the right way is something that you want to see in a team.

“If you look at the scores across the league so far you can see that parity is certainly there.

“We know that we're going to get the best from the other teams no matter who we might be playing.

"That is what happens when you are the reigning champions.

“So it’s important that we are ready for every team and let know one sneak up on us.”

Mason discussed the big-picture thinking across the Giants perspective.

“As a coaching team it is our job to make sure that the team is ready to be their best each and every night this season,” said Mason.