It had been a strange week with rumours of players signing and players leaving.

After something of a successful weekend away from home, everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.

Winning one out of two on the road isn't the best result you can have but it is acceptable, if you can win all your home games; this is what can make a season a success.

After last week's preparations we came out like bandits against Hull, scoring early and we didn't look back.

Our defensive play has been suspect all year so to turn out a near shut out with Phil DeRouville playing a great game in nets, we looked to be getting back to playing some good hockey.

The following night in Manchester we were up against a much more skilled team and the record shows that.

After the first period we looked to be clawing our way back into the game but they grabbed a couple of goals due to our mistakes and their goalie got stronger as the game went on and that sunk our ship.

Coming home looking to build on the positives of the weekend would be an understatement.

With the discovery of Scott Cameron's broken foot, which he had been playing on for two weeks, the signing of two new players from Basingstoke, ahead of this week's double header with and the return of two Giants legends, the Press has had a field day reporting on the Giants every day this week.

With all the thunder you want to hear some noise.

I think we delivered that on Thursday in front of a great crowd at the Odyssey.

The nerves in the locker room before were no different than the first home game of the year.

A new goalkeeper, a new forward and two familiar faces back on the blue line helped to fire the spark that we ignited in Hull the week before.

Scoring in the first 10 seconds was exactly what everyone needed to get over the nerves against Basingstoke.

Ed Courtney has been the best player in the league so far and every player that plays with him seems to find the back of the net.

Just Carlyle Lewis, who scored a couple big goals in Hull.

Well this time it was the new boy, Sweet Pete Campbell, who saw the benefits and he showed us all what he is capable of doing and we are looking forward to seeing more goals from him.

Stevie Lyle put in a great effort as well.

It's not easy playing against your old team, especially playing them the day after you leave, but both guys are professionals and showed us they are here to play.

I promised I would give Mark Dutiaume a shout out, because he has been the jack of all trades this year and any forward will tell you they hate having to play defence but Mark did the job and did it with ease.

Lastly, I would like to say goodbye and good luck to Phil, Ryan Smith and Bari and to their families.

Phil did wonders for us last year, Ryan was starting to get into his groove and Bari still needs some more grooming to be a major impact in this league.

You don't like seeing team mates leave, but sometimes these things happen and it is something that we all sign on to when we decide to be ice hockey players.

All the best boys.