"I'm just focused on getting that third trophy and enjoying the rest of my time with the guys here." David Goodwin on preparing for Playoff Finals Weekend

photo courtesy of William Cherry, Press Eye

It’s EIHL playoff final weekend! After eight months of toil, four teams will face off for the chance to lift the last silverware of the season. First up Belfast Giants take on Cardiff Devils so I caught up with David Goodwin to see how the team are feeling after a battle against Dundee Stars and how ready they are for the games ahead.

It was, I suggest, an intense weekend for the team. “Yeah, I mean it was. It always is. The quarterfinals… you never know what you're going to get.” Goodwin replies.

“On one hand, you have us, the Giants, who are coming off a league title win, so we're on a high. But then you got Dundee, who don't want to go away quietly. They were fighting and scratching and clawing for every inch and it lead to two feisty games.

“I give Dundee a lot of credit. They threw everything they had at us. But ultimately, I think our consistent play, maybe some of our higher skill was able to shine through and get the job done.”

Belfast took a 5-2 lead away from their first leg game at home and travelled over to Dundee eager to finish the job. “The second game, no matter what the score is from the first leg, whoever scores first, it's a big deal.” David explains. “So we were happy that Coop (Mark Cooper) scored first and then JJ was able to get on the board after that.

“From there, it was kind of like being in cruise control, but I think you saw some of the entertainment side of the game that puts the bums in seats, you know. They wanted to put on a little bit of a show for the fans and, you know, do some fighting… and I think that's what we saw in the second period.”

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All of which allows us to look ahead to this coming weekend in Nottingham. For hockey fans who don’t know the UK system the playoff weekend seems incredibly short, but Goodwin is a veteran of these events. “I was actually just joking that a week from right now, I'm going to be on the beach in Spain… but it certainly doesn't feel like that as I'm looking out at eight-degree weather here in Northern Ireland. The way the season's structured, you just kind of go off a cliff and it ends and that's it. Everyone flies away and all right, see you guys maybe never. So, yeah, the way it's structured is strange.

“But like you said, I've done it a few times, so I know what to expect. One of the things we're trying to focus on this week is enjoying our last week together, because the reality is the GB national team guys, they leave on Tuesday and a lot of other guys are leaving on Tuesday and Wednesday. So the end is going to be here before we know it!”

photo courtesy of William Cherry, Press Eye

The end is hopefully a trophy lift and a big party, followed by the aforementioned beach in Spain…. But it must also be a time when players and clubs are trying to get a feel for what the longer-term future looks like. “I really am just kind of focused on getting that third trophy and enjoying the rest of my time with the guys here.” David says, before adding “And then, you know, I'll revisit conversations with Kiefer (head coach Adam Keefe) and Steve (Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey) and kind of just go from there in the offseason.”

Which tells me Goodwin might have more games at the SSE Arena in his future, but just in case, I ask him what the team, and the fans, have meant to him. “You know, Saturday night in Belfast, it really doesn't get much better than that. I feel so fortunate to be a Belfast Giant and to get to play in front of the fans here in Belfast, and also in a smaller way, get to represent the city of Belfast on a big stage.”

A typically classy reply from a player who is truly loved in Belfast. Unsurprisingly, he was more interested in discussing his teammates than himself though, giving huge props to Mark Cooper who now wears the C that once adorned David’s jerseys. “Oh, I think he's done a fantastic job. I mean, it's not an easy job, there's a lot of stuff you have to deal with… you know, you're in charge of leading the ship in the right direction and I think Mark's done a fantastic job of that.

As a former captain he must still take on a leadership role I assume? “I've given my two cents here and there, but for the most part I've taken more of a passive role this year, which has been totally fine. Honestly, at times, it's been kind of nice just worrying about scoring goals and not having to deal with some of the leadership stuff. I think Mark's done a fantastic job and I'm really proud of him.”