Posted 02 February, 2010

There was a new boss in town with Mike Sgroi making his debut. And the big man didn't disappoint, scoring the winner with just 11 seconds remaining.
The new signing said after the match: “It was an incredible night, from start to finish, its quite surreal right now, even though I am completely empty I feel I could play another game. My emotions are everywhere.
”I have had perhaps four days of solid travel. I have packed, unpacked and then packed again, spent days driving, days flying and then days in a passport office. I have no idea what the time is or even what day of the week it is.
"I had no idea what to expect before I went out onto the ice, it was incredible to hear the fans cheering me before I had even played a shift, the fans were great and they were so loud.

“When you get that reception you feel you just have to go out and give everything you have got.
"Then I had a great chance early on. I do get breakaway chances a lot. This year I have hit posts and had goalies make great saves on me so when I missed that first chance I thought ‘Hell no - I hope the streak isn't going to continue here’ then later I hit a post and the same thought crossed my mind.
"I was bushed, running on empty, everyone told me Brad Voth was the man that maybe I was going to have to fight but tonight wasn't the night.

“He was playing hard for his team and I was doing the same for mine. I have a ton of respect for Brad and the job he does, I'm sure we will get it on during the year but tonight wasn't the night.
"He played clean tonight, he was honest, if he had been dirty I would have been there but there wasn't any need. Anyway, we had a game to win.
"We created a ton of chances. We have some really skilled players on our team. We pass the puck really well and some of the guys can fly.
"When the chance came I was delighted to get the winning goal but credit to all the guys on the ice.

“I wouldn't have had that scoring lane if guys hadn't crashed the net, I got a great pass and was able to score but the guy driving the net made it all possible and he didn't even get an assist on the goal.
"The emotion after scoring was amazing. I haven't had this much fun playing hockey for years.

“I want to make an impact here, I want to make a new home here. The fans just got louder and louder and I think the whole team sent them home happy. I hope so because the dressing room is a good place right now.
"I think the style of hockey over here will suit me, the bigger ice and all that. I certainly will remember this night for a long time, lets hope it’s the start of things to come."

Head coach, David Matsos, said: "The result was so important to us. There is a ton of pressure on these guys right now so winning was massive, those two points feel like four at the moment.
"However I was more impressed with how we played, certainly in the second half of the game, we showed some steel and a ton of character, we played hard and we deserved the points, we deserved the win.
"Jonathan Phillips hasn't eaten in days, he has lost a stone in weight after the virus he had, he is as thin as a rake yet plays hard, so hard every shift.

“Every player did their job tonight, the D were a little all over the place early on but came back hard and played really well in the second and third.
"That game tying goal by Joey was huge, then of course there was the new guy Mike Sgroi.

“I think we all expected a big night from him but not perhaps the night he had. I thought he played well and showed us signs of what is to come.
"He is in great shape but he is dead tired and we could all see that. It was only right that he ended the night as the hero, it was a great goal and it sent everyone home happy.

“He was brought in here to be a spark, energise the place and that is what he has done already.
"Mike Sgroi will be the headlines I'm sure but I thought the whole team were stars tonight."