BELFAST Giants captain David Goodwin admits he is looking forward to their schedule calming down over the next few weeks now that their Champions League adventure is over, but at the same time he is eager for them to learn from their European adventure.
The Giants failed to qualify for the knockouts after ending Group H with one win from six, completing their schedule with a 4-1 loss to then Swedish Hockey League leaders Skellefteå at the Kraft Arena on Tuesday.
Despite that, Adam Keefe's side emerged from each of their games with plenty of credit in the bank after pushing all three of their opponents close despite their vastly inferior resources.
"Great experience. I think a lot of the boys, especially the younger guys, have enjoyed the opportunity to play in cool countries against some very successful organisations in Europe," said Goodwin.
"The guys have been great, they've battled hard. I wouldn't say my job has been difficult in that sense because everyone has shown and been competing. We're just going out there and giving it the best we can to get the best result we can.
"The biggest thing is our schedule is going to calm down a bit now that our schedule is on pause and the CHL is over. We can really start to mentally prepare for the regular season in the EIHL.
"Hopefully we'll be back here next year - not necessarily Skellefteå but in the Champions League - because it's been a cool experience. Despite it being a real grind on the bodies, I know everyone's enjoyed it and would love to do it again."
They might not have gained a place in the last-16 of the CHL, but what the Giants do come away from their European exploits with is a significant amount of confidence given how they performed across the six games, skating with each side rather than just defending for their lives.
Of course, none of that matters if they don't translate that form into their Elite League title defence, which started in a mixed fashion last weekend with a thumping 7-1 win over the Dundee Stars before suffering a 4-2 loss to the Guildford Flames on home ice a day later.
This week sees them in line for their first double-header of the season against the Coventry Blaze, welcoming them to the SSE Arena tonight (7pm) before heading to the SkyDome tomorrow (6pm), but there is no panic at the SSE Arena according to skipper Goodwin.
"(Our CHL performances) show that the systems Keefer has implemented, if we stick to them we should be able to do really well in our own league," claims the American winger.
"We've proven we can play and beat teams in the CHL by playing these systems. There are positives, and I think that shows that if we play our game in our domestic League, we will win games.
"Keefer wants us to maintain the same standard that brought us the success in the CHL. We have some big games coming up - Coventry's doing well."
The Giants will likely continue to rotate netminders Peyton Jones - who made 29 saves against Skellefteå - and Jackson Whistle over the weekend, however it is undecided which will start in which game, while 18-year-old winger Mack Stewart could feature.
Forward Darik Angeli continues to rehab an injury which has kept him out of the line-up for the last three games, with his availability for this weekend also undetermined, while defenceman Kevin Raine was a late scratch in Sweden after picking up an injury in Tuesday's morning skate.
