NEW Belfast Giants signing Donovan Neuls says he's ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help the team to success after an impressive debut for the club on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old Canadian arrived in Belfast a couple of days before Christmas but only made his first appearance in their 3-1 win over the Fife Flyers a couple of days ago but instantly looks to have made an impact.
Neuls was busy on his first showing in front of his new home fans, almost scoring with his first touch and then having another couple sights at goal, but although he was kept scoreless against Fife he's keen to continue adding to a winning team.
"I just want to help them win any way I can. If I'm put on the PK, block shots. If I'm on the powerplay, score goals. Just do what I can to help the team win," said the Saskatchewan native.
"Winning's fun and you can never replace it, and that's another reason why I wanted to join Belfast. They have a good history. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing what we can achieve."
Neuls joined the Giants from Slovakian side Presov, where he admits the season did not progress as he had hoped as he failed to score a goal in 21 games and was limited to just four assists.
But he's already been made to feel at home since moving to Belfast where he's linked up with a couple of familiar faces in Sam Ruopp and Josh Roach, and he's hopeful that being in an environment more similar to home will help him reach his full potential.
"I was in Slovakia, was having a tough year and just wanted a change," he explains.
"Belfast reached out and I'd heard nothing but great things about the team and the city and the fans and how they treat the players. I was looking for a fresh start and this was one of the top places on my list and that made the decision very easy.
"It's been good. I've got a couple good room-mates in Roachy and Soysy (Tyler Soy) and they showed me and my girlfriend the city, and it's been great ever since. The fans are awesome and the city's great. I'm yet to properly head out but I've loved the time I've had so far and I'm sure that'll continue.
"The guys have made it easy. They help me with everything, in the d-zone, the o-zone, everything. The process has been pretty easy, which I've been very thankful for."
After their 3-1 win over the Flyers on Thursday, their seventh win in a row in the Elite League, the Giants are now just five points behind league-leaders the Guildford Flames - albeit having played one game more - and back in the title race.
A New Year's Eve rematch with the Flyers lies in wait tonight with Adam Keefe's side looking to complete a perfect festive period that has seen them go from 11 points back on St Stephen's Day morning to within touching distance of top spot.
And with Neuls's added offensive input on the third line, the Giants will be hoping to produce another morale-boosting performance, with their new man hoping he can continue to slot into the line-up seamlessly as he already has done.
"It's nerve-wracking, it really is. You don't want to disrupt anything, especially on a winning team," adds the centre.
"You're going in there with 20, 25 guys and you're trying to give a good impression and be a genuine guy, so that's what I'm trying to do."