EIHL side the Belfast Giants faced Lukko Rauma on Game Day 1 of the Champions Hockey League season, losing 3-1 to them in Finland.
After a cautious first period from both sides, it would be visitors Belfast who would score the first goal of the game at 29:18 when Greg Printz shovelled the puck into the Lukko net following a massive drive up the ice from teammate Ara Nazarian.
With both sides neck and neck, Lukko scored an equaliser just four minutes later and a two-goal final frame from the home team saw Belfast's hopes of starting the season with a win slip away. What went wrong?
"I'm really excited for the upcoming games!"Greg Printz, Belfast Giants
"I think it was just small errors here and there," started Printz, who finished the game as the third most productive Giant measured by Expected Goals created, "but overall I think we really proved that we are a team that can challenge and compete in this tournament - I'm really excited for the upcoming games!"
There's no time to rest for Belfast - they have another CHL game lined up for today and it could just be their toughest of the season... Tappara Tampere, back-to-back Finnish champions and the reigning CHL Champions. Are they up for the task?
"We come into every game ready. We don't care who our opponent is, we play hard and we want to win," responded Printz, "tonight we came up a little short so we're going to be even hungrier tomorrow!"
A healthy crowd of Belfast fans made the long and tiresome journey to Finland to support their favourite team. The joyful Belfast fans made their presence known in Rauma, a sleepy seaside town in Western Finland.
"They are the best fans in the EIHL for sure," said Printz, "I know how hard our travel day was so I can't imagine their journey!"
"It makes a difference to us on the ice and we really appreciate it," he concluded.
Belfast's next CHL game is against Tappara Tampere today and is scheduled for 16:00 CEST.