Knights on the ice
A night at the Knights is not for the faint-hearted. Burly blokes with sweat-drenched shiny vests and not-so-designer stubble make for an intimidating atmosphere. And that's just the crowd.
The spectators may be not be the smartest but the entertainment is pure Americana. Blaring rock music and smoke machines are a constant accompaniment, while ice-skating cheerleaders provide light relief. Those girls must get frightfully cold.
The on-ice action, though, is fullonentertainment. These guys are seriously tough with set-piece fighting and mass brawls a regular occurrence. Imagine a rugby scrum complete with big sticks and a lenient referee. Any sport that begins with a face-off is bound to end in tears.
The play-offs are the pinnacle of the ice-hockey season, but the Challenge Cup is the next best thing, and the Knights will be hoping to go further than last year when they reached the semi-finals.
